Items filtered by date: May 2025

All Saints’ Church in Mackworth has started on the next phase of rebuilding, after the Chancellor of the Diocese of Derby gave permission for the work to go ahead.

The centuries-old church, just outside Derby, was severely damaged by fire following an arson attack in December 2020 and has not been able to be used since.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) was granted permission to rebuild the church by the Worshipful and Reverend Timothy Clarke, Chancellor of the Diocese of Derby, in September and a contractor has been procured to start the work which is expected to take around 30 months to complete and includes rebuilding the walls and roof.

Consultation has also started on the next phase of the rebuild, and Mackworth Parish residents will be consulted over the coming months about what the interior restoration should include.

After receiving permission for the work to go ahead, Don McLure, the Project Lead and PCC Treasurer, said: “It is great news for the congregation, local residents and the PCC that we can move forward with restoring the church.

It is a long and complicated process, but the PCC is aiming to make the exterior of the church look as near as possible to how it was before the fire.

The church had existed on the site at Lower Road for more than 700 years.

“We are extremely grateful to Ecclesiastical Insurance, who will fund both the building and interior work, and to the local community and supporters of the church for raising more than £40,000 towards any non-insurance works that may be carried out.”

The fire completely destroyed the interior, including the pipe organ and marble pulpit, and caused the entire roof to fall in and structural damage to the walls of the nave and chancel.

It is estimated that the entire rebuilding project could cost up to £13m.

The congregation of All Saints has continued enjoying Christian worship thanks to the hospitality of its sister church, St Michael's, Kirk Langley.

More about Mackworth All Saints

The church dates back the 14th Century, though it is known that the site has been a place of worship for around 1,000 years. The building was earlier restored and reopened by the Bishop of Lichfield in 1851.

The pulpit, installed in 1896, was made of Derbyshire alabaster and green Irish marble. The pipe organ was built by Lloyd and Dudgeon of Nottingham and dated back to 1870. Both were destroyed in the fire.

Since the fire, the building has undergone a large amount of work to clear the site and stabilise the remaining walls to make it safe and prevent further collapse.

Silverware and paperwork stored in a safe survived the fire, as did a 4ft silver cross and a statue of the Madonna and Child.

The chancellor of the diocese, as the independent judge of the consistory court, oversees legal issues across the diocese, especially those which relate to the use of and alterations to church buildings and land.

Around £10m each year directly or indirectly supports Church of England mission and ministry through parishes, churches and other worshipping contexts, our schools and partner agencies across the Diocese of Derby.

That’s a huge amount of money to raise each year, so we have a duty to manage and deploy it well.

Our new publication On the money sets out to explain how we do just that.

In addition to On the money, we have introduced a new page on our website - Our Finances.

Here you will find details about:

• On the money
• Common Fund
• Annual Budget
• Annual Report & Financial Statements
• Encouraging generous giving in your church

Why not take a look?

The relevant documents for your parish Common Fund request for 2024 are available to download using the links below.

Standing order forms are included for your convenience along with guidance.

If you have any queries, please contact finance@derby.anglican.org.

>> Common Fund Request 2024

>> Standing Order 2024 mandate

>> Common Fund - Discussion points for a PCC

>> On the money

Standing Order guidance

Please complete your standing order mandate, filling in the highlighted boxes, including adding your unique 6‐digit parish reference number in the box at the bottom of the form.

If you are unsure of this code, please refer to the Common Fund Request 2024 section of the website where all parishes are listed by Deanery. This is important so that we can easily identify who the payment has come from.

You will also find listed the Common Fund request for your parish.

Once completed, please send one section to your bank and the other to:

Finance Department
Derby Church House
Full Street
Derby
DE1 3DR

Or email it to: finance@derby.anglican.org 

16/11/23: This page is currently being updated, please forward any enquiries to matt.barnes@derby.anglican.org 

In 2023, Safeguarding Sunday is taking place on Sunday, 19 November 2023.

It is a safeguarding awareness raising campaign for churches run by the charity Thirtyone:eight.

Each year, thousands of churches from diverse backgrounds and traditions across the UK come together to reflect on their own safeguarding journey, and to highlight and celebrate all the good work that is being done by so many behind the scenes to protect vulnerable people.

On Sunday, 19 November, a service will be held in Derby Cathedral to give thanks and to celebrate the work of our Parish Safeguarding Officers and to recognise their work through an Act of Commissioning.

Hannah Hogg, Head of Safeguarding for the Diocese of Derby, said: “The Safeguarding Team are really looking forward to having the opportunity to recognise all the hard work our PSOs do across the diocese. We hope as many as possible will join us, both for the service and for a cup of tea afterwards”.

Resources for churches are available at: thirtyoneeight.org/get-involved/safeguarding-sunday

Diocese of Derby 2024 Budget [PDF]

Around £10m each year directly or indirectly supports Church of England mission and ministry through parishes, churches and other worshipping contexts, our schools and partner agencies across the Diocese of Derby.

That’s a huge amount of money to raise each year, so we have a duty to manage and deploy it well. The new publication "On the money" below sets out to explain how we do just that.

Of course, there must be a legal entity to manage all the money that flows in and out to support the mission we’ve been given. The Derby Diocesan Board of Finance (DDBF) is an incorporated, charitable body that is the diocese’s financial executive and is committed to making sure our resources are used efficiently, effectively, and responsibly

Advising the Board on financial matters are the Finance Team, who perform a number of essential statutory functions on behalf of the DDBF and is also here to support and serve our deaneries and parishes.

If you need further help, please get in touch at finance@derby.anglican.org

On the money

On the money is a new publication explaining diocesan finances. Please take a look.

>> On the money [PDF]

To help share the message with our congregations we have created a short summary leaflet. To download please click links below.

>> On the money summary [PDF] - folded A5 size, suitable for printing

>> On the money summary [PDF] - A4 version for sharing digitally

Giving

>> Common Fund reports

>> Parish Giving Scheme

>> Generosity

Related publications

>> Annual Report and Financial Statements 2023 [PDF]
Directors' reports and financial statements for the Derby Diocesan Board of Finance are published and approved by Diocesan Synod in June each year.

>> 2024 annual budget [PDF]
The annual budget is scrutinised by Diocesan Synod in October each year. 

>> 2025 annual budget [PDF]
The annual budget is scrutinised by Diocesan Synod in October each year. 

>> Common Fund reports
Common Fund collection rates by deanery are published monthly on this website,

Get in touch

Lullington All Saints' Remembrance display this year will be memorable after villagers got together to knit and crochet 10,000 poppies 

The poppies have now been assembled into a waterfall, cascading from the church building in the South Derbyshire village.

The idea was the brainchild of Jean Burgess. Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Jean said: "I put it on Facebook, and then another lady in the village said she'd put it on Facebook, another said 'I'll knit you some poppies' and it just escalated.

"We started the waterfall and we thought we'd need about 3,000 [poppies] - and my husband measured up and said 'no way!'

"I thought we'd never do it."

Jean, who knitted around 5,000 poppies herself, said that putting the appeal on social media and a websites in other villages got many more people involved.

>> Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

>> See more photos on Facebook

30 November

The Revd Catrin Hubbard, Assistant Curate in the Buxton with Burbage and King Sterndale Team Ministry, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Student Missioner (Assistant Curate) in the parish of Derby St John the Evangelist in the same diocese. Catrin will be licensed on Wednesday, 17 January 2024 at 7.30pm at St John’s Derby by the Bishop of Repton.

The Revd Christopher (Chris) Smedley, Rector of Wilne and Draycott with Breaston, Diocese of Derby, has announced his retirement. Chris’ last day in post will be Friday, 31 May, with his retirement taking effect from Saturday, 1 June, 2024.

23 November

The Revd Mark Griffin, Rector of St Martin and St Paul Canterbury, Diocese of Canterbury, has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of Beeley and Edensor, Diocese of Derby.

The Revd Jonathan Page, Vicar of Belper Christ Church with Turnditch and Priest-in-Charge of Hazelwood, Holbrook and Milford, Diocese of Derby, has announced his retirement. Jonathan’s last day in post will be Wednesday, 31 January 2024, with his retirement taking effect from Thursday, 1 February 2024.

16 November

The Revd John Wigram, Vicar of Ripley and Priest-in-Charge of Swanwick and Pentrich, Diocese of Derby, has announced his resignation. John’s last day in post will be Tuesday, 30 April 2024, with his resignation taking effect from Wednesday, 1 May 2024.

15 November

The Revd Christopher Holden, Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of the Denby Group, Diocese of Derby, has announced his retirement. Chris' last day in post will be Thursday, 30 November, with his retirement taking effect from Friday, 1 December 2023. Chris will hold the Bishop of Derby's Permission to Officiate in retirement. 

3 November 

The Revd Kenneth (Ken) Johnson, Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of Somercotes, of Alfreton and of Riddings and Ironville has announced his retirement. Ken’s last day in post will be Thursday, 14 December 2023, with his retirement taking effect from Friday, 15 December 2023. Ken will hold the Bishop of Derby’s Permission to Officiate in retirement.

You've spent a lot of time organising your Christmas events and services, so make sure as many people as possible know about them!

The first thing to remember is to think about the language you use:

Mind your language

Make your welcome message current and invitational.

We assume people know they are always welcome in church, but the sad truth is that many don’t realise that or find it intimidating.

A genuine, warm, welcome will ease any anxiety. 

However, do try not to use:

• 'Join us' - although it sounds welcoming, many perceive this as them having to join in the activity of an exclusive club that they are unfamilar with. Instead, try 'Come along to...', 'All welcome'
• 'our church' - again, this sounds like they are joining an established club. Instead, try 'the church', or even 'your church' if it fits the context
• Don't go heavy on the theology! Many people who go to church only once or twice a year may not be thinking about the original significance of Christmas; to them, it is a time for families, lights, trees and togetherness - and that is a great start! An invitation to enjoy carols and a Christmas atmosphere will resonate with some more than 'celebrate the birth of Jesus', so be sure to consider all audiences and not just those who are already engaged with the Church. Remember: write for your intended audience, not for yourself!

Where to spread the word

Don't rely on just one method of getting your event known about.

Channels you can use include:

• Posters
• Local event publications
• Local newspapers and local radio stations
• Social media

Poster top tips

• Limit the number of fonts you use (two is plenty) and ensure that they are easy to read.
• Limit the information included to the essentials, if you need to say more include a link to your website or social media.
• Keep it simple - one large image is generally better than lots of smaller ones.
• Don't be afraid of white space!
• Ask someone to check your work before you print.
• Is it clear what the event is?
• Have you included the date, time and place?

How to promote your event on Facebook

Once you have your event planned, you might think the simple option is to post a picture of your poster on Facebook. No! 

Posters shared on your page are not searchable, meaning that anyone looking for an event near them will not see it, as Facebook sees this only as a  picture and doesn't know what it says.

By far the best option is to set up an event on your Facebook page - that will allow people searching to find you and your event.

People can also share the event; reply to say they are attending - and that will show in their timeline, meaning their friends might also see it and want to attend.

It is like word of mouth online!

You can also invite people to the event to help spread the word

Setting up events is easy, and Facebook has a brilliant help section taking you through the process step-by-step.

The tutorials are available as text to read or as a series of short videos, however you prefer to learn.

Find out more here and see an example here.

Promote on X (formerly Twitter)

X can play a great role in promoting your Christmas services and events and now is theperfect time to take a few moments and makesure your profile picture and information are upto date.

Use images but remember that they don't show up in searches so include text too.

Good tweets are engaging, thought provoking and open.

Where possible, use warm and welcoming words, not isolating ones.

For maximum audience reach, look for active community online groups in your area and share the tweet with them.

Don't forget to also include tags like #Christmas #FollowTheStar #Carols #Community, #ChristmasTreeFestival and also include @DioceseofDerby and @churchofengland.

Connect with your community

Putting a poster up on your noticeboard is great, but don't forget to put them up in places that people outside of your congregation can see them.

Think about:your local school, shops, scout and guide groups, library, village hall, WI group and supermarket.

Have a look at local facebook groups and share your event with them too.

Use your local media

Don't forget to let your local newspaper and radio station know about your events.

At the very least, send them a list of your events but better still, send them a well-written press realease.

If your event has a strong visual element (eg a Christmas Tree Festival) let your regional TV broadcasters know too - they're always looking for potential colourful and interesting images.