Items filtered by date: June 2025
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.
>> 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
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
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
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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.
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 Margaret Slyfield, Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) in the Buxton with Burbage and King Sterndale Team Ministry, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) in the parishes of Chelmorton, Earl Sterndale and Taddington, within the benefice of The White Peak Group in the same diocese. Margaret will be licensed on Sunday, 14 January 2024 at 11am at St Michael’s Taddington by the Bishop of Repton.
The Revd Sarah Watson (to be Priest-in-Charge) and the Revd Rachael Brooks (to be Associate Minister) will be licensed to their new roles in Allestree St Edmund & Darley Abbey, in Allestree St Nicholas and in Quarndon, Diocese of Derby, on Sunday, 14 January 2024 at 3pm at Walter Evans CofE Aided Primary School, Darley Abbey, by the Bishop of Repton assisted by the Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire.
9 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 Stephen (Steve) Boswell, Assistant Curate of Normanton-by-Derby, has been appointed Interim Associate Priest for the deanery of Mercia in this diocese. Steve will be licensed on Monday, 6 November 2023 at 11am by the Bishop of Repton at Repton House.
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.
Stretton Handley School writes:
On Tuesday, 3rd October, Stretton Handley Church of England VC Primary School had a very special visitor.
The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, kindly gave up her afternoon to join the children in a special Collective Worship service.
Staff, governors, parents / carers and members of St Mark's Church congregation were also in attendance.
The school's Church Council members led the service with prayers and the lighting of candles.
Bishop Libby gave an interactive talk to the children which included telling them what she did and what she wore.
She asked five pupils to come out to the front and allowed them to try on each part of her 'Episcopal vestments' and gave an explanation of what each part meant.
Also in attendance was Mr Ernest Fox, whose grandfather originally started the giving of a Bible to Year 2 pupils annually; he gave an explanation of how it all started.
His own father, Sam Fox, took over the tradition when the Sunday school ceased to run in 1960 and the Fox family have continued with the tradition, for which the school is extremely grateful.
On this particular occasion, pupils from Years 3 and 4 who had missed out before the Covid lockdown and unforseen circumstances also received a Bible.
Bishop Libby and Mr Fox presented the Bibles together.
In September 2021, St. Mark's Church started the tradition of giving out 'Special Bears', which came in a decorative bag with its own poem, to all the pupils attending the school.
This has now moved forward and each new starter receives their own "special bear" at the start of the new school year.
These have proved to be very popular and a source of comfort at times for the children.
This small gift confirms the link between the church community and school; let's hope it will continue to do so into the future.
Bishop Libby presented the new children with their own "special bear", but the biggest surprise of the afternoon was when the tables turned and Bishop Libby was presentedwith her own 'Special Bear' by one of the school church council members.
Knitted in purple wool, it came complete with it's own gold vestments showing the school badge.
Bishop Libby was very pleased to receive it and said she would treasure it.
A very pleasant afternoon was enjoyed by all in attendance with a wonderful atmosphere that was difficult to miss.
>> Derby Diocesan Board of Education website
The recent Storm Babet forced the vicar of St Alkmund's, Duffield, to move a wedding to a neighboring parish after river water innundated the church.
St Alkmund's, which is in the flood plain of the River Derwent, was one of many in the diocese affected by the storm.
This is the second time the church has flooded in the past four years and the third time the church hall has flooded.
The vicar, Revd James Hughes, said he had to move Saturday's wedding to nearby St Paul's Little Eaton: “By Friday, previous experience told me that flooding in the church was a distinct possibility.
"So I kept in close contact with the couple and we decided to delay the final decision until Saturday morning.
“With three inches of water in the church building on Saturday, it was a quick decision, not to mention the two feet of water in the church hall!
"When we did the wedding rehearsal on Wednesday, little did we know that things would not go according to plan, though the bride and groom were very understanding about the situation, even though it wasn’t quite what they had in mind.”
The clean-up operation is now underway, though it may be a week or two before services can resume in St Alkmund’s.
It is hoped that the local Church of England school can host the church’s services and there have been a number of offers of help with the clean-up.
Other parts of the village flooded too because the River Ecclesbourne also burst its banks, a scene that was repeated around Derbyshire and in Derby.
The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, said: “My prayers are with everyone affected by the flooding as once again so many lives and livelihoods have suffered.
"We give thanks for our local authority teams and emergency services who rose to the challenge of keeping us safe, and for the resilient partnerships across the city and county that facilitated such a coordinated and generous response to the crisis.
“The people of Derbyshire have an incredibly strong sense of community and I know that many neighbourhoods, businesses and individuals are rallying round to support those who need it most.”
