As per the Church Representation Rules Part 9, the annual parochial church meeting must be held in every parish in the period which begins with 1 January and ends with 31 May. The Diocesan Secretary requires each parish to submit their APCM results to Church House, Derby no later than 31 May.
About Us index
Diocesan Synod
The statutory governing body of the Diocese is the Diocesan Synod which is elected with representation across the Diocese with broadly equal numbers of clergy and lay people meeting together in Diocesan Synod with the diocesan Synod with the diocesan bishop, the suffragan bishop and archdeacons.
Its role is to:
- consider matters affecting the Church of England in the Diocese;
- act as a forum for debate of Christian opinion on matters of religious or public interest;
- advise the Bishop where requested;
- deal with matters referred by General Synod; and
- provide for the financing of the Diocese.
Deanery Synod
Deanery Synods have two houses, laity and clergy, and their role is to:
- respond to requests from General Synod;
- give effect to the decisions made by the Diocesan Synod;
- consider matters affecting the Church of England by drawing together the views of the parishes within the deanery;
- act as a channel of communication to express the views of parishes to Diocesan Synod and thence to General Synod;
- raise with Diocesan Synod such matters as it considers appropriate; and
- elect members of the deanery to the Diocesan Synod and in respect of the House of Laity elect lay members of the Diocese to General Synod.
The Bishop's Council (and Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod)
Under the construction of the Diocesan Synod, Bishop's Council has the following functions:
- to plan the business of the Synod, to prepare the agenda for its sessions and to circulate to members information about matters for discussion;
- to initiate proposals for action by the Synod and to advise it on matters on policy which are placed before it;
- to advise the President, being the Diocesan Bishop, on any matters which he may refer to the Committee;
- subject to the directions of the Synod, to transact the business of the Synod when the Synod is not in session;
- to appoint members of committees or nominate individuals for election to committees, subject to the directions of the synod; and
- to carry out such functions as the Synod may delegate to it.
The diocese began life as the Archdeaconry of Derby and was originally part of the Diocese of Lichfield.
It was moved to form part of the Diocese of Southwell, when that diocese was created in 1884.
In 1927 the Archdeaconries of Derby and Chesterfield became the new Diocese of Derby, as a response to population growth.
All Saints Derby was hallowed as the Cathedral on the 28th October 1927 and the next day the first Bishop of Derby, Edmund Pearce, was installed.
Although only founded as a separate diocese in 1927, the county has a long and rich Christian history.
The term of office of the current Diocesan Synod ends on 31 July 2015. Therefore Derby Diocese must elect a new Diocesan Synod from its clergy and church members. The electors are members (other than currently co-opted members) of the House of Clergy and the House of Laity of the Deanery Synods of the Diocese. The rules state that the electors are defined at 6.00am on the date on which the nominations papers are issued locally by the Deanery.
Elections to the new Diocesan Synod will be carried out during the period May to July 2015 to a timetable fixed by the Bishop in accordance with Church Representation Rule 32(1). The new Diocesan Synod will take office on 1 August 2015 and the first meeting of the new Diocesan Synod will be on 17 October 2015.
The Bishop, in accordance with Rule 32(2) has appointed the Rural Deans to be the Presiding Officers for elections by the House of Laity of Deanery Synods and the Lay Chairs to be the Presiding Officers for elections by the House of Clergy of Deanery Synods.
Nominations
A Notice of Election must be sent to every qualified elector, together with a nomination form. Every candidate may be nominated and seconded by qualified electors and every candidate must express with their signature, their willingness to serve, if elected. Opportunity is provided for a candidate, if he or she so desires, to set out in 100 words or fewer, a factual statement, such as professional qualifications, present office of relevant experience, for circulation with the voting papers.
Nomination Forms will be posted to all electors on 14 May 2015. Nomination Forms will be sent by post on the same day in order that every elector is treated equally.
Valid paper copies of Nomination Forms must be returned by mid-day on 5 June which is the closing date for nominations.
If nominations are received, which are equal to or less than the number to be elected, then these persons will be elected and notified accordingly. If there are less than the number of people to be elected then the remaining places are treated as casual vacancies and are then filled by the House of Clergy or the House of Laity by a method to be decided by them in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. This process is the responsibility of the Chair of the appropriate House.
Voting Papers
If there are more nominations than there are places to fill, then an election will be organised. A voting paper must be circulated to every qualifying elector by post no later than 12 June 2015 and these have to be returned by mid-day on 3 July. The completed voting paper must be signed by the elector, together with their full name written on the reverse of the form in order to be valid. Candidates will be notified of the result. In the event of equality of votes, the decision shall be taken by lot by the Presiding Officer.
TIMELINE
14 May 2015 Each Deanery issues Notice of Election and Nomination Papers
5 June 2015 Closing date for nominations
19 June 2015 Deanery issues voting papers (if elections are required)
3 July 2015 Closing date for voting
10 July 2015 Deanery presiding officers inform Diocesan Secretary, Deanery Synod Secretaries and candidates of election results and of Diocesan Synod Members
15 July 2015 Diocesan Synod Elections must be complete
1 August 2015 Members of the new Diocesan Synod hold office from this date
17 October 2015 First meeting of the new Diocesan Synod
NUMBERS TO BE ELECTED
DEANERY Clergy Laity
Alfreton 3 3
Bakewell and Eyam 4 5
Bolsover & Staveley 3 4
Buxton 3 2
Chesterfield 8 8
Glossop 2 3
Wirksworth 2 3
Ashbourne 2 3
Derby North 6 4
Derby South 5 4
Duffield 3 5
Heanor 2 2
Erewash 5 6
Longford 2 2
Melbourne 3 3
Repton 3 4
Here are some facts and figures about the Diocese of Derby.
- All the Anglican (Church of England) churches in the UK fall into either the province of Canterbury, or the province of York. The Diocese of Derby is in the Canterbury province. Read more about the Church of England and how it is structured on www.cofe.anglican.org
- The geographical boundaries of the Diocese of Derby and the County of Derbyshire are virtually identical.
- The geographical area of the Diocese is around 997 square miles.
- Its population is around 1,056,000 (the City of Derby is around 261,400).
(Source- Population of local authorities from Census date 2021) - There are 255 parishes.
- There are 330 Church of England churches in the diocese.
- There are 220 licensed clergy (150 stipendiary 70 NSM).
- There are 70+ licensed lay readers.
- Derby was founded as a city in 1977.
- The Collegiate and Parish Church of All Saints became a Cathedral on Thursday, 7 July, 1927, although not hallowed until Friday, 27 October, 1927. It cost £10,000 to adapt the church into a Cathedral.
- The Diocese is divided into three Archdeaconries: Derbyshire Peak and Dales, East Derbyshire and Derby City and South Derbyshire.
- The Diocese is divided further into eight Deaneries: Peak, Carsington, and Dove and Derwent in Derbyshire Peak and Dales; North East, Hardwick, and South East in East Derbyshire; Derby City and Mercia in the Archdeaconry of Derby City and South Derbyshire.
- Since the Diocese was legally inaugurated in 1927, there have been eight diocesan bishops
- Edmund Pearce - 1927 - 1936
- Alfred Rawlinson - 1936- 1959
- Geoffrey Allen - 1959 - 1969
- Cyril Bowles - 1969 - 1988
- Peter Dawes - 1988 - 1995
- Jonathan Bailey - 1995 - 2005
- Alastair Redfern - 2005 - 2018
- Libby Lane - 2019 - present
- There have been two suffragan (or assistant) Bishops of Derby (when Derby was part of the Southwell Diocese before 1927):
- Edward Ash Were - appointed 1889
- Charles Thomas Abraham - appointed 1909
- There have been seven Bishops of Repton:
- William Warren Hunt - 1965 - 1977
- Stephen Edmund Verney - 1977 - 1985
- Francis Henry Arthur Richmond -1986 - 1999
- David Christopher Hawtin - 1999 - 2007
- Humphrey Southern - 2007 - 2015
- Jan McFarlane - 2016 - 2020
- Malcolm Macnaughton - 2021 - present
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Got a question about APCMs? See our FAQs
>> 2025 Diocesan Meeting Schedule
Synodical procedure
Diocesan Synod
The statutory governing body of the Diocese is the Diocesan Synod which is elected with representation across the Diocese with broadly equal numbers of clergy and lay people meeting together in Diocesan Synod with the diocesan Synod with the diocesan bishop, the suffragan bishop and archdeacons.
Its role is to:
- consider matters affecting the Church of England in the Diocese;
- act as a forum for debate of Christian opinion on matters of religious or public interest;
- advise the Bishop where requested;
- deal with matters referred by General Synod; and
- provide for the financing of the Diocese.
Click here for more information, including Diocesan Synod members for the Triennium
Deanery Synod
Deanery Synods have two houses, laity and clergy, and their role is to:
- respond to requests from General Synod;
- give effect to the decisions made by the Diocesan Synod;
- consider matters affecting the Church of England by drawing together the views of the parishes within the deanery;
- act as a channel of communication to express the views of parishes to Diocesan Synod and thence to General Synod;
- raise with Diocesan Synod such matters as it considers appropriate; and
- elect members of the deanery to the Diocesan Synod and in respect of the House of Laity elect lay members of the Diocese to General Synod.
The Bishop's Council (and Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod)
Under the construction of the Diocesan Synod, Bishop's Council has the following functions:
- to plan the business of the Synod, to prepare the agenda for its sessions and to circulate to members information about matters for discussion;
- to initiate proposals for action by the Synod and to advise it on matters on policy which are placed before it;
- to advise the President, being the Diocesan Bishop, on any matters which they may refer to the Committee;
- subject to the directions of the Synod, to transact the business of the Synod when the Synod is not in session;
- to appoint members of committees or nominate individuals for election to committees, subject to the directions of the synod; and
- to carry out such functions as the Synod may delegate to it.
About the Vacancy In See Committee
This is a statutory committee, serving for a three-year term, who only meet when there is a Vacancy in See.
Meaning, in the case of the Diocese of Derby, if the post of the Bishop of Derby were to become vacant, then the Vacancy in See committee would meet.
- Members don’t need to be on any other committee, synod or be a PCC member.
- Members do need to be on an electoral roll or be a clerk in holy orders within the Diocese*
Should a Vacancy in See arise, Members would then meet to identify the needs of the Diocese and work with the Crown Nominations Commission of the General Synod, to identify the next Diocesan Bishop.
This process is governed by The Vacancy in See Committees Regulation 2024. The General Synod makes the Regulation, which is a Consolidation Instrument within the meaning of Standing Order 71(9) of the General Synod.
*Eligibility Criteria (in full…)
Any cleric beneficed in the Diocese or licensed under seal by the Bishop of Derby is eligible for election by members of the House of Clergy of the Diocesan Synod, except that no archdeacon and no person in Episcopal orders is eligible to be elected in this election. (The election involves the whole House of Clergy of the Diocesan Synod. This means that a person from one Area/archdeaconry can be proposed, seconded and be voted for by persons from another).
Any lay person who is an actual communicant, as defined in Church Representation Rule 83(2), and whose name is entered on the electoral roll of a parish in the Diocese is eligible for election by the House of Laity of the Diocesan Synod. (The election involves the whole House of Laity. This means that a person from one Area/archdeaconry can be proposed, seconded and voted for by persons from another).
More information
For more information, please contact the Presiding Officer - presidingofficer@derby.anglican.org.
Resources
>> Diocesan Synod Members for Triennium 2024 - 2027 [PDF]
APCM - Forms and Notices:
>> Notice of APCM - PDF or Word
>> Nomination for PCC - PDF or Word
>> APCM results to return to Derby Church House - PDF or Word
>> Diocese of Derby Data Form - Webpage
Electoral Roll - Forms and Notices:
>> Preparation of Electoral Roll - PDF or Word
>> Application for enrolment on Electoral Roll - PDF or Word
>> Electoral Roll privacy notice - PDF
>> Parish Guidance: The Electoral Roll and GDPR - PDF
>> Electoral Roll certificate for return to Derby Church House -PDF or Word
Church Warden documents are under review for 2025 - further information is to follow
>> Notice of meeting for the election of churchwardens - PDF or Word
>> Nomination for churchwarden - PDF or Word
>> Forms that need to be completed following the election of a churchwarden can be found here.
>> Church Warden visitation information can be found here.
You can see more about the Representation Rules (March 2022 edition) here.
Church Warden visitation information can be found here.
Here are some FAQs regarding APCMs which we hope you will find useful.
Information correct on 31 October 2024
Holding of APCMs:
Welcome to the Diocese of Derby and thanks for considering serving your curacy with us!
If you are completing ordination training in 2025 and have been officially released by your sponsoring diocese to look elsewhere, then please consider coming to the Diocese of Derby to serve your curacy.
If you are interested:
- Check out our curacy training programme
- Explore the parish profiles below
If you would be interested in discussing these posts further, please contact:
The Revd Ben Griffiths, Diocesan Director of Ordinands & Vocations: ben.griffiths@derby.anglican.org - 01332 278169
The Revd Dwayne Engh, Ordained Ministries Development Officer: dwayne.engh@derby.anglican.org - 07425 606421
Parish profiles
>> St Peter's in the City (Derby)
>> The United Benefice of Barlborough and Clowne
Parishes are at the heart of the life and work of the Church of England in the Diocese of Derby.
A parish consists of the baptised people of God in a certain geographical location.
Parishes have a combination of clergy and laity who work together to ensure that local resource are used to make words and work of Jesus known locally.
There are regular services, opportunities for baptism, weddings, funerals and blessings.
To find your local parish church – please use our search facility below.
Parish Focus - stories from individual parishes
Find a Parish:
Use our Search facility below to find your local parish church.
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Please note that all details are based on information provided by parishes, and maybe subject to change without notice. If in doubt, please contact the parish concerned.
Powered by the Derby Church Net Find a Church database.
Parish maps of the deaneries and archdeaconries can be accessed through these pages.
>> Download a printable map of Carsington Deanery here (suitable for A4 & A3) [JPG]
>> Download a printable map of the Archdeaconry of Derbyshire Peak and Dales from this page.
Welcome to the Carsington Deanery!
We are part of the Derbyshire Peak and Dales Archdeaconry.
Archdeacon: The Ven. Nicky Fenton - nicky.fenton@derby.anglican.org
Area Dean: Vacant
Assistant Area Dean: Revd Phil Michell - phil.michell@live.co.uk
>> Click here to view our Facebook page
Carsington Benefices
- Ashbourne with Mapleton with Ashbourne St John (Parishes of Ashbourne with Mapleton; Ashbourne St John) (Ashbourne St John is a private chapel)
- Brailsford with Shirley, Osmaston with Edlaston and Yeaveley (Parishes of Brailsford; Shirley; Osmaston; Edlaston; Yeaveley)
- Clifton in Plurality with Norbury with Snelston (Parishes of Clifton; Norbury; Snelston)
- Darley, South Darley and Winster (Parishes of Darley; South Daley; Winster)
- Fenny Bentley, Thorpe, Tissington, Parwich and Alsop-En-Le-Dale (Parishes of Alsop-En-Le-Dale; Fenny Bentley; Parwich; Thorpe; Tissington)
- Hulland, Atlow, Kniveton, Bradley and Hognaston (Parishes of Atlow; Bradley; Hognaston; Hulland; Kniveton)
- Matlock Bank and Tansley (Parishes of All Saints, Matlock Bank; Tansley)
- Matlock Bath and Cromford (Parishes of St Mary Cromford; Matlock Bath)
- Matlock, Dethick, Lea and Holloway (Parishes of Dethick, Lea and Holloway; Matlock (St Giles)
- Wirksworth (Parishes of Bonsall; Bradbourne; Brassington; Carsington; All Saints, Elton; St James, Idridgehay; Kirk Ireton; Middleton; Wirksworth with Alderwasley)
>> Parish Spotlights for Carsington Deanery
Carsington Deanery Synod Meetings 2025
Tuesday, 1 July 2025
Thursday, 23 October 2025
>> Download a printable map of Dove and Derwent Deanery here (suitable for A4 and A3) [JPG]
>> Download a printable map of the Archdeaconry of Derbyshire Peak and Dales from this page.
Welcome to the Dove and Derwent Deanery!
We are part of the Derbyshire Peak and Dales Archdeaconry.
Archdeacon: The Ven. Nicky Fenton - nicky.fenton@derby.anglican.org
Area Dean: Revd Dr James Hughes - james.t.hughes@btopenworld.com
Assistant Area Dean: - Revd Stella Greenwood
Dove and Derwent Benefices
- Ambergate and Heage (Parishes of St. Anne, Ambergate; Heage)
- Belper Christ Church with Turnditch (Parishes of Christ Church Belper; Turnditch)
- Belper (Parish of Belper) (Three churches - Belper St Peter Parish Church; St Mark Openwoodgate; St. Swithin)
- Duffield and Little Eaton (Parishes of Duffield; St. Paul, Little Eaton)
- Etwall, Egginton, Dalbury, Sutton-on-the-Hill and Trusley (Parishes of Etwall; Egginton; Dalbury; Sutton on the Hill; Trusley)
- Hazelwood, Holbrook and Milford (Parishes of Hazelwood and Milford; Holbrook)
- Hilton with Marston on Dove, Hatton, Boylestone and Church Broughton (Parishes of Hilton with Marston on Dove; Hatton; Boylestone; Church Broughton)
- Kirk Langley and Mackworth; Mugginton and Kedleston; Longford; and Long Lane (Parishes of Kirk Langley; Mackworth (All Saints); Mugginton and Kedleston; Longford; Long Lane)
- The South Dales (Parishes of Alkmonton; Cubley; Doveridge; Marston Montgomery; Somersal Herbert; Sudbury; Scropton)
>> Spotlights on parishes in Dove and Derwent Deanery
Dove and Derwent Deanery Synod - 2025
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Wednesday, 19 November 2025
>> Download a printable map of Hardwick Deanery here (suitable for A4 and A3) [JPG]
>> Download a printable map of the Archdeaconry of East Derbyshire from this page.
Welcome to the Hardwick Deanery.
We are part of the Archdeaconry of East Derbyshire
Archdeacon - The Ven. Karen Hamblin - karen.hamblin@derby.anglican.org
Area Dean - Revd Rachel Williams - revrwilliams25@gmail.com
Assistant Area Dean - Revd Imogen Black - imogen.black@trinity-oxford.com
Assistant Area Dean - Peter Bold - revdbold@gmail.com
Synod Lay Chair – John Atkin
Synod Treasurer – Mrs Di Fretwell
Synod Secretary – Miss Ailsa Cooling
Assistant Warden of Readers – Mrs Di Fretwell
Deanery Synod Meetings 2025
Thursday, 10 July 2025 at 7pm – Venue TBC
Wednesday, 12 November 2025 at 7pm – Venue TBC
Refreshments at 6.30pm, meeting starts at 7pm
Hardwick Benefices
- Alfreton (Parish of Alfreton)
- Ashover and Handley, and Brackenfield with Wessington (Parishes of Ashover and Handley; Brackenfield; Wessington)
- Ault Hucknall and Scarcliffe (Parishes of Ault Hucknall; Scarcliffe)
- Blackwell with Tibshelf (Parishes of Blackwell; Tibshelf)
- Bolsover (Parish of Bolsover)
- Crich and South Wingfield (Parishes of Crich; South Wingfield)
- East Scarsdale (Parishes of Pleasley, Shirebrook, Upper Langwith with Langwith Bassett; Whaley Thorns)
- Heath (Parish of Heath) (including Holmewood)
- Morton and Stonebroom with Shirland (Parishes of Morton; Shirland; St. Peter Stonebroom)
- North Wingfield, Clay Cross and Pilsley (Parish of North Wingfield) (includes 3 Parish Churches Clay Cross, North Wingfield and Pilsley, and two additional churches at Tupton and Danesmoor)
- Pinxton (Parish of Pinxton)
- Riddings and Ironville (Parishes of Riddings; Ironville)
- Somercotes (Parish of St. Thomas, Somercotes)
- South Normanton (Parish of South Normanton)
