Bishop Libby writes:

It was my profound privilege to have an audience with Pope Francis soon after I was consecrated Bishop in 2015.

He was generous with his time and gracious and humorous in his conversation (spending as time discussing football with me as expressing celebration and care for my ministry).

As was his practice, Pope Francis asked that I pray for him, and I have done so for the past 10 years.

As Archbishop Stephen has noted in his tribute, ‘Pope Francis whole life was centred on Jesus who comes among us not to be served but to serve … Francis showed us how to follow Jesus and encouraged us to go and do likewise’.

He was a holy and humble man. Although I am saddened by the news of his death and recognise the grief felt by millions of Roman Catholics across the world today, having celebrated Easter yesterday, he died in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection knowing the joy of the risen Christ. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Please join me in in prayer, giving thanks for his life and ministry:

Father in heaven, we praise your name for all who have finished this life loving and trusting you for the example of their lives, the life and grace you gave them and the peace in which they rest.
We praise you today for your servant Francis and for all that you did through him.
Meet us in our sadness and fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving,
for the sake of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant Francis.
Acknowledge, we pray, a sheep of your own fold,
a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.
Enfold him in the arms of your mercy,
In the blessed rest of everlasting peace and in the glorious company of the saints in light.
Amen.

Recently, many Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) came together with Bishop Libby at St Barnabas Centre in Danesmoor for a quiet day.

LLM(R)s play an important role in the public ministry of the Church by teaching the faith, enabling mission in the everyday, and leading in church and society.

They are key leaders in our churches, and work collaboratively with clergy colleagues across the diocese.

On Saturday, 3 May 2025, 12 LLM(R) candidates will be admitted to the Office of Reader 2.30pm in Derby Cathedral, after which they will take up their new ministry.

We’ll be sharing details on the LLM(R) candidates in the coming weeks.

>> March [PDF]

>> February [PDF]

>> January [PDF]

On 1 March 2025, Belper Town Football Club welcomed their new Chaplain Revd Rachel Burdett. Revd Rachel was joined by Bishop Libby who presented the man of the match. 

It turns out that Bishop Libby and Revd Rachel were lucky mascots on the day as Belper Town FC won 2-0 v Garforth Town FC.

Photo L-R: Revd Rachel, Bishop Libby, Ian Woodward (BTFC Chairman) and Lee Attenborough (BTFC Manager)

Revd Rachel said: It was exciting to watch my first Nailers’ game, especially as they won! I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and adding my support to the team. It is an important part of life in Belper and it is an honour to be the new chaplain.

Ian said we welcome Revd Rachel as our new Chaplain. We look forward to working with her as she continues to build on the existing relationship with Christ Church Belper and we look forward to welcoming her to support “The Nailers!”.

Photo Credit to Tim Harrison (BTFC)

St. Mary’s Church Wirksworth and All Saints Church Alderwasley are looking to appoint a new part-time and paid Director of Music.

We offer:

• A good regular salary
• Regular opportunities for weddings and funerals
• The chance to recruit and rebuild our church choir
• The chance to steer the musical life of this important church in the Diocese of Derby
• contribute to music for new forms of worship

Contact the Team Office to find out more on:01629 824707 or teamoffice@wirksworthteamministry.co.uk

Church Warden Training events

Two weeks before the event a sign-up form for the workshops will be sent out, so you can choose which workshops you would like to attend.
Please ensure you have booked in good time to make sure you receive this email.

Whether you are new to the role or have been serving for some time, the church warden training events aim to provide you with important tools, strategies, and support for you in your role.

It will also be a wonderful chance to connect with other church wardens, discuss challenges, and learn from one another.

Training dates
Saturday, 8 March 2025, 9.30am - 1.00pm, St Alkmunds Church, 40 Kedleston Road, Darley Abbey, Derby DE22 1GU
Saturday, 5 July 2025,  9:30am – 1:00pm, St Thomas, Chesterfield
Saturday, 27 September 2025, 9:30am – 1:00pm, St Barnabas Centre, Danesmoor
Saturday, 8 November 2025,  9:00am – 10:00am on Zoom, Question and Answer session with the Archdeacons.

Please click on the link below to book your place on the next event.  
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/churchwardens-morning-tickets-1152516851929?aff=oddtdtcreator
Date: Saturday, 8 March 2025
Time: 9.30 – 1pm
Location: St Alkmunds Church, 40 Kedleston Road, Darley Abbey, Derby DE22 1GU

The plan for the day will be as follows:
0930: Arrival and refreshments 
1000: Event starts (Opening worship)
1020: Keynote
1045: Workshop 1
1130: Coffee / Tea break
1145: Workshop 2
1230: Plenary/Q&A
1300: Finish

There will be a choice of workshops and this time they will cover these topics:

• Leading worship & intercessions in an emergency
• Buildings for Mission & Environment
• Wellbeing
• ‘Help! I’m the only one!’ 

Two weeks before the event a sign-up form for the workshops will be sent out, so you can choose which workshops you would like to attend.

Please ensure you have booked in good time to make sure you receive this email.

If you have any queries, please contact:

Derby City and South Derbyshire Archdeaconry - sue.hidderley-burton@derby.anglican.org

Derbyshire Peak and Dales Archdeaconry - emily.redmond@derby.anglican.org

South Derbyshire Archdeaconry - claire.collishaw@derby.anglican.org

The Cathedral & Church Buildings Department’s expanded £5million conservation grants programme is now open for applications on our website Conservation Grants | The Church of England.  

If you have a conservation project in mind relating to bells and bell frames, books and manuscripts, church plate, churchyard structures, clocks, monumental brasses and decorative metalwork, monuments, organs, paintings and wall paintings. stained glass, textiles or wooden objects, you can now include related fabric repairs up to a maximum of £25k.

An example might be a PCC looking to conserve an alabaster sculpture in a niche where there is existing water ingress due to a building defect adversely affecting the area.  As part of the application for money to conserve the sculpture, a request for additional monies to rectify that defect can now be considered.

You will be familiar with our conservation grants programme (long funded by The Pilgrim Trust, the Radcliffe Trust and other funders) to support the conservation of special features in church, including bells, clocks, organs, stained glass, wall paintings and monuments. All this remains, with additional funding to help more churches. The expanded programme allows us to make grants towards building repairs of up to £25,000 that are linked to the conservation of an object.

Bids for specialist surveys and help for existing recipients’ conservation projects to reach completion will be considered for funding as well.

For further information, please contact colleagues in CCB via conservationgrants@churchofengland.org

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]