Items filtered by date: May 2025

As part of the archdeacons’ legal duties under Canon 22, they are required to visit churches regularly and to make comments and recommendations regarding both the fabric and the life of all the churches in the diocese.

In 2023, Carol, Karen and Matthew would also like to take the opportunity, as they begin their first full year, to meet and have conversations with wardens or parish representatives about any concerns.

It will also allow them to familiarise themselves with all the lovely churches in their areas.

For your reference, please download the checklist which the archdeacons will bring with them to make notes on during the course of the visit.

Alongside this, there are also a few areas they would like to have open discussions with parishes about, to gain an understanding of what the actions and feelings are across the diocese on a number of important issues such as:

• Mission Action Plans
• The Fuel Crisis – how are parishes coping?
• Eco Church  - whether you have any particular environmental practices and what actions are/will you be taking to move your church towards the 2030 Net Zero Carbon target?
• Communications within the diocese:
  - A Church Near You - is your church listed?
  - How often do you tend to use the churchwarden section of the diocesan website?

For your reference, please download the checklist which the archdeacons will bring with them to make notes on during the course of the visit.

You don’t need to complete anything beforehand unless you would find it useful yourself as an aide memoire, but please could you make sure you have the registers and other relevant paperwork out ready.

The PAs in the Archdeacons Office will be contacting either wardens or PCC secretaries as appropriate during the course of late 2022/ 2023 to make appointments.

We will be hoping to contact the following two groups prior to Christmas, with a view to visiting in the period between January to Easter:

• Parishes in vacancy
• Parishes which have no wardens

The archdeacons will look forward to meeting you all, to having the opportunity to talk and to seeing your wonderful churches.

How quick can you build a chick?

Not the first question you might expect to be asked in church!

If you happened into St Bartholomew’s Church, Old Whittington over the last weekend of September, you might!

It was the weekend of the annual Lego (oh sorry, no, it has to be called) 'Brick' Festival.

Our Brick Festival is like a flower festival but instead of flower arrangements we have tables of Lego models.

Now if you are thinking that Lego is just for the children, then you are a good few years out of date.

It’s come a long way from the red and white blocks of the ‘60s, which seemed to build houses and little more.

Now there are Star Wars and Harry Potter sets; Marvel, Ninjango, Transformers, and at least a dozen other different series.

During a ‘festival’ weekend we expect periods when the church is not so busy.

I think this year the only time we had a bit of a lull was during the school day on the Friday.

Wows all around

Once school finished, families came straight up to church for a first look.

"Oh wow!" They exclaimed as they spotted the rollercoaster and ferris wheel on the fun fair.

More wows were heard at the detail of the Harry Potter models.

Landmarks from around the world left some puzzled as to where they were.

London was the most obvious.

Many folk returned on Saturday, and some even made it again on Sunday afternoon.

The ladies in the kitchen, running the tombola and managing the raffle, all declared it a great success.

On the Monday, our local primary school walked from school to church, one class at a time, for a look round.

Several children had donated models to display and had their photo taken with them.

Where's Jo?

In addition to looking at the Lego models, people were challenged to ‘Find Rev Jo’ - well her Lego figure at least.

But when you do, sshhh don’t tell anyone else!

She moved around the different displays.

It didn’t matter where she hid, she was found.

She started by operating the roller coaster, she rode in the train, a boat, and the big wheel, she took a wedding, went fishing, watched from the rooftop and finished doing an impression of Rose on the Titanic!

Oh and the chick in question…. this is Rev Jo’s time challenge. Each year we set a simple challenge to see who is ‘the champion builder of the year’.

The youngest to complete it was Jack, who is only five and a half years old.

The top three quickest were: third, Freddy, in a time of 3 minutes 5 seconds; second, Cody, in a time of 2 minutes and 55 seconds; and in first place Alfie in a time of 2 minutes and 50 seconds.  

There is a small prize for Alfie, but the real reward is in setting the challenge for next year.

Next Year? I hear you ask.

Oh yes, by popular demand, there’ll be another Brick Festival next year.

Please choose the audit/review you would like to know more about:

Good safeguarding practice requires those who work closely with children and/or adults experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect, to have an enhanced criminal record check.

The following people would require an enhanced DBS check:

- A worker or volunteer who teaches, trains, instructs, cares for or supervises children or provides advice/guidance on physical, emotional or educational well-being to children
- A worker or volunteer who provides training, teaching, instruction, assistance, advice or guidance to an adult who receives a health or social care service
- A worker of volunteer who carries out health care, personal care, social work, assisting with cash, bills or shopping, assistance with affairs or transportation for an adult
- PCC members and trustees where they sponsor or approve work with children/vulnerable adults.

All Clergy and Readers require an enhanced DBS check.

Those in self-help groups or family and friends arrangements are not eligible for an enhanced check.

This is an update regarding DBS checks for PCC members and churchwardens (ex officio PCC members), because guidance has recently changed.

Whether PCC members and churchwardens are entitled to an enhanced DBS check is dependent on the nature of the arrangements in the particular church body - requirements will therefore vary across different parishes and churches.

Being a member of a PCC does not automatically mean that the DBS threshold for an enhanced DBS check is met, unless the parish conducts work with children or vulnerable adults. This is because an enhanced DBS check without barred list check can only be applied for if the PCC itself qualifies as a children's or vulnerable adult's charity, or if an individual PCC member is undertaking work with children or vulnerable adults.

Therefore, if your parish does NOT do any work with children and/or vulnerable adults, your PCC members do NOT need an enhanced DBS check. If you wish to carry out a DBS check, that will be limited to a Basic check at the cost to the parish of £22.79 each (correct as at 15 May 2024).

If your parish DOES do any work with children and/or vulnerable adults, your PCC members should have an enhanced volunteer DBS check (without barred list), in their capacity of trustee. The Charity Commission states that 'whenever there is a legal entitlement to obtain a DBS check in respect of such a trustee, a check should be carried out'. The PCC member does not need to work with children or vulnerable adults themselves tobe eligible for this check - they are being checked because of the work of the charity.

Please note:

Churchwardens are ex officio members of the PCC, so where the PCC qualifies as a children's or vulnerable adult's charity, then the churchwardens, along with the other members of the PCC as trustees of a children's or vulnerable adult's charity, should also have an enhanced volunteers DBS check without barred list check.

This is a broad summary. For full details please refer to the Safeguarding e-manual Chapter on Safer Recruitment and People Management.   Make note of the toolkits which are provided within the document.

There are three types of check:

Basic – this checks for unspent criminal conviction information only and incurs a charge to the Parish
Enhanced – this checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings plus any additional information held by the police that's reasonably considered relevant to the role being applied for
Enhanced with barring list checks – this is like the enhanced check, but includes a check of the DBS barred child and/or adult lists.

The House of Bishops has decided that criminal record checks must be renewed every three years.

The following flowchart will help you deciode on which DBS check is required: Regulated Activity Decision Making Guidance Flowchart

Should there ever be a delay in obtaining the criminal record check, the person is not approved by the Church to act and must stand down pending completion of the process.

The annual clergy conference takes place at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire.

>> Visit the Clergy Conference website

These three documents are applicable for all Licensed Lay Readers / Lay Ministers as well as Clergy.

Clergy Confidential Declaration Form this must be completed and signed with either a physical/wet ink or image of your signature.

Privacy Notice (PDF).  Please read and retain a copy of this document for your reference.

ID Verification and Justification Form. For those already within the Diocese of Derby, the official signatory will need to see three forms of ID.  (parish safeguarding officer, churchwardens, a member of clergy, area dean or deanery administrator can be official signatory),

• one should bear a recent photograph,
• one must confirm your date of birth, and
• one must confirm your current address

For those yet to move to the diocese please have this countersigned by a senior member of clergy from your current diocese. Notes and an example ID form can be downloaded with a list of acceptable ID documents.

Once completed email both forms together to dbs@derby.anglican.org or post the original documents to DBS Administrator, Derby Church House, 1 Full Street, Derby, DE1 3DR.

(Do not include identity documents or copies to us)

On receipt of your completed forms,

1. You will be emailed a unique user ID number and a link to create your online application using that user ID number.
2. Use the link and user ID to access the application form and complete the step-by-step application instructions. (We are often asked why the paper/electronic forms are needed - we use these to verify the online application you make.)
3. On completion of the DBS process your certificate will be posted directly to you, this may take several months and is out of our control. Keep your certificate in a safe place as it is a legal document, you may be asked for it to show you are entitled to work with children or vulnerable adults.
4. The DST will receive a notification of your DBS certificate and will inform the Bishop's Office and / or Warden of Readers Office and as appropriate the parish safeguarding officer of your parish and the appropriate departments within the diocese.

If there are any concerns shown on your certificate, a member of the DST will contact you to discuss what should happen next.

If you need a DBS for your role please speak with your Parish Safeguarding Officer or group Leader. They will provide you with a copy of the

• Laity Confidential Declaration Form, and Privacy Notice.
• ID verification form.

Complete the Confidential Declaration Form (CDF), either online or a paper copy, ensuring the signature is a physical/wet ink or image of your signature.

Forward the CDF to the contact named on the bottom of the form who will complete an Identity Check with you.  At this point they will need to see three forms of identity: one should bear a recent photograph, one must confirm your date of birth, and at least one must confirm your current address. Notes and an example ID form can be downloaded and also a list of acceptable ID documents.

You will be provided with a unique user ID number and a link to create your online application using that user ID number (this may be immediately by your local contact, or may be emailed to you at a later date either by the local contact or from dbs@derby.anglican.org at the Diocesan Safeguarding Team).

Use the link and user ID to access the application form and complete the step-by-step application instructions. (We are often asked why the paper/electronic forms are needed - we use these to verify the online application you make.)

Once processed by the DBS service, your certificate will be posted directly to you. Keep your certificate in a safe place as it is a legal document, and you may be asked for it to show you are entitled to work with children or vulnerable adults.

The Diocesan Safeguarding Team will receive a notification of your DBS certificate and will inform your parish safeguarding officer and/or if appropriate departments within the diocese.

If there are any concerns shown on your certificate, a member of the DST will contact you to discuss what should happen next.

DBS updating service.

Once your application has been processed and you receive you DBS certificate you be able to apply for the DBS Updating Service. This means that you will no longer need to apply for renewals if your role remains the same or new role requires the same level of check. You will need to join the Updating Service within 30 days of the issue of your certificate. This service is free for volunteers. Please email dbs@derby.anglican.org and your parish safeguarding officer if you do subscribe so we can update our records that your DBS is subscribed. If you do not inform us, we are not notified otherwise and for volunteers it costs nothing.

For those who already have a DBS in place through the Diocese of Derby, or from elsewhere which was registered on the update service when first issued and has remained registered, then it may be possible to use it if it is has the required workforces and regulatory barring checks.

Note, all Clergy will be asked to make a full new DBS application even though they may have a certificate subscribed to the update service.

Note anyone who works from home will have to make a new application, even though they may have a certificate subscribed to the update service.

To use a certificate subscribed to the update service for roles in the Diocese of Derby:

1. The Parish Safeguarding Officer must have a recent, completed Confidential Declaration Form.

1. If any answers are yes / positive then a copy of this must be sent to dbs@derby.anglican.org with the completed DBS Update Service Check Form, and will be reviewed by the Diocesan safeguarding team.
2. If all answers are No, it should be retained by the Parish as part of standard policy.

2. Complete the top half of the DBS Update Service Check Form as you would for a standard DBS application and if the person is new to the Parish, also satisfy yourself that they are who they say they are by asking for identity documents other than the DBS Certificate, as you would usually when going through the recruitment steps checking:

1. Full Name
2. Date Of Birth
3. Role in Parish required now
4. If they will work from home now (often this will require a full new application)
5. Which Regulatory Barring Checks may be required
6. The Parish and Church the applicant will be working for
7. If this is for a Voluntary or Paid role

3. For the lower half of the form - From the certificate being checked on the update service – you must see the original certificate and then complete the following:

1. The disclosure (certificate) number which is subscribed to the update service (not the update service registration number) – this must include any leading zeros.
2. Date of Issue
3. Surname, Forenames and Date of Birth as they appear on the certificate if different from those already noted
4. Position applied for
5. The words in each of the 5 boxes e.g. e.g. Non Record, Not Requested, Certificate Contains no Information etc.

4. Send all the information obtained from 2, and 3 as documented on the form to us at dbs@derby.anglican.org. Do not send copies of the DBS certificate.

5. We will make the update service check and will then send you a notification of a successful DBS check, or advise that a new DBS application is required.

For any questions please contact dbs@derby.anglican.org 

Our Christian life is so much more than how we gather together on Sunday.

We are Christians in our working lives, as nurses, students, hairdressers, engineers, carers, managers, bus drivers, volunteers... We are Christians in our homes and families, as parents, grandparents, children, friends and neighbours.

We are Christians as we do the weekly shop, walk the dog, work out at the gym, do the school run, meet with book club, play football and go to the pub.

We are Christians whoever and wherever we are - that is Everyday Faith - and this series of videos will explore how faith helps ordinary people in their ordinary, everyday lives.

• Download the new Everyday Faith app: Google Play |  App Store

Watch the Everyday Faith videos

What's your story?

In the Diocese of Derby, we are asking people to share their Everyday stories - we would love to hear stories of people’s real lives, the impact that faith has on who they are and what they do and how churches support them as they live out their faith.

We want to hear stories from people of all ages and backgrounds - sharing your story of how your faith helps you in your daily life helps inspire, encourage and reassure others.

To share your story, drop us a line at ideas@derby.anglican.org

Let’s all get talking about our Everyday Faith!

Everyday Faith is about enabling the whole people of God to live out the Good News of Jesus confidently in the whole of life, Sunday to Saturday.

The 2017 Church of England Report Setting God’s People Free highlighted that 98% of the Church is lay rather than ordained and that these everyday followers spend 95% of their time outside of church activities.

The Church of England has undertaken a concerted effort to adapt and change our culture of ‘doing church’ in order to release fresh imagination and energy for ‘being Church.’

Across the country, hundreds of worshipping communities have been trying out various ways to achieve this culture shift, focussing on what makes a real difference in supporting an everyday faith in people’s everyday lives.

You can also find out more on the Church of England's Everyday Faith pages: https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/everyday-faith