Items filtered by date: August 2025

The next triennial elections to Diocesan Synod will take place from April to July 2024.

The Diocese of Derby must elect a new Diocesan Synod from among its clergy and laity. The Presiding Officers of each deanery are:

• Carsington Deanery - Phil Michell (PO for Laity Election), Peter Walker (PO for Clergy Election), Deanery Administrator – Claire Critchlow
• Derby City Deanery - Sarah Watson (PO for Laity Election), Madelaine Goddard (PO for Clergy Election), Deanery Administrator – Kelly Martin
• Dove and Derwent Deanery - James Hughes (PO for Laity Election), David Legh (PO for Clergy Election), Deanery Administrator – Claire Critchlow
• Hardwick Deanery - Karen Bradley (PO for Laity Election, John Atkin (PO for Clergy Election), Deanery Administrator – Ailsa Cooling
• Mercia Deanery - Mike Firbank (PO for Laity Election), Maggie Fenby-Taylor(PO for Clergy Election), Deanery Administrator – Debbie Patrick
• North East Derbyshire Deanery - Daniel Cooke (PO for Laity Election), Christine Holmes-Elener (PO for Clergy Election), Deanery Administrator - Jacqueline Clayton
• Peak Deanery - David Mundy (PO for Laity Election), Christine McMullen (PO for Clergy Election), Deanery Administrator – Eileen Burt
• South East Derbyshire Deanery - Phil Selby (PO for Laity Election), Brian Parker (PO for Clergy Election), Deanery Administrator – Revd Helen Bridger

For impartiality, Lay colleagues will act as Presiding Officers of the Clergy elections, and Clergy colleagues as Presiding Officers of the Lay elections.

The electors are members (other than currently co-opted members) of the House of Clergy and the House of Laity of the Deanery Synods of the Diocese.

For more information or if you have a query, email: elections@derby.anglican.org

>> Back to main Diocesan Synod Elections page

On Saturday 20^th April, Bishop Libby admitted 11 new people to the office of Licensed Lay Minister (Reader), in a special service at Derby Cathedral.

Licensed Lay Ministers are volunteers who are called and theologically trained to teach, lead, and equip the church for mission.

They are people from a variety of backgrounds, occupations, and contexts who have heard God's call.

LLMs are communicators, story tellers and teachers who can shape the minds, hearts and souls of people and congregations around the good news of Jesus Christ, the story of Scripture and the wisdom of our tradition so that they can live out their calling as disciples in everyday life.

They work collaboratively with clergy as fellow ministers with complementary gifts and callings.

• In pictures: Reader Licensing 2024 [Flickr]
  
  
• Find out more about becoming a Reader

Please hold in your prayers those who were licensed as they begin this new phase in public ministry:

Beth Hawkins to serve in the Benefice of Walkbrook Epiphany.

Diana Houghton to serve in the Benefices of Fenny Bentley, Thorpe, Tissington, Parwich and Alsop en le Dale.

Steve Johnson to serve in the Benefices of Etwall, Egginton, Dalbury, Sutton-on-the-Hill and Trusley.

Ben Martin to serve in the Benefice of St Alkmund and St Werburgh.

Vickie Melling to serve in the Benefice of Hilton with Marston on Dove, Hatton, Boylestone and Church Broughton. 

Liz Runcorn to serve in the Benefice of Derby St Peter and Christ Church with Holy Trinity. 

Pete Townsend to serve in the Benefice of Ashover and Handley, and Brackenfield with Wessington. 

Ben Wheelhouse to serve in the Benefice of Killamarsh and Renishaw.

Jenny Whittaker to serve in the Benefice of Dronfield with Holmesfield.

Chris Wilkins to serve in the Benefice of Sawley.

Steve Dunning to serve with Permission to Officiate in the Benefice of Hulland, Atlow, Kniveton, Bradley and Hognaston.

Vocation means discovering what God has called you to be and do, asking the question:-

What is God’s plan for my life?

All of us are invited to follow Jesus and to serve God faithfully in our everyday lives.

To discover more about what this might mean for you, please see our Everyday Faith page.

To begin a conversation about what this might look like for you, we recommend you speak first to your vicar or chaplain.

Do I have a specific vocation?

Alongside our everyday faith, some people are called to serve God in a specific ministry.

You can find out more about some of these ministries in our vocations videos:

You can also find more information about vocations and calling here:

• Vocations | The Church of England
• Stories of Calling | The Church of England

If you would like to explore a potential vocation to a specific ministry with someone from the diocese of Derby vocations team, please contact: vocations@derby.anglican.org

Am I called to be a priest or deacon?

The process of exploring a potential call to ordination in the Church of England is explored and assessed locally and by the national church.

It is a two-stage process which includes regular meetings with a member of the DDO team locally, exploring the qualities required and the areas which will be assessed nationally at Stage 1 (online mini-interviews) and then at Stage 2 panel (2 days of assessments and interviews; often residential).

More information can be found here: Understanding Discernment | The Church of England

And if you want to begin a conversation about ordination, with the Diocese of Derby vocations team, please contact: vocations@derby.anglican.org

Am I called to be a licensed lay minister (LLM)?

The process of exploring a potential call to licensed lay ministry (sometimes called a lay reader) is explored and assessed locally.

It involves meeting regularly with a vocations adviser, and attending our LLM(R) course, during which the qualities required and the areas which will be assessed at interview at the end of the first year of the course are explored.

More information about the course can be found here: Discipleship-Training at the Diocese of Derby

To begin a conversation about licensed lay ministry, with the diocese of Derby vocations team, please contact: vocations@derby.anglican.org 

Am I called to be a foundation governor?

Foundation governors are usually nominated by the related PCC. Speak to your vicar, existing foundation governors, and PCC about what the role might entail.

You can also find out more, including a role description, here: Foundation Governor Appointments – Derby Diocesan Board of Education (derbydbe.org)

Am I called to be a churchwarden?

Churchwardens are elected annually under the provisions of the Churchwardens Measure 2001 by the Annual Meeting of Parishioners. Speak to your vicar, existing church wardens, and PCC, about what the role entails.

You can find out more here: Churchwardens - Roles and responsibilities - Diocese of Derby (anglican.org)

See also: Can I be a churchwarden?

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd & Rt Hon Justin Welby, has been in the Diocese of Derby, leading communities in prayer.

Arriving at Chesterfield station, he was welcomed by Bishop Libby and Bishop Malcolm and taken to Saints Augustine Church in Chesterfield where he prayed with members of the congregation and those who help run the foodbank.

He told the congregation: "There is no set way to pray and you don't have to be sure of your faith to pray.

"God knows what is in your heart and so simply chatting with God is prayer."

He also dropped in to the adjacent Hope House to see the great work being done by the Christian charity of the same name that provides accommodation for previously homeless people.

The day in pictures

(Many more photos from Archbishop Justin's visit will be made available in the coming days)

Then, in Youlgreave, Archbishop Justin met members of the farming community, hearing about some of the challenges they face as farmers and farming familes. 

Although gales and rain threatened to spoil the lunchtime party at Crich Stand, the archbishop took time to picnic, talk and pray with families and young people - around 200 people in all - and to enjoy the views across the county.

It was there that he led everyone in an act of clypping where usually a church, but in this case Crich Stand, is encircled by people who link hands and pray for the building they surround. 

Afterwards, they faced outwards and said prayers for the Diocese of Derby.

See how Archbishop Justin's visit unfolded: Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Yet more crowds gathered outside St Mary's Church in Ilkeston's Market Place, where once again Archbishop Justin and his team prayed with locals and enjoyed a chat.

The Archbishop received a warm welcome, too, at St Ed's in Shelton Lock, where a children's tea party was underway.

As part of the day, local children had been invited to ask him questions about his job and his life.

Having prayed many times for the diocese and it's people, the tables were turned on Archbishop Justin when 13-year-old Hadassah asked if this time she could pray for him.

Archbishop Justin shares a joke before 13-year-old Hadassah (right) offers to pray for him

Finally, he made his way to the city centre to lead prayers at the close of a prayer day at Derby Cathedral.

Whilst there, he reflected on his day in Derbyshire, describing the joy he had found in praying with so many people, and the "extraordinarily wonderful" views he had encountered in the diocese.

(Many more photos from Archbishop Justin's visit will be made available in the coming days)

25 April 2024

The Venerable Andrew (Andie) Brown, who holds the Bishop of Derby’s Permission to Officiate, has also been appointed Acting Area Dean of South East Derbyshire, Diocese of Derby. Andie started in post on 23rd April 2024. 

The Revd Katrina Jenkins, Assistant Curate of Hersham St Peter, Diocese of Guildford, has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of Matlock, St Giles and Dethick Lea and Holloway, Diocese of Derby.

The Revd Robert (Bob) Marsden, Minister of Buxton Trinity Chapel, Diocese of Derby, has announced his retirement. Bob’s last day in post will be 23rd August, with his retirement taking effect from 24th August 2024.

The Revd Louise Petheram, House for Duty Priest-in-Charge of Hope, Castleton and Bradwell, Diocese of Derby, has also been appointed Assistant Area Dean of Peak, Diocese of Derby. Louise started in post on 14th May 2024. 

18 April 2024

The Revd Stephen Potter, Curate of Chesterfield Holy Trinity and Christ Church (Derby) 1995 -1999, Priest-in-Charge of South Normanton 1999 - 2001, Rector of the same benefice 2001 - 2023, who retired in 2023, died on 14 April 2024.Funeral details will follow in due course.

The Revd Laura Neilson, until recently Assistant Curate of Burscough St John, Diocese of Liverpool, has been appointed Assistant Curate (SSM) of Dinting Vale and the Glossopdale Mission Community, Diocese of Derby. Laura will be licensed on Wednesday, 1 May at 5 pm in the Bishop’s Chapel Duffield by the Bishop of Derby.

The Revd Lisa Price, Assistant Curate of the White Peak Group and the benefice of Youlgreave, Middleton, Stanton-in-Peak and Birchover, Diocese of Derby, will transfer her curacy and become Assistant Curate of Hope, Castleton and Bradwell within the same diocese.

The Revd Rebecca (Becky) Reeve, Assistant Curate of Ockbrook with Borrowash, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Priest in Charge of Hartlepool St Aidan and St Columba (Hartlepool Group Ministry), Diocese of Durham.

11 April 2024

The Revd Canon Helen Guest, Rector of Killamarsh and Renishaw, Diocese of Derby, has announced her retirement. Her last day in post will be Friday, 17 May 2024, with her first day of retirement being Saturday, 18 May 2024. Helen will be appointed Canon Emeritus of Derby Cathedral in retirement.

The Venerable Matthew Trick, Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire, Diocese of Derby, has also been appointed Canon Residentiary at Derby Cathedral in the same diocese.

I was nominated by the Bishop of Derby, Bishop Libby, along with Madelaine Goddard, to receive Royal Maundy at Worcester Cathedral, a great honour for us both and, in my case, for reasons that are not at all clear, because I have simply been carrying out my role as churchwarden at St Anne’s church, Ambergate, during long years of interrregnum.

The distribution is in two parts and the gifts handed to the recipients are symbolic.

Two leather purses are given, one red and the other white.

They have been beautifully manufactured with leather thongs, which are tied together to form a single presentation package of the two purses.

The red purse contains a nominal allowance for clothing and provisions, formerly given in kind, and a payment for the redemption of the royal gown and consists of a crown (£5) with an image of a Tudor Dragon and, this year, a 50p celebrating 200 years of the RNLI.

The white purse contains the Royal Maundy, a set of silver coins, in denominations of 1p, 2p, 3p and 4p, that amount to the age of the King, seventy-five years.

Each individual pouch amounts to 10p and a separate pouch contains a 2p and a 3p to make the total up to 75p.

The Lord High Almoner, The Right Reverend Dr John Inge, who is also the Bishop of Worcester, talked to the recipients as well as the rest of the congregation, about the service, its history and origins quoting the mandatum and setting the scene for the service.

Then, the processions started and the whole service became, for me, highly emotional and overwhelming.

Those wonderful words of the great hymn "When I survey the wondrous Cross, on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride” came into my mind and I became acutely aware of the honour that I was about to receive.

Christ, in all His glorious resurrection, was present in this service and I am very grateful for being nominated by the Bishop of Derby!

When it came to the Distribution of the Royal Maundy, I was positioned on the south aisle at the rear of the main section, one set of rows forward of the west door.

Queen Camilla came down the south aisle bestowing Royal Maundy on each recipient, positioned at the end of each row of pews.

When it came to my turn to receive the Royal Maundy, the Queen said: “Thank you for your service”, to which I replied: “Thank you, your Majesty, it is much appreciated.”

Maundy facts

The tradition of presenting alms on Maundy Thursday goes back to at least the 4th-Century.

The Maundy money ceremony itself began in 1662, when Charles II gave out coins.

This year, Queen Camilla distributed the Maundy money to 75 men and 75 women from around the country - one man and one woman for each year of the monarch's age.

The gift is presented in recognition of their exemplary Christian service to church and community over many years.

In recent times it has been the tradition for the service to travel to different cathedrals; last year the service was held at York Minster. It was last held in Derby in 2010.

The word ‘Maundy’ comes from the Latin word meaning ‘commandment’ - it was on this Thursday, the day before he died, that Jesus gave his disciples what he described as a new commandment: ‘that you should love one another as I have loved you’.

£72,000 is still available in this fourth and final round.

Do you have an outstanding minor repair that has been highlighted in a recent QI that:

• Needs attention within the QI period, and;
• Will save potential more costly repair in the future?

Has your church Architect identified improvement work in connection with:

• Building design defects or obsolescence
• The improvement of physical access

Has the PCC identified improvements relating to:

• Heating, lighting, wiring, kitchens, WCs
• Digital connectivity
• Bat mitigation measures

If yes, then you may have qualifying work.

Carefully read the Eligibility Criteria before contacting the Church Buildings Support Officer for any clarification or to request a visit.

It is the PCC’s responsibility to ensure that the appropriate faculty process for all repairs and improvements to parish buildings are followed and evidenced, before MRI grants are released.

The DAC Secretary is always happy to advise.

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Madelaine Goddard was one of 150 people to receive Maundy Money from Her Majesty The Queen last week.

The Royal Maundy Service saw 75 men and 75 women receive the specially minted coins at Worcester Cathedral, in recognition of their many years of Christian service to their local community and church.

"It was awe inspiring. Fantastic," said Madelaine, who is currently a Deanery Synod member and lay chair for Derby City Deanery.

Maundy money was also presented to Piers Bostock of St Anne's Ambergate.

Madelaine Goddard said: "The first thing that struck me was how lovely and friendly everyone was - the police, the marshals and the 6th-formers who escorted us to our seat all seemed to want us to have a great day.

"The service and the pageantry were beautiful and the whole atmosphere was wonderfully uplifting both inside and out, despite the horrid weather."

Although she described the day as 'memorable', Madelaine had to confess that one part of it was a bit of a blur: "I think I was slightly nervous as the Queen walked towards me.

"She was very charming and gracious and she spoke to all the recipients - but I can't actually remember most of what she said to me, apart from 'God bless' at the end of our conversation!"

Queen Camilla presented the coins this year on behalf of His Majesty The King.

King Charles, who is being treated for cancer, sent a video message to the service expressing his 'great sadness' at missing the Maundy Thursday service.

The purses containg the coins were carried on large salvers by Yeoman Warders from the Tower of London.

• See more photos of the service on Facebook

• More about the Royal Maundy Service
  

Madelaine's Maundy adventure began back in February when a letter bearing the royal crest landed on her door mat.

"Oh gosh, what on Earth's this?" She recalls thinking.

The letter was an invitation to receive Maundy money and said she had been nominated by the Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby.

"I remember feeling very honoured and privileged to have even been considered," said Madelaine. "Though a part of me kept wondering 'why me?'"

Maundy facts

The tradition of presenting alms on Maundy Thursday goes back to at least the 4th-Century.

The Maundy money ceremony itself began in 1662, when Charles II gave out coins.

This year, Queen Camilla distributed the Maundy money to 75 men and 75 women from around the country - one man and one woman for each year of the monarch's age.

The gift is presented in recognition of their exemplary Christian service to church and community over many years.

In recent times it has been the tradition for the service to travel to different cathedrals; last year the service was held at York Minster. It was last held in Derby in 2010.

The word ‘Maundy’ comes from the Latin word meaning ‘commandment’ - it was on this Thursday, the day before he died, that Jesus gave his disciples what he described as a new commandment: ‘that you should love one another as I have loved you’.