If you have landed here by mistake, then please refer to our updated safeguarding training page 

Throughout Lent and Holy Week, one million people will visit A Church Near You.

Many of these visitors will be looking for a service or event to attend during this season.

Will they be able to find yours?

Maundy Thursday Services

Belper, St Mark - Parish Holy Communion for Maundy Thursday - 7pm
Blackwell, St Werburgh - Maundy Thursday Communion - 7pm
Chaddesden, St Philip - Mass of the Last Supper, washing of feet and watch - 7.30pm
Derby, St John the Evangelist - Eucharist with foot washing - 7.30pm
Derby, St Luke - Mass of the Lord's Supper, followed by watch with Blessed Sacrament until midnight - 7.30pm
Duffield, St Alkmund - Maundy Thursday Communion Service - 6.30pm
Matlock, St Giles - Sung Eucharist and Watch until Midnight - 7.30pm
Ripley, All Saints - Holy Communion for Maundy Thursday - 7.30pm
Wingerworth, All Saints - Eucharist of Last Supper, washing of feet and watch until midnight - 7.30pm

Good Friday Services

Other Easter Events 

Sun 13 April 2019 - Messy Easter - 10.30am - St John the Baptist, Tibshelf

Sun 13 April 2019 - Easter Kids - 10.30am - St Werburgh, Blackwell

Sun 14 April 2019 - Crown of Thorns (an original cantata) - 6pm - Christ Church, Linton and Castle Gresley

Sun 14 April 2019 - Easter Afternoon Tea for Mums and Daughters - 2.30pm (£2 per family) - St Alkmund, Duffield.

Tue 16 April 2019 - Christians Together in Swanwick at Swanwick Methodist Church - Messy Easter - 10.00am : 2.00pm

Fri 19 April 2019 - Good Friday Frugal Lunch - 12.30 noon - St John the Baptist, Tibshelf

Sat 20 April 2019 - Struggling Saints, A Holy Saturday time with God - 12.30pm : 4.15pm - St Mark, Brampton

Sat 20 April 2019 - Easter Concert with Mike Swan, James & Emma Rollin - 7.30pm - St Alkmund, Duffield 

To send us details of your event, please use this form:

2026

>> 2026 Diocesan Meeting Schedule

Clergy Conference

Monday, 12 - Tuesday, 13 October 2026

Lay Ministry conference

Saturday, 12 September 2026

General Synod

9 - 13 February 2026 (London)

10 - 14 July 2026 (York)

16 - 18 November 2026 (London)

Diocesan Synod

14 March 2026

13 June 2026

17 October 2026 - Cliff College, Carver

Bishop's Council (18.00 - 21.00)

16 February 2026

11 May 2026

6 July 2026

21 September 2026

3 November 2026

Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) (14:00 - 16:00)

2 February 2026

23 March 2026

18 May 2026

6 July 2026

21 September 2026

30 November 2026

Contents

1. Safeguarding E-Manual
2. The Future of Safeguarding Summary
3. Diocese of Derby Safeguarding Strategy
4. Past Cases Review 2
5. Promoting a Safer Church
6. Recruitment of Ex-Offenders
7. Practice Guidance: Safeguarding Training and Development
8. Parish Audit Tool
9. Practice Guidance: How to make a Safeguarding Serious Incident report to the Charity Commission
10. Diocese of Derby Safeguarding Complaints Policy
11. Clergy File Access Policy
12. Whistleblowing Policy
13. Dignity at Work Policy

1. Safeguarding e-manual
All up-to-date safeguarding policies and procedures are now available in the Safeguarding e-manual, which should be your primary reference point. The Safeguarding Dashboard also provides helpful links and action notes. 
https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/safeguarding-e-manual 

2. The Future of Safeguarding Summary - June 2025
Click here to download a PDF copy of the summary

3. Diocese of Derby Safeguarding Strategy 2022 - 2025
Click here to download a PDF copy of the summary 

4. Past Cases Review 2 (PCR2)
https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/reviews-and-reports/past-cases-review-2

5. Promoting a Safer Church
This poster should be completed and displayed in all churches and is used to direct people to someone they can contact if they have a safeguarding concern. 
Promoting a Safer Church poster PDF v April 2026 or Promoting a Safer Church poster Editable v April 2026 

6. Recruitment of Ex-Offenders
This template policy may be downloaded and completed for all Benefice and Parishes who require a policy on the recruitrment of Ex-Offenders.
Click here to download a Word version of Recruitment of Ex-Offenders 

7. Safeguarding Training and Development, August 2024
https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/safeguarding-e-manual/safeguarding-learning-and-development-framework

8. Parish Audit Tool 
https://derby.anglican.org/en/parish-dashboard.html 

9. Practice guidance: How to make a Safeguarding Serious Incident report to the Charity Commission, October 2018
Click here to download a PDF copy of the summary 

10. Diocese of Derby Safeguarding Complaints Policy
A guide to the procedure in dealing with complaints about the way a safeguarding issue has been handled.
Click here to download a PDF copy of the policy. 

11. Clergy File Access Policy
This document explains who can access clergy files and under what circumstances - and how they are controlled
Click here to download a PDF copy of the policy. 

12. Whistleblowing Policy
This policy seeks to enable staff to alert the organisation to any potential problem or wrongdoing reasonably believed to exist, without fear of any negative reprisal in response to the revelation.
Click here to download a PDF copy of the policy. 

13. Dignity at Work Policy
Abuse, harassment and bullying – however rare - will not be tolerated in the Diocese.
Click here to download a PDF copy of the policy. 

Mention the Derbyshire village of Eyam, and the chances are that the word ‘plague’ will also end up being part of the conversation.

Eyam (pronounced ‘eem’, by the way!) had its extraordinary history shaped around 350 years ago when the village quarantined itself to avoid the plague spreading beyond its locale.

More information will be available on this page soon.

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

"If God is in control of your life then nothing is impossible."

Jan Hutchinson: ordained priest, 29 June 2019

Hi, my name is Jan Hutchinson; the Reverend Jan Hutchinson.

Gosh! That’s taking some getting used to, especially so in that it involved a long journey of discovery.

My Brother and I were streetwise kids, left to our own devices, we learned to survive in any way we could. Along with my mother we often found ourselves sleeping on the streets.

I didn’t attend school until I was 11 and left school at the age of fourteen, barely able to read.

Shortly after leaving school I also left home.

Finding low paid work, I mostly sheltered in empty houses.

At 17, I joined the Army where, during tests, it was discovered that I was dyslexic.

Despite this, I scored well on the intelligence scale. The Army placed me into special education and brought me to a good reading standard.

I went on to train as a radar operator and spent most of my time in the Outer Hebrides with the responsibility for air traffic control.

I have to say that the Army was my first experience of a stable home; it was my family.

On leaving the Army I married my Husband Peter, we had our 48th wedding anniversary in June 2018. We have one son, also called Peter, and four Grandchildren.

I suppose I could say my journey to faith was an “on the road to Damascus experience.”

I was in my mid- thirties when one morning I went to buy a Sunday paper and found myself walking past the shop and into the nearby church.

Despite never having attended a church, I can only describe that experience of being one of an instant understanding and an acceptance of God in my life.

I continued to attend church, was baptised and confirmed.

Growing in faith over the years (which included a good deal of growing pains) I went forward by being licensed as a Reader in 1999. I was licensed in York Minster by Archbishop John Sentamu, who gave me a personal message which I have carried over the years and continue to do so.

That message played a massive part in my journey to ordination.

Directed by God and prompted by others, and with the support of my family, I set out on what appeared to be another impossible journey.

I think we can all agree, though, that if God is in control of your life then nothing is impossible.

Needless to say, the impossible did indeed become possible and my journey continues.

>> See also: Vocations - hearing God's call

That journey is incredibly important to me, simply because people are incredibly important to me, especially those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and those who feel they have little worth.

God gave me worth, my mission is to do likewise - to give of myself and to share my life experiences to inspire others to not only find worth in themselves, but to find the loving God in their lives.

Therefore, in trepidation, in the vulnerability of who I am, I hope to serve those in my benefice, in my community and those I meet in the circumstances of everyday life.

Jan is now serving as Assistant Curate at St Wilfrid West Hallam, Holy Trinity Mapperley and St Andrew Stanley.

Just because it’s on the web, it doesn’t mean you can use it!

Copyright – a quick guide

Whenever you produce material for the diocese, your parish, church, group or organisation, you need to be aware of copyright law and best practice.

This applies to both printed material (posters, magazines, leaflets etc) and digital work (websites, e-newsletters, social media, including video and audio).

Here’s a quick guide to help you not fall foul of copyright law.