Bishop Libby has ordained eight new priests at a special service at Derby Cathedral.

 >> See the pictures from the service

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 that have caught our eye recently:

Why posting event flyers and posters on social media is a really bad idea…

So the date for the event is set, someone has put posters around the village and now you want to get the message out there on social media.

Surely the thing to do is post the flyer on Facebook and Instagram, right?

No!

Posters advertising events on social media never do well, and there are two good reasons why.

First, you need to make your event discoverable and searchable in as many ways as possible. But when you simply upload a flyer to Facebook, what actually happens is that effectively it disappears... all Facebook sees is a photograph of your poster.

That means it doesn't know what your poster is all about and so it doesn't know whom to show it to!

That in turn means that people cannot search and find it and your event won’t show up in local searches looking for events.

So it’s highly unlikely anyone will come across it – unless they are a follower of your page (and it is already well known that Facebook doesn’t show your posts to ALL your followers).

Too hard to read

The other reason is that, in this digital age, event flyers don’t belong on Instagram or Facebook.

With so much information now being uploaded to the internet, people don’t really stop to read blocks of text.

Social media is made up of platforms that are, in the main, visual and what you need is something that ‘stops the scroll’ and lets people see that your post is worth pausing for.

A flyer packed with text isn’t going to do that.

And imagine how small all that text looks on a mobile phone screen! Remember, most people who use Facebook and Instagram view them on mobiles.

So what should we do?

Use Facebook Events!

Yes, there’s a special feature in Facebook that is designed for promoting events! (It’s free, by the way.)

It’s a little bit more effort than simply uploading a poster, but Facebook Events have the potential to be seen by many more people and, importantly, they are searchable.

They are also included in local lists of events. See some examples here.

Another nice feature of Facebook Events is that people can click to say they are interested or even that they are going. This can encourage others.

On Facebook Events, you could use the artwork from a poster to illustrate your summer fair or concert, for example, but you’d be better to use a striking image from last year’s event together with an engaging caption about the forthcoming event.

>> See Facebook's guide to creating an event

When wording the information (and this applies to all platforms) remember to start with the information people NEED to know. What is important to THEM (not to YOU).

Don’t try to fit in every detail.

What’s the headline?

Is it catchy enough to stop the scroll?

The rest of the details can follow but you MUST grab people’s attention first.

Take a look at the image at the top of this page - that was enough to get your attention and draw you in... there's no detail, just a headline. Keep it simple!

If you know how to use Instagram Stories, try using those. Stories are perfect for promoting events because you can talk about the event multiple times without it living on your feed forever.

Plan ahead - Reach Out!

The earlier you can get your event on Facebook Events the better.

Not only will it give you more time to promote, but your followers will be able to look at what you have coming up and plan accordingly.

Also, don't confine your event promotion just to Facebook. 

Spread the word about your event across all your social media channels and your website. Your Facebook Event can serve as the information hub where people can learn more and get specifics.

Time to stop using those flyers on social!

The Church of England’s National Giving Team made 50 contactless giving devices available to parishes in the Diocese of Derby for free and this week they have been distributed ready for immediate use.

The National Giving Team recognises the many new challenges which influence our ability to sustain Gods work in our parish churches.

As we evolve into a cashless society, parishes need to consider the various methods available to allow generosity.

Steve Johnson, Living Generously Advisor for the Diocese of Derby said “This is an amazing opportunity to enable church visitors to support the ministry in our parishes, whether they are members of the congregation, attending a special event, or just taking some quiet time in your church, a contactless giving device allows their generosity to become a reality. God calls everyone to be generous. Generosity through contactless donations enables transformed lives, a growing church, and the building of community. The Kingdom of God – Good News for all”

Quotes from the Diocese of Derby Digital Contactless Donation Device Rollout 2023

Representatives from St Helen’s Etwall said "I just wanted to thank Steve for a very well-prepared session, you've done a great job here! We were impressed by the device, ease of use and functionality…The great news is that it can be left in church, plugged in permanently".

Representatives from All Saints Youlgreave said "A huge, huge thank you for organising today. I was so excited to pick up the device and it is so easy to manage. I cannot believe all the campaign pages and screens were set up for each church! Just in time for well dressings too which is just amazing! This is such a wonderful way for small churches in parishes to help themselves grow financially and with the sharp decline in cash in recent years, such a wonderful and timely grant to support parish churches like our beautiful church here in Youlgreave. I know it will do wonders for our fundraising and the sustainability of the church in the future.

For more information on contactless giving and living generously, please contact Steve Johnson, Living Generously Advisor at steve.johnson@derby.anglican.org or 01332 278151.

Anne Sherwood, church warden at St Philip’s Chaddesden has received the “Community Hero Award” at the Derby Volunteer Awards on Thursday, 1 June 2023.

She received the award for her tireless work each week as the church warden and chief caterer at St Philip’s, and community shop volunteer at the Aspire Community Alliance at St Marks Derby.

Anne is a key part of the church community. You can find her providing meals and caring for the those who visit the community café on Thursdays, serving breakfasts on one Saturday each month, supporting school events, running toddler and craft groups and assisting other groups who use the space and need a hand, such as Derby County Community Trust and Derby Adult Learning Service.

She pours her heart and soul into the community and without her so much would cease to function.

Anne said, “I am so pleased to accept the award and share it with my colleagues in Aspire (St Mark’s) and at St Philip's. Five hundred years ago, St Teresa of Avila wrote, ‘Christ has no body on earth but yours.’ and so challenged Christians to demonstrate God’s love through personal service to others. Volunteering provides opportunities to pay back a lifetime of blessings, but it is certainly not one-sided. It’s a social experience working alongside others and supporting each other to achieve results. Volunteering can be FUN. – Try it!”.

Revd Sarah Watson, Area Dean for Derby City Deanery and Enabling Minister for St Philip’s Chaddesden, said “I am absolutely delighted that Anne has won this award. She really is an unsung hero who gives so much to this community as an outworking of her faith in Jesus. In her acceptance speech she spoke of the teams she works with; this is a real example of the Body of Christ in action, all playing their part in seeing lives transformed and touched by the Kingdom of God”.

The event took place during Volunteers Week 2023 and was presented by Community Action Derby and Derby Volunteer Centre in partnership with Derby Homes.

>> Learn more about Community Action Derby

>> Learn more about St Philip’s Chaddesden

 Photos taken by S.H Photos and used by permission of Community Action Derby. 

Bishop Malcolm has crowned King Charles in a special service in Derbyshire.

Charles (his real name) aged 7, was crowned King at Melbourne Infant School.

The Coronation was watched by scores of pupils and teachers at the school, who cheered as the new King greeted them wearing his ancient crown and robe and carrying his ceremonial sceptre.

Following the ceremony, the Year 2 pupil said: "It was very exciting.

"The best bit was when the crown was put on my head.

"As King, I will visit every class during the day and take part in their lessons."

Bishop Malcolm said: "It was a privilege to be asked to be part of this historic occasion and to meet so many of the pupils at Melbourne Infant School.

"Apparently, there is another coronation happening tomorrow in London, so the pupils will hopefully now have a good idea of what it's all about!"

King Charles and Bishop Malcolm were assisted by Revd Steve Short, Vicar of Melbourne, and by the school's headteacher, Mrs Gibbs, who said: "This is a historic event in the lives of our children and something that they will not have seen before!

"We felt it was important to mark the event in a special way.

"All week in school we have been doing coronation crafts, lessons and workshops and today’s coronation ceremony will top off our celebrations!

"All the children were so excited for the coronation – especially our King Charles himself!"

Derbyshire has its very own version of the Bayeux Tapestry to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Residents in the parish of Brailsford and Ednaston worked together to create the impressive embroidery, which measures 10.85 metres.

The project was organised by Brailsford and Ednaston Churches Together.

Planning committee member Lucy Thompson had the idea of creating the commemorative embroidery, drawing on the history of All Saints Church in Brailsford and village resident Laura Burrill, a community arts practitioner, was commissioned to design the embroidery and facilitate workshops throughout March.

Working together with residents, Laura created a design depicting an imagined scenario of the coronation day, with villagers parading from community buildings to the King and his royal party.

The section depicting the Coronation is flanked by hundreds of small squares embroidered with motifs inspired by the things villagers love about the place they live.

The connection between Brailsford and Ednaston goes back to the Domesday Book where Brailsford was awarded ‘a priest and half a church’ and Ednaston ‘half a church’ resulting in All Saints Church, situated between the two villages.

The Brailsford Bayeux was unveiled at a special service in All Saints Church on Saturday, 29 April attended by Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, the Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby and Revd Andy Fyall, Nottingham and Derby Methodist District Chair.

The tapestry will be on display over the Coronation weekend.

After the Coronation celebrations, it is hoped that the tapestry will be on display in various places locally throughout the year.  

Some interesting facts about the Brailsford Bayeux:

• 406 small squares (4x the original goal) were completed by individuals and groups in the community. Each square shares memories, love, and gratitude.
• A team of 26 worked the main panel in just seven weeks.
• 292 members of the community were involved, the youngest being 2 and the eldest 94.
• The tapestry went from idea to finished result in less than 16 weeks.

The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, has admitted ten new readers in a special service held at Derby Cathedral.

Seven were admitted and licensed as readers and three were admitted as readers with permission to officiate.

Speaking to them at the service, Bishop Libby Said: "I am pleased and privileged to admit you as readers in the Diocese of Derby.

"Readers are a really important part of ministry as together we seek to help more people in the diocese to know Jesus.

"May the Lord give you wisdom, courage, strength and love to do his will."

>> See the photos from the Celebration of Reader Ministry with the Admission & Licensing of Readers

Those admitted are:

David Beale, to serve in Parish of Longstone

Caroline Carr, to serve in the Benefices of Swadlincote and Hartshorne, Gresley and Newhall

Sara Eames, to serve in the Benefice of Alvaston

Alison Henshaw, to serve in the Benefice of Chellaston

Terry Nash, to serve in the Parish of Allenton and Shelton Lock

Margaret Roberts, to serve in the Benefice of Glossop

Garry Sherwood, to serve in the Benefice of Stanton by Dale with Dale Abbey and Risley

Christine Walker, to serve in the Benefice of Matlock Bank and Tansley

Andrew Walley, to serve in the Benefice of Etwall with Egginton

Judi Witcomb, to serve in the Benefice of Mickleover and Radbourne.

Please pray for them all and for the communities where they will serve.

Readers in the Church of England are licensed lay ministers whose ministry can include a range of responsibilities including preaching, teaching and leading worship.

There are more than 8,500 readers actively involved in ministry in the Church of England today.

The new readers are welcomed by family, friends and colleagues

The Dean of Derby, the Bishop of Derby and His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire invite you to a Special Commemorative Service for the Coronation on Sunday, 7 May 2023.

The service, at Derby Cathedral, will start at 17:15 and those attending are asked to be in their seats by 17:00.

All are welcome to attend.

The Very Reverend Dr Peter Robinson, Dean of Derby, said: "The coronation is a significant moment in the life of both the Church of England and the nation, and it is right that we should celebrate it with prayer, thanks and worship.

"This service will also help the communities of Derby and Derbyyshire prepare for The Big Help Out, which takes place the following day."

Three long-serving and dedicated members of the diocesan community have received Maundy money at this year's presentation, held at York Minster.

Canon Jack Cooper and Val Grahl were nominated for the honour by Bishop Libby.

It was the such service since the King's accession to the throne

Canon Jack, from Hathersage, is a PCC member, serves on Peak Deanery Synod, Diocesan Synod and Bishop's Council.

Val Grahl is a lay member of Chapter at Derby Cathedral, has served as co-chair of the Community Committee and is currently Interim Chair of the Cathedral Council.

They were joined at the service by Joan Plant, from Eyam, who was nominated by Buckingham Palace.

Joan has been churchwarden at Eyam St Lawrence and has an extensive knowledge of the history of the village and its association with the plague of 1665/6.

Special memories

Describing the occasion, Val Grahl said: "It was a very, very special day.

"King Charles presented me with the two purses, one red and one white, and held my hand and said how pleased he was to be able to give them to me.

"I simply replied, 'thank you, Your Majesty' as there was no time for a conversation, but it left me with a feeling of awe and sheer privilege to have received it from the King."

In the white purse were seven sets of silver 1p, 2p, 3p and 4p coins and an additional 4p coin - totalling 74p and signifying the King's age.

The red purse contained a silver 50 pence piece with the King's head and a depiction of the Windrush Generation, and a silver £5 coin embossed with the King's head and the number 75 to signify his next birthday.

There were about 2000 people in York Minster and they were treated to some 'wonderful organ music' before the service began, including works from Handel, Mendelssohn, Bairstow and Franck. 

"The service itself began with a fanfare," said Val. "And then 2000 people singing Praise to the Holiest sent a shiver down my spine!

"The organisation was superb - so smooth - and there were people on hand to help with everything.

"I will never forget the special feeling of being in the Minster with the King and all those people."

In total, 74 men and 74 women received Maundy money, one for each year of the King's age.

Maundy Thursday is a symbolic ceremony, dating back to AD600, where the monarch gives out specially-minted coins.

The recipients are traditionally older members of society, who are recognised for their contribution to their church and community.