Church Admin
Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) are lay people licensed by the diocesan bishop to lead, preach, teach, and enable others. They are lay theologians who are engaged with their communities and the culture around them and are called to teach the faith, enable mission in the everyday, and lead in church and society. As people admitted to the office of Reader, their ministry is voluntary, nationally accredited, episcopally licensed and governed by Canon Law.
They do this both inside and outside the existing Church by:
- Explaining the Christian faith
- Responding pastorally to need
- Being role models for, and fellow disciples with, people seeking to live out the Christian gospel in today’s world
The role is often described as ‘theologically educated and culturally engaged.
Readers were first used in the 19th Century, when there was a massive increase in the population of England. In response the Victorians built lots of churches and then had to work out how to respond to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the people who flocked to them, as well as their expectations for well-led services.
Part of the answer was to licence a group of lay people to work with the clergy. They were called “Readers” because one of their more obvious jobs was to read out loud Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, so that congregations could join in.
Readers come from all walks of life. There are currently around 150 Readers (licenced and with Permission to Officiate) involved in mission and ministry around the Diocese of Derby.
Some are involved in chaplaincy in schools, prisons, workplaces and hospitals, others are involved in pioneer ministry or community development, and still more are involved with preaching and teaching in the parish and leading worship.All Readers in the diocese are licenced to a parish or benefice to enable them to have direct relationships of accountability and support.However, this doesn’t mean that they are restricted to working within one parish or the work that the parish or benefice is already doing.Many Readers initiate new pieces of work and projects formed out of their relationships with ordinary people going about their everyday lives.
To support and enable LLM (Readers) in mission and ministry, the Diocese provides pastoral support and care for them, email update, a programme of learning opportunities and various social events.
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Accessible Church website
Taking Minutes
Fees Table 2022 (locally agreed)
Parochial Fees Guidance 2022 (locally revised)
Capable buildings enable discipleship, mission and ministry.
Buildings are a positive asset when they are fit for purpose, but conversely, can feel like an anchor, stopping a PCC and congregation from fully embodying it’s discipleship, mission and ministry.
When buildings are fit for purpose…
- They play a key role in Transforming Lives, by acting as the stage for people’s major life events.
- They play a major role in Growing Church by providing a sanctuary of peace, a space to worship God, and a place to teach and inspire.
- They play many roles in Building Community - meeting place, polling station, community hub, food bank, spiritual resource centre, to name just a few.
A sustainable and relevant church building will potentially look very different from parish to parish, but working towards a Local Building Development Plan will give the PCC an opportunity to consider all the options and in turn, help reset or strengthen the connection between:
- The church building and the vision of the PCC and congregation.
- The church community and wider parish community
Creating a Local Building Development Plan is one way that can help you:
- Identify or reaffirm the core vision and ministries of the PCC and congregation in relation to your local context.
- Assess the current attributes and elements of the building.
- Determine what the building needs, to support your vision & enable discipleship, mission and ministry within your local community.
- Prioritize the changes needed and identify the resources required.
The very simple 4 step toolkit is something a PCC can use on its own or in concert with other resources. However, it should always involve the wider parish community beyond the four walls. Rmember, a church building is not a clubhouse, but a parish’s place of gathering, worship and sanctuary.
Here is the link to the Local Building Development Plan
Do you have a small church project that could have a big impact?
Are you looking for a relatively small grant that requires no match funding?
If so, this could be just right for you; £5,000 to fund small but not insignificant capital projects that will generate outcomes which achieve and support mission, community or growth.
There are always good ideas on the boil to enhance welcome, improve accessibility, or perhaps to make small but much needed changes to internal areas. So now is the time to make a significant impact through a small change.
Details, including a full list of criteria and downloadable application form, are available below.
If you are successful, you will be expected to draw on the grant within 12 months.
Applications will be considered by Business Committee at their regular meetings.
2026 application deadlines
Wenesday 7th January - signed application and supporting doc scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 22nd January
Friday 20th February - signed application and supporting doc scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 12th March
For any further information about applying for the Raymond Ross Large Grants email: gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org or call on 01332 338690 (Mondays/Tuesdays)
This fund offers parishes an exciting opportunity to develop their local church or hall premises, making them more community and mission shaped, and accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
Your project needs to meet outcomes which achieve and support mission, community or growth. A preference will be given to applications from parishes in deprived areas of the Diocese. The maximum grant available will be £25,000 and requires match funding. Parishes will be required to take up grants within two years of a successful application.
The fund is not available for maintenance or repair and cannot be applied for retrospectively.
To download the fund criteria and general information click here
To download an an application form click here
Applications will be assessed by the Business Committee at their regular meetings.
2026 application deadlines
Wenesday 7th January - signed application and supporting doc scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 22nd January
Friday 20th February - signed application and supporting doc scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 12th March
For any further information about applying for the Raymond Ross Large Grants email: gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org or call on 01332 338690 (Mondays/Tuesdays)
This fund is aimed at supporting local congregations to act with a generous faith, through engaging with and embracing the communities they seek to serve. The Diocesan Vision encourages us to be outward facing, rooted in and connected to our communities.
There is an expectation that parishes will work in partnership and create networks for the common good, with particular care for the marginalised and vulnerable. The projects this fund is seeking to support are those which see the church proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom in word and action. The church needs to be good news for all, and this means projects that look to include and/or partner with, other groups or individuals in the host community, demonstrating meaningful and open engagement with those who have had little or no contact with the congregation.
The Diocese wishes to particularly encourage churches to reach out to those who have not considered the church community as a group to which they can relate. Projects that build on the notion of tolerance, reconciliation and friendship will be of particular interest, as will projects that clearly demonstrate the key characteristic of outward-facing generosity, impacting the world for good.
You can apply for up to £2000 without match funding required. Further information, criteria and application forms can be downloaded here or requested from the Church Buildings Support Officer, Gareth Greenwood by email at gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
2026 application deadlines
Wenesday 7th January - signed application and supporting doc scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 22nd January
Friday 20th February - signed application and supporting doc scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 12th March
For any further information about applying for the Building Community Fund, email: gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org or call on 01332338690
You can download the application form and criteria here
How your church can start taking card payments!
As fewer people carry cash, it’s becoming increasingly important for parishes to look at alternative ways to receive payments and donations.
There’s a new category on the Parish Buying website to help churches consider the different types of reader for contactless and chip and pin card payments.
Alongside small hand-held card readers (which cost as little as £19 each) there now are more sophisticated self-service donation units available for churches to buy.
To find out more visit www.parishbuying.org.uk/contactless
>> Churches that have trialled a digital collection box have reported a 97% increase in donations! Read more (from BBC News)
How can my Church start taking card payments? 
Watch this short video from the National Stewardship Team: https://vimeo.com/album/5118798/video/265190588
How do I download an app to use my card reader?
Watch this short video from the National Stewardship Team: https://vimeo.com/album/5118798/video/265198072
Why should I set up products?
Watch this short video from the National Stewardship Team: https://vimeo.com/album/5118798/video/265201230
How do I claim Gift Aid on a card donation?
Watch this short video from the National Stewardship Team: https://vimeo.com/album/5118798/video/264576213
>> See also: Parish Giving Scheme
