We love all the creative and different ways churches are engaging with their parishes and beyond.
Our vision is The Kingdom of God, Good News for All and it's great to see how so many churches in the Diocese of Derby are sharing stories of their success in achieving transformed lives through growing church and building community.
Here are some of the social media stories that have caught our eye recently:
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Bishop Libby has presented around 140 Bishop's Badges to those nominated for missional long service and missional innovation awards this year.
The special services, Bishop's Badge Schools and A Celebration of Lay Ministry, took place in Derby Cathedral in June, September and October.
The annual presentations celebrate ministry and service in churches and communities, recognising the distinguished service and dedication of many individuals contributing in Jesus’s name to the mission of their church.
And in schools, children are honoured for their commitment to generous faith, courageous hope and life-giving love.
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In 1927, the Diocese of Derby was founded and Bishop Edmund Courtenay Pearce, the first Bishop of Derby, arranged for a medal to be struck to celebrate this new beginning.
Copies of the medal were presented to prominent members of the diocese and to all those being confirmed in that year.
In recent years, the seventh Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern, arranged for a replica of this medal to be minted and mounted in the form of a badge.
As the eighth Bishop of Derby, Bishop Libby continues this tradition.
Each year these badges are awarded based upon recommendations made to the bishop, as a gesture from the diocese to acknowledge outstanding service to God's church.
Receiving their Bishop's Badges on Sunday, 6 October, were:
Awards for Missional Innovation
Andrew Baldwin, St Michael, Stanton by Bridge
Caroline Cooke, Holy Trinity, Ilkeston
Helen Crisp, Holy Trinity, Ilkeston
Rachel Hewitt, St Michael with St Mary, Melbourne
Richard Maltby, Holy Trinity, Matlock Bath
Peter Newberry, Holy Trinity, Matlock Bath
Awards for Missional Long Service
Clive Avery, St Michael with St Mary, Melbourne
Hilary Bartlett, All Saints, Bakewell
Nigel Bartlett, All Saints, Bakewell
Phillip Briggs, St Michael's, Pleasley
Mike Bromby, Christ Church, Cotmanhay and Shipley
Elizabeth Brookes, Boulton St Mary
Kate Bunting, Cathedral Church of All Saints, Derby
Alan Burlison, Glossop, All Saints
Catherine Butler-Worrall, Christ Church, Cotmanhay and Shipley
Eileen Chadwick, St John the Evangelist, Hazelwood
Elaine Chappell, St Leonard's, Scarcliffe
Catherine Clark, St John the Baptist, Tibshelf
Jodie Clarke, St Bartholomew, Old Whittington
Christine Dale, Holy Cross Church, Upper Langwith
Jackie Day, St Barnabas, Derby
Anne Doody, St Peter and St Paul, Old Brampton
David Edwards, St James, Smisby
Liz Eley, St Peter's, Littleover & Blagreaves
Phil Eley, St Peter's, Littleover & Blagreaves
Gill Flatman, St Edmund's, Allestree
Richard Flatman, St Edmund's, Allestree
Julie Franks, St John the Evangelist, Newbold with Dunston
Valerie Gamble, St Michael's, Pleasley
Michael Halls, St Oswald's, Ashbourne with St Mary's, Mappleton
Cathryn Haywood, St Michael's, Willington
Michael Hyde, St Oswald's, Ashbourne with St Mary's, Mappleton
George Johnson, St Wystan's, Repton
Louise Jones, St Barnabas, New Whittington
Anne Knyhynyckyi, All Saints, Wingerworth
Pauline Leigh, Holy Trinity and Christ Church, Chesterfield
Malcolm Lewins, St Michael's, Willington
Carol Lewins, St Michael's Willington
Judith Lovett, Loundsley Green Church (LEP)
Pat Mann, St Mark's, Winshill
Keith Mann, St Mark's, Winshill
Margaret Matthews, St Michael's, Kirk Langley
Gloria Methven, St Mark's, Winshill
Hamish Methven, St Mark's, Winshill
Godfrey Meynell, St Michael's, Kirk Langley
Rick Naylor, All Saints, Bakewell
Russell Parrish, St Barnabas, New Whittington
Pamela Pickard, Holy Trinity, Shirebrook
Mary Plevey, St Michael and All Angels, Brimington
Sheila Rice, All Saints, Heath with St Albans, Holmewood
Claire Riley, St Leonard's, Scarcliffe
Wendy Savage, St Michael's, Sutton-on-the-Hill
Carol Sharpe, St Bartholomew, Old Whittington
Tim Swift, St Bartholomew, Old Whittington
Pete Taylor, St Matthew's Church, Darley Abbey
Sandra Tye, All Saints, Heath with St Albans, Holmewood
Susan Wareing, St Barnabas, Derby
Patricia Whale, St Helen, Etwall
Dorothy Wibberley, St Bartholomew, Old Whittington
Michael Wilson, Glossop, All Saints
Richard Wood, St Edmund's, Allestree
Paul Woodhouse-Severn, St Peter and St Paul, Old Brampton
Christine Woodward, Benefice of West Hallam & Mapperley with Stanley
Receiving their Bishop's Badges on Sunday, 15 September, were:
Awards for Missional Innovation
Philippa Buchanan, St John, Long Eaton
Lucy Coleman, St Michael and All Angels, Brimington
Rosemary Corfield, St Anne's, Derby
Christine Hill, St Michael and All Angels, Brimington
Kevin Jones, St Peter, Elmton with St Mary Magdelene, Creswell
Robert Wheat, St Michael, Stanton by Bridge
Awards for Missional Long Service
Rosemary Annable, Cathedral Church of All Saints, Derby
Carol Austin, All Saints, Wingerworth
Frank Bagshaw, Cathedral Church of All Saints, Derby
David Baldry, Ashford-in-the-Water
Marlene Bennett MBE, St Martin, Alfreton
Stuart Boon, St Bartholomew and St Luke's, Derby
Ann Capstick, Glossop, All Saints
Christopher Charlton, Derby Diocese
Carole Clay, St Bartholomew and St Luke's, Derby
Tom Corfield, St Anne's, Derby
Margaret Crosdale, St Katherine's, Rowsley
Les Dodd, Cathedral Church of All Saints, Derby
Sue Elson, St Mary the Virgin, Newton Solney
Jennifer Hogg, St John the Baptist, Tibshelf
Hilary Hull, Ashford-in-the-Water
Janet Jordan, St Michael and All Angels, Brimington
John Loveless, St Edmund's, Castleton
Derek Marbeck, Glossop, All Saints
Diana Marshall, All Saints, South Wingfield
Maggie Mellish, St George, Ticknall
David Meredith, Christ Church, Belper
Cheryl Mulvey, St Peter's, Hope
Tim Norman, St Mary the Virgin, Newton Solney
Pamela Pickard, Holy Trinity, Shirebrook
Brenda Pickford, Glossop, All Saints
Christine Pycroft, Glossop, All Saints
Lesley Richardson, Glossop, All Saints
Barrie Rogers, St Mary the Virgin, Newton Solney
Richard Taylor, Derby Diocese
Eileen Margaret Taylor, St Michael and All Angels, South Normanton
Lynn Warren, St Katherine's, Rowsley
John Whitfield, St Edmund's , Castleton
Keith Womble, St Lawrence, Whitwell with All Saints, Steetley
We love all the creative and different ways churches are engaging with their parishes and beyond.
Our vision is The Kingdom of God, Good News for All and it's great to see how so many churches in the Diocese of Derby are sharing stories of their success in achieving transformed lives through growing church and building community.
Here are a few of your social media stories that have caught our eye recently:
- All
After finishing university and moving back home, I wanted to gain experience working with children and young people whilst also accessing some further training, so Future Youth was perfect for me.
It also gave me the chance to experience a different type of church and create a new Christian family compared to my normal church that I have grown up in.
Although based at Derby Cathedral, I have been able to explore other youth ministries within the deanery.
I would not have been able to do this scheme if it had not been paid.
Due to travel expenses and the climbing increase of living costs, it would not have been viable for me to start, never mind complete.
It has given me the life experience of working a full-time job and helped me become more independent.
The highlight of my year has been the increase of children attending Sunday morning service and that of messy cathedral.
Bringing part of who I am to the role has been great, including my agricultural background as I brought a lamb to the Easter Messy Cathedral.
Asking colleagues at the Cathedral, they have all commented on how my input has led to an increase Messy Cathedral attendance and sustainability as well as the Sunday school.
I am proud that being a part of this scheme at the cathedral has led to an increase in youth connection and outreach.
Everyday Faith is the new daily devotional app from the Church of England designed to inspire, equip and encourage growth in faith every day of the week, not just on Sundays.
The app aims to help individuals to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in the whole of life.
It provides carefully curated daily reflections, including selected Bible readings, a simple prayer for the day ahead, and thoughts based on that week's theme.
- Download the Everyday Faith app: Google Play | App Store
- See our Everday Faith videos
The app builds on the success of the Everyday Faith portal, and supports the CofE's vision of becoming a church of missionary disciples, resourcing individuals to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in the whole of life.
This version of the app also responds to overwhelming demand from our users for an app that delivers inspirational reflections year-round, rather than focussed on seasonal content during Lent and Advent.
The idea is to create a space encouraging Christians to grow in their faith daily and it is hoped this can be an encouragement to local church leaders and to church congregants and help all who use it.
Everyday Faith is about where and how we encounter God as we go about our lives.
Where is God in our daily lives? How do we find God in the fullness of everyday life?
Whether you wish to develop your faith or support others in theirs, Everyday Faith is designed to support you in your life discipleship or vocational journey.
St Alkmund's Church in Derby is to host one of a series of vocational events for those who are disabled or neurodivergent.
The event, on Saturday, 21 September, could give those who are deaf, disabled or neurodivergent the opportunity to explore their sense of calling to lay or ordained ministry, in a safe, accessible space with engaging presentations by keynote speakers.
The speakers at the Derby event are:
- Haydon Spenceley - Peterborough Diocese Director of Ordinands
- Lynda Herbert - Licensed Lay Minister, Diocese of Derby Disability Inclusion Action Group member
Drawing directly from their own lived experience, they will share their stories and talk about how they worked through their sense of vocation.
They’ll also be able to answer questions about how accessible they found the discernment process and how they were able to deal with barriers which arose in connection with their disability and difference.
The national Disability Project is working to improve accessibility, inclusion and participation for those who are deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent in all aspects of our church life, as part of the Church of England’s vision to be ‘younger and more diverse’.
For full details, visit https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/barrier-free-belonging/explore-your-calling
Bishop Libby is encouraging us all to pray ahead of Sunday's Euro 2024 final between England and Spain
The Church of England's lead bishop for sport was in York for General Synod when she watched England's thrilling penalty-shootout victory over Switzerland.
And she posted simply 'Go England!' on Facebook following the semi-final win over the Netherlands that put England's men into their first-ever final on foreign soil.
Here is a prayer you can use ahead of this Sunday's final:
God of grace and mercy,
for all that gives us joy and offers us hope,
we give you thanks.
We rejoice that we are brought together,
across our rich and vibrant diversity, in celebration and shared experience -
and we pray the goodness of all that will last long beyond Sunday (whatever the result).
You know the desires of our hearts,
and we know those hopes are echoed in hearts across the Netherlands.
And so, as we turn to you again in prayer;
we do not ask for victory (though we are honest in naming that we want it) –
rather we ask, once more, that striving for excellence
will be marked by humility and fair play
and rooted in respect for others, on and off the pitch.
May our desire to win not overwhelm our common humanity
and may we, finally, find our hope and peace in you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St Peter's Church in Fairfield, Buxton, is one of over 100 churches to be offered a grant as part of the £5.2M Demonstrator Churches project from the Church of England’s Net Zero Programme.
This aims to help 114 churches in 2024 and 2025 pay for items such as solar panels, heat pumps, insulation, secondary glazing, LED lighting and infrared heating systems.
The Victorian church has been given funding for net zero projects as part of a new project from the Church of England.
As work progresses, the network of Demonstrator Churches - representing many different types of community and situations - will share what they have learned more widely with dioceses and parishes so that all Church of England churches can learn from their experiences.
Fairfield St Peter has received a Church of England Demonstrator Churches grant of £15,000 to explore transforming its carbon footprint and energy use by replacing its defunct boiler with a low-carbon alternative. The grant will be used to employ consultants to assess the alternatives and the needs of the church going forwards.
The Revd Howard Robson, priest-in-charge, said: “We’re delighted to have been selected by the Diocese of Derby to be a Demonstrator Church and showcase what can be done to reduce a church’s carbon emissions, and we're keen top see what he consultants come up with!"
“Climate change is having negative effects on communities everywhere and by exploring how to best make changes to reduce our own emissions, we can play a part in tackling the problem and make a real difference.
"We’re pleased we'll be able to share our experience, knowing we can help other churches in our area with their net-zero projects.”
Abi Hiscock, Project and Grants Manager for the Church of England’s Net Zero Demonstrator Churches Project, said: “Ultimately, we want to demonstrate that with the right support and infrastructure, churches from diverse settings and facing a variety of challenges can reach net zero by 2030.
“By the end of this project, we will have over 100 case studies on what to do and when, and what not to do. Along the way, the supported churches are all required to act as champions to other churches in their dioceses or geographically near to them, or simply to other churches working from similar baselines to them, so that the learnings from these projects engage, influence and support this vision.”
It is hoped the project will reduce carbon emissions by 6,615 tonnes by 2030 – targeting some of the highest emitting churches across the UK.
The Demonstrator Churches project is part of the Church of England’s ambitious Net Zero Carbon Programme which aims to equip, resource and support all parts of the Church to reduce carbon emissions from the energy used in its buildings, schools and through work-related transport by 2030.
Bishops Libby and Malcolm have ordained four new deacons and six new priests in Petertide services at Derby Cathedral.
Ordination services are a time to celebrate and welcome new deacons (those to be given the title Reverend) and priests (deacons who have been training under an incumbent for a year) into the diocese.
The new deacons (ordained by Bishop Libby) are:
Benjamin Andreo-Boosey, to serve in the the Benefice of Chesterfield Ss Augustine
Kara Gander, to serve in the Benefice of Swadlincote and Hartshorne, Newhall, and Gresley (collectively known as Swadlincote Minster)
Ailsa Hunt, to serve in the Benefice of Kirk Hallam
Sue Leather, to serve in the Benefice of Derby St Peter and Christ Church with Holy Trinity.
The new priests (ordained by Bishop Malcolm) are:
Josephine Chamings, to serve in the Benefice of Brampton St Thomas and Brampton St Mark,
Peter Dale, to serve in the Benefice of Mackworth St Francis,
Emma Mallord, to serve in the Benefice of Littleover and Blagreaves, and Findern,
Clare Owen, to serve in the Benefice of Mickleover and the Parish of Radbourne,
Lisa Price, to serve in the Benefice of Hope, Castleton and Bradwell,
Nicholas Radford-Powell, to serve in the Benefice of Wirksworth (Team Ministry).
The preacher was The Revd Prebendary Dr Isabelle Hamley, Principal of Ridley Hall College, who led the ordination retreat.
