Andrew Salt
Having spent 28 years in the Royal Air Force, I know how important Remembrance Day is to the military.
I have taken part in many Remembrance parades, services and fundraising events.
There is a need and a desire to do all of these things well, to honour those who have gone before and who gave their lives as a sacrifice for their country.
Every year, each Military Remembrance event I attended, was organised with detailed precision, thought and reverence.
Which, I believe, is what always made it deeply emotional and moving.
For this reason, I had always thought of Remembrance as a military occasion, a time when we remember and honour our fallen military personnel.
The Poppy has become a symbol of Remembrance Day.
Remembrance Day started in 1919 to commemorate the anniversary of Armistice Day, the day when the Armistice was signed marking an end to World War One (WW1) in 1918.
WW1 was called ‘the war to end all wars’, unfortunately we know only too well that war is still very much a part of our world today.
Since becoming a Christian, I began to see Remembrance Day in a different way.
When I first learned that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, of giving up his life for me, I was overwhelmed.
It took me a while to understand the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us.
Once I had accepted that Jesus died on the cross to take away our sin, I was thankful for his ultimate sacrifice and it gave me a renewed hope for the future, in him.
Now, every year, on Remembrance Day, I am reminded of all of the deaths that occur due to war, not just the deaths of those in the military, but also civilian casualties and those who are being persecuted or killed in the spiritual war against evil.
Jesus came to show us how to be truly human through loving one another, being thankful and giving us the hope of eternal life through him.
Love, hope and thankfulness can help us to deal with difficult times in life, they help us to be more human and to more closely reflect the image of God.
War is not part of God’s plan for us. Jesus’ sacrifice was supposed to be the sacrifice to end all sacrifices.
For this reason, for me, the Cross of Jesus and the Poppy of Remembrance Day, work in unison.
The Poppy is a symbol to remember those whose lives were sacrificed in war and the hope of future peace.
The Cross of our saviour Jesus Christ symbolises his love, promises and sacrifice for us.
Through death on the cross and his resurrection, Jesus gives us the hope of eternal life and peace to come.
It is really important that these sacrifices are never forgotten.
Remembrance Day is a time to be thankful for the sacrifices that have been made, so that we can have hope for the future, in the love and peace of God.
Revd Lisa Taylor is a curate in the United Benefice of Atlow, Bradley, Hognaston, Hulland and Kniveton
In October last year, Jane Foster, Relationship Manager at The Children’s Society visited All Saints Church Wingerworth who have raised a spectacular £28,292.20 to support The Children’s Society’s work.
She gave them an update on how their hard work is making a difference.
Kay Duckett, a Reader at All Saints Wingerworth (pictured), distributed Children’s Society prayer cards and exhibited a brilliant display that highlighted the societies work.
Jane Foster, said: “Right now, thousands of young people find themselves trapped forced into crime and sexual abuse by criminal gangs.
"They’re living in fear of what comes next. They see no way out. But our project workers in the East Midlands are there to help.
“From motivational messages to hour-long calls, working with police and other agencies to ensure safeguarding and sharing of intelligence, they can be the positive influence that young people are missing.
"And with generous support, they can be on-hand for as long as it takes to help young people see that the future is theirs to own.”
Bishop Libby, who is Vice Chair of Trustees of The Children’s Society, commented: “This is amazing. The Children Society are brave, ambitious, trusted and supportive in their work with some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities.
"This is the work of the Kingdom – at the heart of which, Jesus tells us, are such children. On behalf of The Children’s Society, and the children we work with, I extend my sincerest thanks to those at All Saints Wingerworth: this example of generous Christian faith in action is transforming lives for good.”
>> 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 – Vacant
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
Tuesday, 25 February 2025 at 7pm – This meeting will be held online
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)
Fees Table 2022 (locally agreed)
Parochial Fees Guidance 2022 (locally revised)
Natasha's Law
On 1 October 2021, Natasha’s Law came into effect for all foods produced and prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) with food labelling changing in the UK.
This new labelling will provide potentially life-saving allergen information on packaging for consumers.
A full list of ingredients will be required by law to be stated on the label, along with the name of the food.
Parishes are subject to the general law in relation to the sale and supply of food and drink.
This includes complying with the Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 which add Natasha’s Law to the Food Information Regulations 2014.
Regulations definition
The Regulations apply to a “food business” which is defined as any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of production, processing and distribution of food.
The regulations define a “food business operator” as the natural or legal persons responsible for ensuring that the requirements of food law are met within the food business under their control.
As a result of these definitions, PCCs fall within the scope of food business and food business operators.
Private individuals who occasionally sell or offer food at church events are exempt from the allergen information requirements.
However, if an individual is providing food as a food business operator or provides products for consumption to one, such as a church café or regular lunch club, then the necessary allergen information should be provided.
Natasha's Law has extended the 2014 Regulations.
The 2014 Regulations originally applied to foods that are not pre-packed, and Natasha’s Law has extended the Regulations to pre-packed for direct sale to a final consumer.
Where food is not pre-packed, the information must stuill be provided, though in this case it can be provided verbally and either a label attached to the food or notice, ticket or label must be readily visible stating that details of the substance or product can be obtained by asking a member of staff.
Pre-packed food will need to clearly display on the packaging the name of the food, full ingredients list, within allergenic ingredients emphasised.
Learn More
>> What is Natasha's Law?
>> Natasha Allergy Research Foundation
Bishop Libby is pleased to announce that Ian Blaney of Lee Bolton Monier-Williams has been appointed the next Registrar of the Diocese of Derby and her Legal Secretary, following the retirement of Nadine Waldron.
The appointment will take effect on 1 October 2021 and all Registry enquiries should be directed to the new registrar from that date.
He is to be supported by three deputy registrars, Howard Dellar, Susan Newell and Ed Henderson who each have their own specialist expertise.
Susan Black is to be the principal registry clerk, supported by Kevin Diamond.
Ian Blaney is a solicitor with over 15 years’ experience in ecclesiastical law. He has written various publications on church, burial and marriage law and has a degree in canon law.
He lives in north London where he is a member of his parish church, on the PCC, and is Vice-Chair of Governors of the church school.
He hails from Cheshire and Staffordshire where family members still live. He has served as Registrar of the Diocese of Lincoln for the last 4 years and will continue in that post.
His firm, Lee Bolton Monier-Williams is known for its expertise in ecclesiastical, charity and educational law.
Bishop Libby said: “I am delighted that Ian is joining us as our new registrar. His knowledge, experience and expertise will be an valuable addition to our diocesan team. I am inspired by his commitment to live out his faith by offering the best practice of law in the service of the Church for the sake of the Kingdom. I am looking forward to working together so that we can be good news for all in transforming lives through growing the church and building community.”
Ian Blaney said: “I would like to thank the Bishop and her team for appointing me to this important role. I look forward to exploring the parishes of the Diocese and getting to know the clergy, lay officers and volunteers who faithfully make their churches a place of welcome and sanctuary. I am grateful to my predecessor Nadine Waldron for her steadfast work over many years for and making the handover as smooth as possible. My office is based in London, where the Registry is easily contactable by phone, email, ‘snail mail’ and video. Although the last year has highlighted the convenience and usefulness of online meetings, I and my team value forming relationships and maintaining a presence through personal visits, and we look forward to being with you.”
The contact details for the new Registrar are:
Derby Diocesan Registry
1 The Sanctuary
Westminster
London
SW1P 3JT
Reception Telephone: 020 7222 5381
Direct Telephone (Registry Clerk): 0207 960 7152
Email: derby.registry@1thesanctuary.com
A registry website is in the process of being built and information about this will be published in due course.
The Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek, has created a collaborative team to support her in her role as Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons in England and Wales.
Bishop Rachel is tasked with supporting the network of 300 Anglican Prison Chaplains who share in the front-line care of prisoners, as well as developing relationships and being involved with people and issues across the breadth of the Criminal Justice System.
This includes probation and community services, as well as many different charities and organisations.
In all of this, Bishop Rachel seeks to use her role as a Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords, not least working for a change to systems and sentencing for the most vulnerable people in our communities, whilst not losing sight of appropriate justice for victims of crime.
Bishop Libby will support Bishop Rachel in work with young offenders, which will be a natural extension to her work as vice-chair of The Children's Society.
Bishop Libby said, “I am delighted to be joining this team and look forward to working with Bishop Rachel and Bishop Michael with other partners working across the criminal justice system. I have a particular passion to see restorative justice leading to transformed lives with meaningful integration and contribution to community. Sharing with this team complements the work I currently engage with through The Children’s Society in our shared commitment to the most vulnerable, and at risk, children and young people in our land.”
The Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, will support with the male estate and bring his experience of being in a diocese with a number of prisons.
The Team will work closely with the Revd Helen Dearnley, HMPPS Anglican Chaplaincy Advisor.
Bishop Rachel said, “I will be involved across the breadth of the prison estate, but I am hoping that this collaborative approach will enable more prisons to be visited and will provide deeper insight and shared learning. We will of course be working in close liaison with bishops in every diocese where prisons are situated and who remain responsible for the licensing and everyday pastoral care of their Anglican prison chaplains.”
The new episcopal prison team marked the beginning of their work together on Thursday 29 July 2021 with a joint visit to the Diocese of Lichfield where each visited separate prisons.
Bishop Rachel visited HMP Featherstone and HMP Oakwood; Bishop Michael visited HMP Brinsford and Bishop Libby visited HMP Werrington.
Over the last few years Bishop Rachel was Bishop for Women’s Prisons and has undertaken a huge amount in campaigning for prison reform and community rehabilitation for women in the criminal justice system, or at risk of offending. She now wants to develop that collaborative way of working.
This article was adapted from original text by Sarah Lacey, parisioner at St Giles, Hartington.
St Giles’ Church sits dreaming quietly in the beautiful village of Hartington, and has done so since around 1250 AD.
This is not to say that it hasn't had some lively moments, I'm sure it has, but none in my time of some 20 years as a resident.
How we have prayed for a change to come, for the Holy Spirit to take notice and 'do' something, anything even, to create life, energy and purpose for God within and without this slumbering church.
Guess what? Something has gradually been changing over the last few years, new shoots have sprouted in the form of new church goers moving into the village.
In each we see gifts put to willing use in the service of God, through the Spirit - it's exciting!
There is a problem, (isn't there always?!), we don't have a vicar, we are in 'vacancy', and have been for some time.
In fact, for me, it is the fourth time of being without the person in a dog collar, the visible presence of God's servant within the community that everyone wants to see and take tea with.
Does it matter? Yes, of course it does, but you can, we have learnt over the years, manage very well if you have someone to share the load with, and this time there is a team of ‘someones’ who are willing and able to step up and become a committed group of lay people, prepared to help and enable us to grow.
As Paul said in his letter to the Romans (12:6): ‘We have gifts that differ according to the grace given us.’
The team committed to offering a regular time of worship on a Sunday.
Between us we deliver two family type services every month, and we plague other vicars and retired clergy (PTOs) to undertake the other two Sundays, one to offer Holy Communion, which recharges our spiritual batteries beautifully, the other to bring some variety and friendly support, for which we say a big ‘thank you’ to the priest concerned.
Mission Action Plan
We dug out our 2011 version of MAP (Mission Action Plan) and updated it with realistic challenges and plans, having first canvassed as many people as possible for their opinions, which we listened to.
We established a rota, we bulked up our PCC with some new blood and we established a pastoral team.
The pandemic has shown on numerous occasions how important regular outreach is, especially in our rural farming community.
There is a great deal of isolation and loneliness, masked by pride and the words, 'I don't want to be a nuisance / burden / trouble to anyone,' if we do but take time to be that good neighbour Jesus calls us to be and take notice.
We held a thoroughly enjoyable Rogation service last month, 40 people joined us on our 'worship walkabout’, and the farmer, at whose farm we stopped to read scripture and pray, is still talking about it... in a good way!
We are creating a 'Walk of Words' around our church yard, an idea first developed at St Oswald’s, Ashbourne, which we are gratefully adapting as something creative for the many visitors that come to the village, to read and perhaps encounter Christ, as they do so, alongside the many wildflowers and far-reaching views that our church yard offers them.
A pilgrim church
St Giles is a pilgrim church, on the pilgrim way from Ilam to Eyam, many people pre-pandemic, visited the church to get their little books stamped, we always welcomed them and look forward to doing so again soon.
It seems wrong not to have the door to God’s house open every day, as was our custom, but that is how it is just now. Strange times!
However, we are not wasting time, there is much to do, a new heating system for one thing, followed by a kitchen (we are known for our cakes after services with a cup of 'proper' coffee and lots of chat, which we miss very much!) and loos must happen, they really must.
The essential people - and their skills!
This leads neatly on to the essential people we are blessed to have, those who are good with money, our treasurer is one, every PCC needs one of those!
Other skills recently discovered include, skilled engineers, singers, readers, fundraisers, trained safeguarding officer, artists and multi-taskers and planners - one of whom supplied this quote when asked where they see God at work: 'Right here - encouraging and building up our Church family, both in numbers and faith, so that we can serve the community that we are in, being both light and salt.'
Another: 'By showing God’s love in action we are building new confidence in God.'
We want to be good listeners, who are rooted within the community, visible and active, carrying out jobs for God, with love, humour and compassion.
None of these require a vicar, but it will be good to have one somewhere, sometime soon, please God, to teach, nourish, support and lead us, someone to share things with, someone we can grow with, oh, and someone who can take the weddings and baptisms, because much as we would like to, we are not allowed to!
We have learnt to think outside our boxes, to listen to others, to try to create a sense of belonging within our growing congregation, to believe that if God wants us to do something He will show us how, and He does, thank you Lord.
Our story continues...
Learn more about St Giles Hartington at: www.hartingtonchurch.org
The count of votes for the election of members to General Synod for the Diocese of Derby took place on Thursday 14 October 2021 and have now been verified. The Presiding Officer is pleased to announce the following candidates are elected to the six places available (three for the House of Clergy and three for the House of Laity as per GS 2214) for the term 2021 to 2026:
-
Proctor to the House of Clergy
Vicar of St Giles’ Church, Normanton by Derby
neil.barber@stgiles-derby.org.uk
01332 767483
-
Proctor to the House of Clergy
Vicar of St Peter’s Littleover and St Andrew’s Blagreaves
alicia@stpeterlittleover.org.uk
01332 767802
-
Proctor to the House of Clergy
Vicar of St Werburgh's Church, Spondon
fatherjulian@btinternet.com
01332 673573
- 1
House of Bishops:
As a diocesan bishop, Rt Revd Libby Lane is a de facto member of General Synod.
As well as the archbishops and diocesan bishops, there are five suffragan bishops - none of those elected are from this diocese.
Election results with a breakdown of the elections in stages can be found here.
About General Synod
The proctors and members represent the concerns of your community and our diocese at a national level by being on General Synod, the legislative body of the Church of England.
As a member of general Synod, they have a say in national legislation that affects all parts of the Church of England. They can also raise issues and contribute to debates on social and policy matters.
The General Synod has three Houses: Bishops, Clergy and Laity. Diocesan Bishops are automatically members of Synod by virtue of their office. In addition, each province of the Church of England elects two Suffragan Bishops from each Province. Each diocese is allocated a number of seats in the Houses of Clergy and Laity – the number of seats varies according to the size of each diocese - for the Diocese of Derby there are six seats.
Clergy:
Any member of clergy who holds ecclesiastical office in a diocese or cathedral or who has permission to officiate can stand in an election to the House of Clergy for their diocese. Clergy representatives (known as “Proctors”) are elected by their peers, i.e. other clergy persons in that diocese.
Laity:
To be elected to the House of Laity in the Diocese of Derby, a person must be a communicant member of the Church of England, at least 18 years old and have their name on the parish roll or on the community roll of Derby Cathedral. In certain circumstances, members of a Bishop’s Mission Order can also stand for election.
Local contact:
Please feel free to get in touch with any questions by emailing presidingofficer@derby.anglican.org
More information:
>> Full details about standing for election to the General Synod
>> Stand for Synod Promotional Flyer
>> Bishops letter re. General Synod elections 2021
>> 2021 General Synod Elections Timetable
