23 October

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Matthew (Matt) Green, Curate of Emmanuel Loughborough, Diocese of Leicester, has been appointed Rector of the Benefice of Aston-on-Trent, Elvaston, Weston-on-Trent and Shardlow, Barrow-upon-Trent with Twyford and Swarkestone, Diocese of Derby, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Laura Neilson, Assistant Curate of the benefice of Dinting Vale and the Glossopdale Mission Community, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed interim part-time Priest-in-Charge of the benefice of Charlesworth and Gamesley and of the benefice of Dinting Vale, Diocese of Derby. Laura will be licensed on Sunday, 23 November 2025 at 4pm at Holy Trinity Dinting Vale by the Bishop of Repton assisted by the Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.

16 October

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Frances (Fran) Smettem, Assistant Curate in the benefice of Chew Valley West, Diocese of Bath and Wells, has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of the benefice of Eyam with Foolow and Baslow, and Priest-in-Charge of the parishes of Curbar and Stoney Middleton, Diocese of Derby, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.

9 October

The Revd John Drackley, Curate of Eckington, (Derby) 1959-1962, Curate of the Good Shepherd with St Peter’s Lees (Southwark) 1962-1963, Curate of Derby St Thomas (Derby) 1963-1967, Curate of Matlock and Tansley 1967-1977, Priest-in-Charge of Radbourne, of Longford and of Dalbury and Long Lane 1977-1982, Curate of Turnditch and Hazelwood 1982-1995, Curate of Matlock St Giles 1995-1998, who retired in 1998, held the Bishop of Derby’s Permission to Officiate 1998-2016, and was for many years Secretary of the Diocesan Advisory Committee, died on Sunday, 29 June 2025.

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Phil Michell, Rector of the Benefice of Hulland, Atlow, Kniveton, Bradley and Hognaston and Area Dean of Carsington, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Lead Agricultural Chaplain to Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy and will hold the Bishop of Derby’s licence in the same diocese, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.

The Revd Fay Price, Assistant Curate in the Benefice of Derby St Alkmund and St Werburgh, Diocese of Derby, has announced her resignation as she moves to the Diocese of Gloucester. Fay’s last day in post will be Wednesday, 3 December 2025.

2 October

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Christopher (Chris) Neilson, interim Priest-in-Charge of the benefice of Whitfield, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed to the same benefice on a permanent basis. This took effect on 25 September 2025.

The secondment arrangement with the Diocese of Leicester, whereby Carolyn Shoyer has been Director of Education for the Diocese of Derby, is concluding on 31st October 2025. Carolyn will return to her role as Director of Education in the Diocese of Leicester fulltime. We thank Carolyn for her leadership of Derby Diocesan Board of Education for the past 4 years. Liz Seymour, currently Deputy Director of Education, will become interim Acting Director of Education effective 1 November 2025.

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Venerable Matthew Trick, Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire and Residential Canon of Derby Cathedral, Diocese of Derby, has also been appointed Acting Archdeacon of East Derbyshire from 1 October 2025.