Items filtered by date: August 2025
A message from Bishop Libby
My faith is rooted in thanksgiving: I believe God gave everything for me in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus - in gratitude I chose to give my everything back to God.
At Easter, Christians celebrate Jesus’s victory over sin and death. Over this past week we have recalled Jesus’s last days before his crucifixion, remembering his arrest, trial and suffering.
On Good Friday we commemorate his death in wonder that God chose not only to share our humanity but also to die for us that we might receive forgiveness of sins and the hope of life everlasting - a promise fulfilled in Jesus' resurrection from the dead, on Easter Sunday.
This year, through Lent, I have taken the opportunity to return to the basics of my faith with 40 days preparation for the celebration of Easter.
For six weeks, I have made time in my own life for those things I encourage in others:
- I have been joining volunteers serving their local contexts – coming alongside those running a debt advice service; those offering good food and good company to combat hunger and loneliness; I have made cups of tea for those protecting children from exploitation, joined in with a community choir improving mental health and learnt about work being done to support victims of domestic abuse.
- With family and colleagues, and about 80 others, I have challenged the injustice of homelessness by joining ‘Sleep Easy’. Sleeping rough for just one night in support of the work of Derby YMCA and Padley Group, our aim was to draw attention to the terrible vulnerability of those who find themselves without safe and sustainable housing.
- Privately, I have been deepening my relationship with God by putting aside time each day to be still and quiet and be attentive to his presence in the world around me. A simple but joyful pleasure has been a free App on my phone that helps to identify the birds I’ve heard each day and then posting my discoveries on Facebook.
- In sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, I have taken every opportunity to invite others to join in the life of the Kingdom of God as His disciples. A particular highlight of Lent this year was the Service of Baptism and Confirmation at HMPrison Foston Hall. What a privilege to welcome into the Household of God those, in complex and challenging circumstances, who have made the choice to follow Jesus.
This Easter, I invite you to consider that choice too – or to reaffirm the choice you may have made long ago - to give your all to the One who gave everything for us as we celebrate the extraordinary promise and joy of new life this Easter Sunday.
I pray you a joyful Easter, full of hope and peace.
Bishops Libby and Malcolm have been reflecting on the gospel readings set for the principal service for the Sundays in Lent.
It has been a privilege for +Malcolm and I to engage with others, laity and clergy, on these passages of scripture. We have valued reflecting on our own study and wisdom and sharing what we had heard and taught in services over each weekend. I have appreciated the rich conversation and personal stories being offered as we listen, discuss and pray.
As we heard the story of the first disciples interaction with those around them, we wondered who are ‘Greeks’ among us?
Would they know to come to us if they want to see Jesus? Will they feel able to come to ask us about Jesus?
Perhaps ‘Greeks’ are all and any who are looking, who are seeking understanding. In fact we don’t know what these Greeks wanted Jesus for.
Their seeking may have been shallow or selfish or even harmful. Whatever their motivation this passage helps us to see that all our seeking is only ever a response to God’s first seeking us.
Jesus is God seeking out everyone “I will draw all people to myself”.
We considered who are the people we go to to share in the work of witness, if like Philip, we are approached by someone who wants to know more of Jesus. Who supports us as we share our faith?
We also wondered if we sometimes act as ‘gatekeepers’ to Jesus, putting barriers between those who are seeking and the possibility of meeting Jesus for themselves – in this account, do these enquiring Greeks actually get to see Jesus?
A grain of wheat is still a powerful image that, for example, can offer hope in facing death. We also saw in this the connection with the Eucharist as grains of wheat are given new purpose in the bread that may be broken to feed many.
We recognised that in this passage we have moved into a narrative that is clouded over by Jesus’ approaching passion – knowing what is to come everything we see, heard, felt, in light of knowing what Jesus is choosing to bear for us all. All is now read in the knowledge that Jesus is the grain of wheat that falls to the ground to bring new life and fruitfulness.
We noticed that increasing urgency of this passage, now ... now … now repeated throughout. The voice from heaven speaks and makes engagement immediate. ‘Pay attention, wake up, take notice’ it seems to demand – the hour has come!
We wondered how that hour which was for for the glory of God connects to my ‘now’ and the ‘now’ of the world today – can our time be ‘this hour’ too? What is validity of imagining ourselves into this story, and into passion story? If that hour is our hour, how are we to understand letting go of/ hating love of life in this world that we might gain eternal life?
Perhaps that is in partnering with God in what God is doing, for ‘where I am, there will my servant be’. We speak in the church sometimes of ‘finding out with what God is doing and joining in with it’? But does that suggest that God is only at work in some places and not others? How do we inhabit what feels like failure, ‘the way of the cross’, and find God there?
The forces of darkness did ‘win’ Jesus’ death but that was Jesus’ victory. Do we believe God is everywhere at work, even – or especially – in those places that look like failure?
In John’s gospel not always clear when is Jesus speaking and when is John commenting, but at the end of this passage we have an explicit commentary from the evangelist, ‘he said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die’.
Does John mean that Jesus words point to the mechanism of his coming death ie crucifixion by which he would be physically ‘lifted up from the earth’? And/or is John drawing attention to the nature and purpose of Jesus’ death, that it will ‘draw all people to myself’?
As we reflected together for the last time this Lent John had drawn us to a place where we were preparing both to face the terrible practical realities of Jesus suffering, trial and crucifixion – the means of His death, and to consider afresh the implications of Jesus’ sacrifice -what His death means.
John 12.20-33
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say - “Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
Bishops Libby and Malcolm have been reflecting on the gospel readings set for the principal service for the Sundays in Lent.
Lent 4 Reflection
Bishop Malcolm and I were pleased to gather again online with people from across the diocese to study, discuss and pray. We are blessed by the sharing of insight and understanding.
We began by considering how, in scripture, serpents represent all that diminishes and dehumanises us, and all that divides us from God.
We recalled with wonder and thanksgiving that all this Jesus defeats through love on the cross.
We often read and hear John 3.16 as a ‘stand-alone’ verse but ‘God so loved’ is a commentary on the previous verse that looks all the way back to Moses.
We are therefore reminded that Jesus stands in the long story of salvation history: the same God was saving God’s people in the despair of a snake infested wilderness came for our salvation in Jesus.
We reflected a while on the imagery of light and darkness. It is not darkness itself that is evil but actions, behaviours and attitudes that people would ‘hide’.
These verses also gave hope that all evil may be redeemed when it is brought close to Jesus who can transform and forgive, bringing wholeness and forgiveness.
A personal story was shared by a caver remembering an occasion of being trapped underground and the relief of light as a rescuer appeared in darkness.
As we considered the intersection of light and darkness, we referenced the insights from the national church Lent resource ‘Watch and Pray’ which has brought to our attention the risk of unthinkingly equating ‘dark’ with bad and ‘light’ with good as such imagery may feed underlying ethnic prejudices.
We wondered about the benefits of darkness. It is in the dark that restoration and recreation can occur.
The dark can allow space and possibility to abide, to think, to learn, to be changed shielded from unhelpful and distracting stimulation.
We recalled that God’s creativity emerged out of darkness. Bishop Malcolm remembered seeing light shining from windows of churches on gloomy grey Sundays, and offered that as an illustration, week by week, of the continuing draw of God’s love into the communities we are called to witness to and serve.
We noticed how frequently the word ‘world’ appears in this passage. From the start John speaks of the big picture, of the whole world.
As we read John, we think not just of ourself or even of all ourselves but of the whole world beset by ‘darkness’ and beloved by God - all created order not just humanity.
When John writes ‘God so loved the world’ we hear not just that God so loved people but that whole creation.
How might we respond to the challenge to manifest God’s love that isn’t self-concerned?
The image of love as a three-legged race was shared, of love as being completely in step, of matching ourselves to the pace, direction and rhythm of another.
How can we love God by being in step with God’s love for the whole of creation?
It’s too easy to condemn. But Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.
In the television series ‘Rev’, the journey to Easter begins before Christmas when the main character resists a culture of condemnation saying, “I will not do another sermon condemning the secularisation of Christmas”.
It is possible that we can feel closest to God at moments of temptation. Temptation can be vicious tool of Satan to highlight sin and increase guilt and shame that makes us feel not worthy to be close to God.
But this passage reminds us that God does not condemn but draw us to the light.
We pondered the reality that Jesus forsaken on the cross is, in fact, God on the cross. The cross is how God so loved the world.
John 3.14-21
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’
A group of walkers from Youlgrave All Saints is embarking on a marathon journey to all of England's 42 Anglican cathedrals to raise £42,000 for improvements to the church.
The self-styled Pommie Pilgrims - named for the sound of the village band - aim to complete a total of 10 million steps on their travels to help fundraise to provide a kitchen, warm space and toilets for Youlgrave’s 12th-Century church.
The journey begins on at 12 noon on Palm Sunday with the start of the first pilgrimage - a three-day walk to Derby with the High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Teresa Peltier, the Youlgrave Silver Band, the WI Choir, a host of village pilgrims and a couple of donkeys!
The Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Elizabeth Fothergill, will also be in attendance to wave them off.
Bishop Libby and Dean Peter will meet the Pommie Pilgrims as they arrive at Derby Cathedral on Tuesday, 26 March.
>> Find out more and make a donation
Revd Adele Barker, Priest-in-Charge of the White Peak and Youlgrave Benefice, said: "We have a beautiful church building and all that is raised will be used to ensure that we can provide a warm welcome and hospitality in All Saints for many more years to come.
"Our hope to connect Youlgrave with each cathedral in the country via pilgrimage is a huge challenge.
"It will be interesting to hear all the stories that will flow from each journey!"
The dean of each cathedral has been invited to to meet them on their journey.
>> Follow the Pommie Pilgrims on Facebook
A pottery pilgrim’s token, designed by local artist Phil Smith, will be carried and presented to each cathedral forging a permanent link back to Youlgrave.
Revd Cannon Elizabeth Jane Clay MBE, chair of the Pommie Pilgrimage organising group, said: "Ten million steps to connect our village with some of the grandest buildings in the country feels like an impossible task, but one step at a time, together, we’ll get there.
We’re not expecting to raise this amount of money by being sponsored a penny a mile, but if you’re able to spend more than a penny for our loos, please do get in touch!”
All Saint’s Church is a Grade One listed building loved by the villagers of Youlgrave and beyond.
It is a resting place for weary walkers, a classroom and performance space for eager school children, a community foodbank for those in need, a vital community link for the elderly, children and families and a regular place of worship, remembrance and celebration for a whole community.
Many visitors wander in daily and enjoy the calm spirituality of this wonderful building, which features in Simon Jenkins's book ‘England’s Thousand Best Churches’.
Although All Saints has undergone many alterations since its founding in 1155, it will benefit further by the addition of some key amenities to ensure its sustainability and to make it more welcoming.
Bishop Libby is the Holy Week preacher at Derby Cathedral this year.
With the title Readings in St John’s Gospel, Bishop Libby will be giving addresses that will unfold some key passages from St John’s Gospel as we undertake our journey into the death and resurrection of Christ.
Bishop Libby will be preaching at these services:
- Monday 25 March at 18:30 – Address followed by Sung Compline
- Tuesday 26 March at 18:30 – Address followed by Sung Compline
- Wednesday 27 March at 18:30 – Address followed by Sung Compline
- Maundy Thursday at 18:30 – The Eucharist of the Last Supper
- Good Friday at 12 noon – The Preaching the Cross
- Good Friday at 13:30 – The Liturgy of the Passion
- Easter Day at 08:30 – Holy Communion
Access to all the services being streamed can be found here.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Holy Week services either in the cathedral itself or online.
On Mondays through Lent, +Libby and +Malcolm are hosting online forums to reflect together on the gospel readings set for the principal service of the previous Sunday.
Lent 3 Reflection - Monday, 4 March 2024
It continues to be a privilege to gather on Monday mornings and evenings with colleagues, lay and ordained, from across the diocese to study and reflect on the gospel readings set for the previous Sunday.
We moved from Mark’s gospel to John for the 3rd Sunday of Lent. In John’s gospel we recognised that the entirety of Jesus’ ministry is an integrated whole. Even this early teaching, his public ministry and first ‘signs’ directly connect to his passion, crucifixion and resurrection to come. What’s more, all of Jesus ministry arises from Passover as the fulfilment of God’s saving work for all humanity.
We realised in this passage the challenge that we exercise tyranny as well as suffer tyranny. That means the presence of God is not always easy or reassuring to us.
We noticed in the gospel passage, that the disciples remember inherited teaching to understand Jesus better in the aftermath of this occasion. The perspective of a long view enabled them to make better sense of current events. We recognised that again in the commentary that after the resurrection they remember this teaching to understand Jesus better then too. We were encouraged in our own stumbling and evolving understandings of Jesus in reading that it was only after his death and resurrection the disciples, even though they were with him in the moment, began to understand, in retrospect, with hindsight what Jesus meant by ‘this temple’.
We spoke of wanting to connect the disciples experience to our own experience of coming to scripture. We considered how we might encounter Jesus’ life and teaching as if for the first time to discover how to proclaim afresh in this generation the good news of the Kingdom.
We wondered where is ‘gentle Jesus, meek and mild’ in this passage? We recalled the John Bell song, with the words:
Jesus Christ is raging, raging in the streets, where injustice spirals and real hope retreats. Listen, Lord Jesus, I am angry too. In the Kingdom's causes let me rage with you.
John L. Bell and Graham Maule © 1988 Wild Goose Resource Group, The Iona Community, Glasgow G51 3UU
We found hope in the word’ overturned’ as it suggests that is nothing beyond Jesus’ intervention and transformation. We asked ourselves, therefore, what are the injustices that Jesus would ‘overturn’ today?
We further wondered what is the ‘clutter’, the accumulation of stuff or practice (even that with good intention) that separates us and others from God, that requires Jesus to clear out? It seemed that all the readings (not only this set gospel) of the 3rd Sunday of Lent came together around a theme of not being distracted from God and the need to keep God at the centre. We saw that in the 10 commandments offering framework to keep God’s people’s attention on God and in in Paul’s writing about both the foolishness of world and the trappings of religion distracting us from God.
If Jesus overturned the currency of the temple, it was to replace it with the currency of Kingdom, which is love. We were struck by the evocative language of this passage. In the graphic description we can almost hear the coins scattering, clinking, rolling across the floor. Jesus was pouring away the currency of coins that belong to a regime that took people away from God to replace with the currency of God’s Kingdom values.
John 2.13-25
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’
His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body.
After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.
More than 60 people working to reduce carbon emissions across the Church of England gathered in Gloucester for the first time to share ideas and learnings.
A two-day Net Zero Carbon Connect Conference, sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance, part of the Benefact Group, was held to gather and connect colleagues from 35 dioceses plus other denominations to share expertise on the Net Zero Carbon Programme.
Gareth Greenwood, Church Buildings Support Officer from The Diocese of Derby attended the event. He said: “There was a lot of energy and expertise at the conference, also a good deal of appreciation of the size of the task of reaching Net Zero by 2030. The Church Commissioners have committed funding to resource net zero projects across all the (CofE) Diocese. This is not a time for scepticism, but a time to work together for the good of the planet.”
The Church of England’s ambitious Net Zero Carbon by 2030 programme aims to equip, resource, and support all parts of the Church to reduce carbon emissions from the energy used in its buildings, schools and through work-related transport by 2030.
Find out more:
28 March 2024
The Revd Aron Donaldson, previously Assistant Curate of The Corby Glen Parishes, Diocese of Lincon, will be licensed as Hospital Chaplain at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, within the Diocese of Derby, on Tuesday, 9 April 2024 at 5pm in the Bishop’s Chapel Duffield by the Bishop of Derby.
The Revd Margaret Slyfield’s licensing as Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) in the parishes of Chelmorton, Earl Sterndale and Taddington, within the benefice of The White Peak Group, Diocese of Derby, was postponed from Sunday, 14 January 2024. Margaret was licensed on Tuesday, 19 March 2024 at Repton House by the Bishop of Repton.
21 March 2024
The Revd Richard (Dick) Dove, Assistant Curate (Deanery Interim Minister-SSM) of the former deanery of Chesterfield (now part of North East Derbyshire), Diocese of Derby, has announced his retirement. Dick’s last day in post will be Monday, 1 April 2024, with his retirement taking effect from Tuesday, 2 April 2024.
The Revd John (Howard) Robson will be licensed as Priest-in-Charge of Fairfield, Peak Forest and Dove Holes, Diocese of Derby, on Friday, 24 May 2024 at 7.00 pm at St Peter’s Fairfield by the Bishop of Derby assisted by the Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales.
The Revd Alan Winfield, Assistant Curate (SSM) of Melbourne, Smisby, Stanton-by-Bridge and Ticknall, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of the same benefice.
14 March 2024
The Revd Michael (Mike) Gilbert, Rector of Baslow and Eyam and Area Dean of Peak, Diocese of Derby, will resign as Area Dean of Peak on Sunday, 31 March 2024.
The Revd Dr David Mundy, Priest-in-Charge of Glossop, Diocese of Derby, has also been appointed Acting Area Dean of Peak. David will take up this appointment from Monday, 1 April 2024.
The Revd Emma Mallord, Assistant Curate in Littleover and Blagreaves, Diocese of Derby, has also been appointed Assistant Curate of Findern in the same diocese. Emma will start in her new post on Saturday, 29 June 2024, the day of her priesting at Derby Cathedral.
The Revd Frank Startin, Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of Stapenhill Immanuel, Diocese of Derby, has announced his retirement. Frank’s last day in post will be Sunday, 31 March 2024 with his first day of retirement being Monday, 1 April 2024.
7 March 2024
The Revd Adele Barker, interim Priest-in-Charge of the White Peak Group and interim Priest-in-Charge of Youlgreave, Middleton, Stanton-in-Peak and Birchover, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Chaplain to the Bishop of Derby in the same diocese. Adele will start in post on Wednesday, 1 May 2024, being licensed on Thursday, 9 May 2024 by the Bishop of Derby.
The Revd Sam Mackie, Assistant Curate of Swadlincote and Hartshorne, of Newhall and of Gresley (known as Swadlincote Minster), Diocese of Derby, will transfer their curacy and become Assistant Curate in the East Scarsdale Team Ministry in the same diocese. Sam will be licensed on Tuesday 26th March at 6.30 pm at Repton House by the Bishop of Repton.
The Diocese of Derby has increased its capacity to support PCCs in maintaining and developing their church buildings.
The diocese has secured national funding for a full-time Church Buildings Support Officer, as well as a minor repairs and improvement grant fund totalling around £144,000, over a two-year period.
The funding will be available to parishes to carry out ‘stitch-in-time’ repairs and improvements.
Additionally, all parishes will be given direct access to ChurchGrant funding search software, via a dedicated microsite.
This will allow parishes to identify sources of funding and each parish can attend training webinars regarding fundraising and grant funds.
There will also be access to specialist advice via a number of free consultations.
Gareth Greenwood has been appointed to the Church Buildings Support Officer role having previously held the part time role of Community Projects Development Officer.
Gareth will work alongside a tranche of parishes with particular needs, identified by the archdeacons.
Will Hagger, Diocesan Secretary, said: “The Derby Diocesan Board of Finance recognises the financial challenge to our parishes of maintaining church buildings.
This new capacity and grant fund will be hugely welcome allowing us to support parishes with their immediate church repair projects.
“In responding to applications for the new fund, among other things, the financial strength, maintenance planning and degree of deprivation of the building’s community, will be taken into account.”
A Buildings for Mission team is being established within the Parish Support Office, which Gareth Greenwood will lead.
This team will include a number of other new nationally-funded roles with a focus on supporting parishes, bringing together the sustainability of church buildings, care of the environment, and Net Zero Carbon projects, alongside faculty advice and administration and pastoral reorganisation.
Information about the criteria and application process will appear on the diocesan website in due course.
The arsenal of diocesan funding now available to support churches with building projects also includes:
- The Raymond Ross Large Grants Fund, offering parishes the opportunity to develop their local church or church hall. The maximum grant is £25k, with match funding required;
- The Raymond Ross Small Grants Scheme - £5k to enhance welcome, improve accessibility or to make small but much needed changes to internal areas. No match funding is required;
- The Bishop of Derby’s St Peter’s Churchyard Fund, a scheme offering interest-free loans.
Details of these schemes can be found at https://derby.anglican.org/funding.
Gareth Greenwood has been appointed Church Buildings Support Officer
The Archdeacons of the Diocese of Derby will hold the following Visitations in 2025.
These will all begin at 7.30pm, with doors opening at 6.45pm for refreshments and for wardens to sign the register.
Derby City and South Derbyshire
Derby City: Monday 9 June 2025 - St Francis, Mackworth DE22 4FN
Mercia: Monday 23 June 2025 - St Mark, Winshill DE15 0HS
Derbyshire Peak and Dales
Dove and Derwent: Tuesday 24 June 2025 - St Helen, Etwall DE65 6LP
Peak: Monday 30 June 2025 - St John the Baptist, Tideswell SK17 8LQ
Carsington: Thursday 26 June - Holy Trinity Matlock Bath DE4 3PU
East Derbyshire
South East Derbyshire: Wednesday 11 June 2025 - All Saints, Sawley NG10 3AT
Hardwick: Tuesday 17 June 2025 - St Thomas, Somercotes DE55 4LY
North East Derbyshire: Tuesday 1 July 2025 - St Swithin, Holmesfield S18 7WT
Attendance by all elected Churchwardens at a Visitation
There are eight visitation services available across the diocese. Wardens are encouraged to attend a service that is most convenient for them. While it’s possible to attend a visitation service outside of your designated area, this must be noted on the registration form. However, it is preferred that wardens attend a service in their own deanery or within their archdeaconry if that is not feasible.
If a warden does not attend a visitation service, they will not be admitted as a churchwarden unless special arrangements are made with the relevant Archdeacon’s PA.
Any such special arrangements will need to have been processed by Friday 29thAugust 2025. Please note that if special arrangements are needed, this adds significantly to the DBF costs so please make every effort to attend a visitation service.
The Archdeacons will be available after the service and will be very happy to speak with any wardens (especially those who are taking on the responsibility for the first time).
We appreciate your cooperation in attending these important services.
Citation dates 2025 (word)
Visitation 2025: Notes for Clergy / PCC Secretaries (word)
Certificate of Election
After the Annual Meeting of Parishioners, churchwardens are required to complete the visitation form.
Multiple Wardens: For churches where more than one warden is elected, please print and complete one form for each warden.
The completed form(s) should be returned by email to: Visitations@derby.anglican.org
Alternatively, forms can be posted to: Archdeacons’ Office, Derby Church House, Full Street, Derby, DE1 3DR.
If a Lay Chair is also to be sworn in as churchwarden, it is important that the election of churchwardens is chaired by someone other than the Lay Chair. (e.g. Area Dean, PCC Treasurer or member of the clergy). The person chairing the election should complete and sign the section of the certificate designated for the incumbent.
Thank you for ensuring the timely and accurate submission of your form.
Certificate of Election 2025 (word)
Data Forms - New Wardens
To ensure that we have accurate and up-to-date information for all new wardens, we kindly ask that all NEW wardens complete and return the data form along with their certificate of election.
Data Form 2025 (word)
See also
