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St John’s Church, Ridgeway joined up with their local community last night to perform an open air nativity. The event , started at the church and was hosted by the Bridge Inn at Ford. It was scripted by Sharon Taylor, a children’s dramatist who lives in the village. Children from Ridgeway primary school starred in the performance and joined the choir.

Around 200 people attended the event which included a mixture of traditional carols, a folk wassail and a nativity-adjusted version of Slade’s “Merry Christmas Ev’rybody!” all played by a folk band from Dronfield (which includes curate, Revd Ian Price).

The local WI also provided refreshments, and a local farmer supplied the bales.

Revd Ian Price said: “It was nice to see the community come together and importantly, the Gospel of what Christmas is about was shared in public, and people were invited to contact and find out more. Plans are already afoot to do another one next year.”  

Christmas is about beginnings says Revd Ben Griffith in a new video broadcast today on the Diocesan website www.derby.anglican.org

He says: “For many Christmas has become an event, a party, a day to get together, and all these things are good but surely there must be something more?. The Christmas story doesn’t end with an event it begins with one. The birth of Jesus is astounding, but it’s astounding because of what happens next. Jesus went on to challenge the way we view our existence, our self-centeredness and to open us up to the possibility of a life with God, here and now.”

He continues “ Perhaps this Christmas we can go further than events and deepen our relationships with God and each other, Christmas is about beginnings.”

A different video has been shown each week in advent featuring people from all around the Diocese and what advent means to them. They are all available to view on our Youtube channel.

Please see Initial Ministerial Education page for all Training Priest resources.

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Diocesan Synod

The statutory governing body of the Diocese is the Diocesan Synod which is elected with representation across the Diocese with broadly equal numbers of clergy and lay people meeting together in Diocesan Synod with the diocesan Synod with the diocesan bishop, the suffragan bishop and archdeacons.

Its role is to:

• consider matters affecting the Church of England in the Diocese;
• act as a forum for debate of Christian opinion on matters of religious or public interest;
• advise the Bishop where requested;
• deal with matters referred by General Synod; and
• provide for the financing of the Diocese.

Deanery Synod

Deanery Synods have two houses, laity and clergy, and their role is to:

• respond to requests from General Synod;
• give effect to the decisions made by the Diocesan Synod;
• consider matters affecting the Church of England by drawing together the views of the parishes within the deanery;
• act as a channel of communication to express the views of parishes to Diocesan Synod and thence to General Synod;
• raise with Diocesan Synod such matters as it considers appropriate; and
• elect members of the deanery to the Diocesan Synod and in respect of the House of Laity elect lay members of the Diocese to General Synod.

The Bishop's Council (and Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod)

Under the construction of the Diocesan Synod, Bishop's Council has the following functions:

• to plan the business of the Synod, to prepare the agenda for its sessions and to circulate to members information about matters for discussion;
• to initiate proposals for action by the Synod and to advise it on matters on policy which are placed before it;
• to advise the President, being the Diocesan Bishop, on any matters which he may refer to the Committee;
• subject to the directions of the Synod, to transact the business of the Synod when the Synod is not in session;
• to appoint members of committees or nominate individuals for election to committees, subject to the directions of the synod; and
• to carry out such functions as the Synod may delegate to it. 

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>> 2025 Diocesan Meeting Schedule

Synodical procedure

Diocesan Synod

The statutory governing body of the Diocese is the Diocesan Synod which is elected with representation across the Diocese with broadly equal numbers of clergy and lay people meeting together in Diocesan Synod with the diocesan Synod with the diocesan bishop, the suffragan bishop and archdeacons.

Its role is to:

• consider matters affecting the Church of England in the Diocese;
• act as a forum for debate of Christian opinion on matters of religious or public interest;
• advise the Bishop where requested;
• deal with matters referred by General Synod; and
• provide for the financing of the Diocese.

Click here for more information, including Diocesan Synod members for the Triennium 

Deanery Synod

Deanery Synods have two houses, laity and clergy, and their role is to:

• respond to requests from General Synod;
• give effect to the decisions made by the Diocesan Synod;
• consider matters affecting the Church of England by drawing together the views of the parishes within the deanery;
• act as a channel of communication to express the views of parishes to Diocesan Synod and thence to General Synod;
• raise with Diocesan Synod such matters as it considers appropriate; and
• elect members of the deanery to the Diocesan Synod and in respect of the House of Laity elect lay members of the Diocese to General Synod.
  
  

The Bishop's Council (and Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod)

Under the construction of the Diocesan Synod, Bishop's Council has the following functions:

• to plan the business of the Synod, to prepare the agenda for its sessions and to circulate to members information about matters for discussion;
• to initiate proposals for action by the Synod and to advise it on matters on policy which are placed before it;
• to advise the President, being the Diocesan Bishop, on any matters which they may refer to the Committee;
• subject to the directions of the Synod, to transact the business of the Synod when the Synod is not in session;
• to appoint members of committees or nominate individuals for election to committees, subject to the directions of the synod; and
• to carry out such functions as the Synod may delegate to it. 

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