Meet your Bishops
The Bishop's Badge

Background

I have been considering for some time a way of marking my appreciation of the dedicated work of the many lay people who contribute so much to the life and health of our Diocese. I wanted to make some kind of award and it was at this time that Canon Ian Gooding showed me a medal presented to his mother in law at the time of her confirmation. The medal dates from 1927, when the Diocese of Derby was founded, Bishop Edmund Courtenay Pearce, the first Bishop of Derby, arranged for it to be struck to celebrate this new beginning and copies were presented to distinguished members of the Diocese and to all those being confirmed in that year. I have arranged for a replica of this medal to be minted and mounted in the form of a badge. Each year I intend, based upon recommendations made to me, to award a small number of these badges as a gesture from the Diocese to acknowledge outstanding service to the church.

+Alastair Derby

The first presentation service took place in the Cathedral on October 5th 2008 when 13 people from throughout Derbyshire received their badges.

The 2008 group

• William Bunting, Alsop-en-le-Dale
• Timothy Clowes, Norbury
• Clive Chipchase, Ashbourne St Oswald
• Betty Barber, Littleover
• Evadne Robbins, Elvaston & Shardlow
• Iris George, Spondon
• Norman Stanley, Marlpool
• Joy Wagg, Normanton-by-Derby
• Margaret Price, Derby St Barnabas
• Betty Chell, Winshill
• Steve & Jo Richardson, Heage (work with young people)
• Dan Leathers, Stapenhill (work with young people

Who is the badge for?

The badge is presented to lay people who have made an exceptional contribution to the life of a parish, MMA or Deanery. An exceptional contribution can be through long service, through being an example or inspiration to others, or through a particular act of Christian witness. We hope that some of the awards each year will be made to young people, and also to those who work with children and young adults.
There is a separate category for those who work in Education and Church Schools, the Director of Education will make two recommendations for this award each year.

There is no set limit on the number of badges to be awarded, but it is hoped to award some 20 badges each year at the annual presentation ceremony, with ideally a representative from each Deanery.

How to nominate?

If you have someone you wish to nominate speak to your incumbent or parish priest, with your reasons for nomination. The incumbent can then discuss this nomination with the Rural Dean and their fellow clergy at a Deanery Chapter meeting on a date to be agreed locally.

The Rural Deans meet with the Bishop and his staff on a regular basis, and prior to their June meeting each Rural Dean will be encouraged to forward the name of a person nominated for their deanery to the Bishop's Office, with a short description of the reason for nomination.

The Bishop then approves a final list of nominees, the person nominated and their incumbent will receive notification of the offer of the award. Once all those nominated have indicated their acceptance in writing then the list of the awards for the year will be published, usually at the beginning of September.

The recipient, their family and their parish are invited to attend the award of the Badges at an annual presentation service in the cathedral.

Your name in the book.

Each recipient will be presented with a badge. In addition their names will be entered into a special register of badge holders on display in the cathedral.

The next presentation ceremony.

Is to be held in Derby Cathedral at 3.00 pm on Sunday, October 4th 2009.