Items filtered by date: May 2025

Important - the deadline to apply for a free contactless giving station has now passed.

You can contact Steve Johnson, Living Generously Adviser, at steve.johnson@derby.anglican.org.

The CofE is funding 50 contactless giving stations for parishes in the Diocese of Derby.

In addition to the weekly congregational giving, the devices enable churches cashless payment options for events including weddings, christenings, church fetes and concerts, as well for making one-off donations and the booking of churches and halls.

Applications for contactless devices opened on Monday, 6 February 2023 and can only be made through the Parish Buying website, where more information on the available Giving Stations can be found.

Steve Johnson, Living Generously Adviser for the Diocese of Derby, said: "We have an amazing opportunity for all our parishes to enable community generosity through contactless giving from a generation who are increasingly using cashless methods in their lifestyles.

"I am extremely excited for the Diocese of Derby to be part of this initiative and in supporting our churches giving income and I strongly encourage every parish to apply for a free device."

Churches have until Saturday, 4 March 2023 to submit their application.

If a church/parish doesn’t already have a Parish Buying account they can register first before accessing the Diocese of Derby's Digital Giving page to apply.

As we rapidly move towards being a cashless society, it is important that churches can receive gifts in the way people find it easiest to give.

Cards overtook cash as the preferred form of payment in 2017, so the ability to accept digital donations will be key for many churches in the years to come.

In 2022 alone, churches across the country received more than £6.5m in digital donations.

The Church of England’s National Giving Team has embarked on a three-year project to help thousands more churches access digital mechanisms for receiving donations. 

If you would like to contact Steve Johnson, please email steve.johnson@derby.anglican.org or call him on 07359 067631.

23 February 2023

The Revd Dwayne Engh, Ordained Ministries Development Officer, Diocese of Derby, has also been appointed Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Derby. Dwayne will be licensed on Sunday, 5 March 2023 at 5.15 pm at Derby Cathedral by the Bishop of Derby.

The Revd Mick Futers, Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of Chaddesden St Philip with Derby St Mark, has been appointed Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Derby. Mick will be licensed on Sunday, 5 March 2023 at 5.15 pm at Derby Cathedral by the Bishop of Derby.

The Revd Sharon Murphy, Assistant Curate in the Derwent Oak Bishop’s Mission Order, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Pioneer Priest-in-Charge of St Mary Westfield, and Associate Priest for Harrington and Distington, Diocese of Carlisle.

16 February 2023

The Revd Dawn Knight, Assistant Curate of Allestree St Nicholas and of Quarndon, has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of Cotmanhay and Shipley in the same diocese.

The Revd Jenny Simpson will be licensed as Assistant Curate (known as Associate Minister) of St Werburgh’s Derby Bishop’s Mission Order on Monday, 20 March 2023 at 7.30 pm at St Werburgh’s Derby by the Bishop of Repton.

The Revd Felicity Walters, Vicar of Hadfield and Vicar of Charlesworth and Gamesley, has announced her retirement. Felicity’s last day in post will be Wednesday, 31 May 2023, with her retirement taking effect from Thursday, 1 June 2023. She will be moving away from the diocese in retirement.

2 February 2023

The Revd Canon Nicky Fenton, Chaplain to the Bishop of Derby, has been seconded to be Acting Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales. She will legally be Assistant Archdeacon from Wednesday. 1 March 2023, to become Acting Archdeacon on Saturday, 1 April 2023. She will continue as Residentiary Canon at Derby Cathedral. Contact details for Nicky during this period will be: nicky.fenton@derby.anglican.org. Ellie Ballard will act as PA to Nicky: Ellie.Ballard@derby.anglican.org   |   01332 388658.

The Revd Dr David Mundy, Priest-in-Charge of Glossop and Assistant Area Dean of Peak Deanery, has also been appointed part-time Acting Chaplain to the Bishop of Derby, alongside his current roles. David will start in post on Wednesday, 1 March 2023. David’s contact details for this period will be:david.mundy@bishopofderby.org.

The Revd Sandra Doore will be licensed as Team Vicar in the Buxton with Burbage and King Sterndale Team Ministry, on Sunday, 2April 2023 at 3 pm at St Mary’s Buxton by the Bishop of Derby assisted by the Acting Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales.

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All ministry needs to start with prayer. We grow in faith as we connect with God’s heart for people. As we pray for schools and their children, our heart for the children and the staff at the school grows and we see God move. 

Matthew 7:7-11

Ask, Seek, Knock

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Visit Pray For Schools to see inspiration and resources, and start praying for the schools near you.

24-7 Prayer also have useful guides on praying for schools, staff and students. 

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The Church of England’s Ministry Experience Scheme (MES) has been running for ten years, with 700 participants and involving 35 dioceses.  It offers a year of experience and training in a range of settings for people aged 18-30 to help them discern a call to ministry.

This has been largely focussed on ordained ministry, however MES has expanded in line with the Church’s Vision and Strategy for the 2020’s, to include a stream focussed specifically on ministry opportunities amongst children, young people and families (CYPF) – the Future Youth Ministry Experience Scheme. 

In the Diocese of Derby we have been a part of the first two years of the pilot, and are looking to invest in at least two young adults aged 18-30, to join us as Future Youth MES workers. These 11-month training and experience gaining posts will seek to help participants discern a long-term possible vocation to Christian ministry with Children, Young People and Families.

The successful applicants will gain a diverse experience of mission and ministry with CYPF within one of our specially selected placements as part of a wider process of discerning God’s call on your life. These exciting roles will involve working closely with the ministry team of the church or mission community, to play their part in the Kingdom of God which is good news for all, helping to see transformation in the lives of CYPF, the church grow and communities built.

The FY MES scheme has also partnered with Aurora, and participants will join together with others across the country to complete the nationally run course. We will also work with participants to build in optional further training modules to their year through our Diocesan lay ministry training programme.

Placement contexts

Participants will be placed in one of our carefully selected context parishes/benefices. After successful applications and interviews, the Diocesan team will work with the candidates to work out the placement where they are most likely to flourish. This decision will be based on location, church tradition, ministry interests and where there is most likely to be the best working relationship with placement supervisors. This allocation will be a conversation where successful candidates will have a chance to meet with placement supervisors and agree focuses for the placement.

The range of placements will offer as diverse a range of opportunities as possible, across differing contexts including urban, post-industrial and rural contexts, as well as differing traditions and theological backgrounds. 

Whilst accommodation is not provided as part of this role, we will work with successful candidates and the local church to explore affordable lodging options with hosts from the placement churches.

To find out more and apply for your church/context to be considered as a placement context, please apply here by Monday 26th May

If this deadline is tricky, or to find out more about being a participant on the scheme, please contact Aidan Watson

For more information, contact Revd Aidan Watson Aidan.watson@derby.anglican.org | 01332 278144

Glossop parish church of All Saints has become the first church in the Diocese of Derby to achieve a gold Eco Church award.

The award is the highest accolade given by A Rocha UK, a Christian conservation charity, and reflects the church’s commitment to put creation care at the heart of their activities, and highlights how Eco Churches benefit biodiversity and reduce their carbon footprint.

To achieve the award, Glossop parish church developed its churchyard to be a living sanctuary at the heart of the community. 

The planting scheme encourages bees, butterflies and birds, there are bird boxes, bug and hedgehog hotels, and the hedges aren’t cut when birds might be nesting. 

The land is used for outdoor services and learning about creation, and events such as The Great British Birdwatch, the Bellringers BBQ and the end-of-season party for Dark Peak Children’s orchestra. 

Joining with churches and community groups across Glossopdale, they took part in the ‘Great British Spring Clean’ in April and October and collected a total of over 40 bags of litter from a local ‘grot spot’.

The church also had a green Christmas, renting a Christmas tree which the Reverend David said is returned after Christmas so it can continue growing.

They also sent candle stubs and used tea lights to a company in the southwest of England who recycle them into candles.

During January month they are being part of ‘Buy Nothing New Month’, trying out alternatives like renting, repairing and buying pre-loved items to save both money as well as the planet.

The Vicar at All Saints, the Reverend David Mundy, said All Saints had put the concept of caring for creation at the heart of all their thinking: "The Eco Church award scheme has been instrumental in helping us understand practical ways to engage with the Anglican Communion’s ‘Fifth Mark of Mission’: 'To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth'.

"Working to achieve the different levels of award has challenged us about our faith.

"We have increasingly come to recognise that the lifestyle choices we make – what we eat, what we wear, how we travel, how we dispose of our waste, and so on – have implications not only for the planet but also for our sisters and brothers in the global South.

"The gold award is not the end of our journey; it is a staging post. I am very proud of the Eco Church team at All Saints.

"Our next steps include investigating how we might work towards the net zero targets and supporting other parishes on their Eco Church journeys."

On hearing of the award, the Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, said: "My congratulations go to everyone at All Saints, Glossop, and especially Barbara Fearnley and Eric Igo for the amazing work they have done as they have travelled towards and been awarded with Gold Eco Church status.

"Projects undertaken have included tending the churchyard and developing it as a sanctuary for humans, plants and animals, litter picking, toilet twinning, recycling candle stubs, partnering with USPG Green Schools programme in South India and 'renting' a Christmas tree which will be replanted so it can continue growing.

"I look forward to more of our churches following this example and being more environmentally sustainable and ecologically friendly.

"This is great news for the parish, for the diocese and, above all, for the environkment and the wildlife that will benefit from this remarkable effort in caring for God's creation."

And the Reverend Lucy Foster, A Rocha UK’s Eco Church Officer for Northern England said, “All Saints’ creation care is deeply rooted in their worship and prayer life and flows through all they do - from the beautiful accessible sacred space of their churchyard, and Toilet Twinning to initiatives with community partners to combat air pollution in areas of deprivation.

"They are an inspiring example of how church environmental action benefits both global and local neighbours."

Learn more about the Eco Church award scheme

15 October 2022 meeting

Download a copy of the report (PDF)

25 June 2022 meeting

Download a copy of the report (PDF)

The Bishop of Derby has announced the new diocesan secretary will be Will Hagger, who is currently the diocese of London's director of housing and investment property.

Will brings with him a wealth of experience, having worked for the London Diocesan Fund for eight years.

He is a chartered surveyor and has previously worked for property fund management business, Newcore Capital.

Will said: “I am really excited by the opportunities and challenges that my new role in Derby will present, both professionally and personally.

"Whilst I will be sad to leave the Diocese of London, I am looking forward to getting acquainted with the Diocese of Derby and the whole of Derbyshire.”

On announcing the appointment, Bishop Libby said: “I know you will join me in warmly welcoming Will to the Diocese of Derby.

"He will be a great asset to the diocese and in leading DBF colleagues from Church House.

"Please keep him and his family in your prayers as they prepare to move and through all their transitions."

Will’s first day with us will be 1^st May.

On Sunday, 22 January 2023, St Peter’s Chellaston welcomed members of the Diocese of Derby Disability Inclusion Action Group (DIAG) for a service focused on the experience of disabled people. The congregation showed their support with over 60 people attending the service.

Reader Lynda Herbert, who works for ‘Through the Roof’ - an organisation highlighting these issues - spoke from Mark 2 1-12 about overcoming obstacles churches too often inadvertently place in the path of disabled people.

Bishop Malcolm actively supports the Diocesan DIAG and presided at the service said, “We look forward to offering assistance to parishes as they consider how best to welcome people with disabilities - more information and resources will soon be available on the diocesan website”.

Lynda Herbert commented "We, the members of DIAG were given such a warm welcome by all at St Peter's and it was lovely to experience their willingness to explore how they can make the church a welcoming and accessible environment for everyone. We look forward to working with them on the forthcoming access and inclusion audit".

Pictured (L-R) are Carl Veal (Chair of the DIAG) and his guide dog Eaton, Rachel Harrison (Reader and warden), Bishop Malcolm, Lynda Herbert (Reader and DIAG member), Revd BJ Facey (Vicar of St Peter’s Chellaston) and Terry Nash (DIAG member).

In March 2023, the DIAG will be launching their webpage on the Diocesan website which will it is hoped will be a great platform for parishes to learn more about the group, seek assistance and guidance, and download a range of resources.

>> View a recording of the service