Items filtered by date: May 2025
Kay Duckett (Wingerworth) and Bernard Madden (Hathersage) recently joined the Archbishop of York to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Central Readers’ Council.
At the invitation of the archbishop and Rebecca Cottrell, representatives from the dioceses of England and Wales were invited to give thanks for Reader/Licensed Lay Ministry.
On the glorious sunny day, Archbishop Stephen shared his commitment and passion for lay ministry.
He gave thanks for licensed lay ministry, including that represented by Kay, Bernard and representatives of other dioceses.
We all celebrated how it has grown and evolved over the last 100 years. Archbishop Stephen even garnered a few very welcome smiles when recounting the responses he gets from prospective clergy when asked how they understand and plan to enable lay ministry.
He emphasized our calling from baptism to grow into the life of the church, before remarking on the importance of lay leadership in church life.
Advocating for creative, open and imaginative ministry he challenged those present to think about their own ministries and that of future generations so that we all continue to grow, adapt, and flourish.
Following a rather delicious afternoon tea, the Archbishop and Mrs Cottrell invited their guests to look around Bishopthorpe Palace and its grounds.
A much-needed moment of quiet along the Ouse gave ample opportunity to watch the fish and the birds – as well as a number of leisure boats – go past, before everyone gathered for evening prayer.
The day was a very welcome and very timely opportunity to reflect on the importance of lay ministry and the Diocese of Derby are delighted and proud to have been represented by Kay and Bernard.
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Bishop Malcolm experiences church from a wheelchair user’s perspective
Have you ever considered what it’s like to go to church when you’re a wheelchair user?
Bishop Malcolm recently met Reader Lynda Herbert from the newly formed Disability Inclusion Action Group (DIAG) at St Giles Church in Marston Montgomery where she is a regular worshipper.
His plan was to get an understanding of the challenges faced by wheelchair users, both leading worship and as a member of the congregation.
So, Bishop Malcolm became a wheelchair user for the duration of the meeting.
Bishop Malcolm said: “I was quite surprised by the number of challenges I faced while using a wheelchair.
“Slopes and steps are obvious barriers, but I also learned that it’s not always easy to get around inside churches due to tight corners.
“And using a wheelchair also means you only get one perspective of what’s going on – you can’t stand and sit like non-wheelchair users and sometimes the only place you can go is at the end of a pew. All this means that your view can be restricted.
"I am thankful to Lynda for inviting me to experience church in a new way.”
Lynda is a Reader in the Dove and Derwent and Carsington Deaneries, where she regularly leads services including morning prayer, evening prayer, family services and funerals. She said: “What I wanted to demonstrate was that even small (and often free!) changes that any church can make could greatly benefit disabled members of the local community and could increase service attendance.
Examples include removing a pew to allow more space for wheelchairs, utilising chairs where possible instead of pews – and even a simple change of language (e.g., saying “if you are able, please stand” rather than “please stand”) would help wheelchair users feel more included.”
The DIAG will be releasing more details in the weeks ahead to inform and support our churches and parishes.
If you would like to find out more about their work, or indeed to join the group and help to structure the pathway ahead, please contact Carl Veal at carl.v60@hotmail.com.
Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) are not ordained, but are licenced by the bishop to lead worship, helping to enable people to recognise Christ's presence in every community.
They do this both inside and outside the existing Church by:
- Explaining the Christian faith
- Responding pastorally to need
- Being role models for, and fellow disciples with, people seeking to live out the Christian gospel in today’s world
The role is often described as ‘theologically educated and culturally engaged.’
Readers were first used in the 19th Century, when there was a massive increase in the population of England.
In response the Victorians built lots of churches and then had to work out how to respond to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the people who flocked to them, as well as their expectations for well-led services.
Part of the answer was to licence a group of lay people to work with the clergy.
They were called “Readers” because one of their more obvious jobs was to read out loud Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, so that congregations could join in.
Readers come from all walks of life.
There are currently around 130 readers (licenced and with Permission to Officiate) involved in mission and ministry around the Diocese of Derby.
Some are involved in chaplaincy in schools, prisons, workplaces and hospitals, some are involved in community development work and some are involved in teaching in the parish and leading worship.
All Readers in the diocese are licenced to a parish or benefice to enable them to have direct relationships of accountability and support.
However, this doesn’t mean that they are restricted to working within one parish or the work that the parish or benefice is already doing.
Many readers initiate new pieces of work and projects formed out of their relationships with ordinary people going about their everyday lives.
To support and enable LLM (Readers) in mission and ministry, the Diocese provides pastoral support and care for them, email update, a programme of learning opportunities and various social events.
More information can be found on the Central Readers Council Website, Transforming Ministry: Home - Transforming Ministry Magazine
The Right Reverend Malcolm Macnaughton, Bishop of Repton, has ordained 15 new priests and eight new deacons in two special services at Derby Cathedral.
In the presence of the Right Reverend Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, the new deacons and priests took their vows, supported by family and friends in the congregations.
Bishop Malcolm said: "It has been a joy and a privilege to ordain the new priests and deacons in the Diocese of Derby.
"They are each called to serve the communities in which they are set and these are the next steps of a lifelong journey of nurturing themselves and others in faith.
"Please keep them in your prayers as God leads each of them in their ministry."
► In pictures: Ordination of Priests 2022 [Flickr]
► In pictures: Ordination of Deacons 2022 [Flickr]
Those ordained priests are:
- Rebecca Allpress to serve in the Benefice of Swadlincote and Hartshorne, the Benefice of Newhall and the Benefice of Gresley;
- Onyekachi Julius Anozie to serve in the Benefice of Kirk Hallam;
- Gillian Ball to serve in the Benefice of Old Brampton and Great Barlow, and Loundsley Green LEP;
- Rachel Burdett to serve in Benefice of Belper Christ Church with Turnditch, and the Benefice of Hazelwood, Holbrook and Milford;
- Samantha Dennis to serve in the Benefice of Sawley;
- John Ferguson to serve in the Benefice of Derby St Barnabas;
- Mike Fitzsimmons to serve in the Benefice of Barlborough and Clowne;
- Jeff Golding to serve in St Werburgh’s Derby Mission Initiative;
- Melanie Hartley to serve in the Benefice of Baslow and Eyam;
- Eleanor Launders-Brown to serve in the Benefice of East Scarsdale;
- James Lee to serve in the Benefice of Stanton by Dale with Dale Abbey and Risley;
- Christine Nowak to serve in the Benefice of Whitfield;
- Nick Parish to serve in the Benefice of Derby St Peter and Christ Church with Holy Trinity;
- Becky Reeve to serve in the Benefice of Walbrook Epiphany;
- Charlotte Wallington to serve in the Benefice of Hathersage with Bamford and Derwent, and Grindleford.
The eight new deacons are:
- Fiona Barber to serve in the Benefice of Sinfin Moor;
- Elliot George to serve in the Benefice of Dronfield with Holmesfield;
- Josephine Harbidge to serve in the Benefice of Walton St John;
- Samantha Mackie to serve in the Benefice of Swadlincote and Hartshorn, the Benefice of Newhall and the Benefice of Gresley;
- Fay Price to serve in the Benefice of Derby St Alkmund and St Werburgh;
- Rhiannon Singleton to serve in the Benefice of Holy Trinity, Dinting Vale, the Benefice of Charlesworth and Gamesley, the Benefice of Glossop, the Benefice of Hadfield and the Benefice of Whitfield;
- Lisa Taylor to serve in the Benefice of Hulland, Atlow, Kniveton, Bradley and Hognaston;
- Catherine Watson to serve in the St Werburgh’s Derby Mission Initiative.
One of the things we were asked to look at during our recent churchwarden networking events was the possibility of making available a list of readers and clergy PtOs who would be willing to be contacted to help cover services for those churches in vacancy or in emergencies.
On the face of it, this sounds a fairly straightforward request, and it is one that we have been working on – but the modern world we live in has made this something of a challenge.
The introduction of GDPR (General Data Protection Rules) has meant that we now must not only be careful of whose data we share with whom, but also how we share it – providing printed / printable lists of names and contact details from the data the diocese holds is no longer an option, particularly as lists like that can very quickly become out of date and therefore contravene the GDPR guidance.
This is also why we no longer produce a printed diocesan directory.
So we have had to come up with a long-term, digital solution – one that makes the information available but also keeps the data safe as defined by GDPR.
The only way we can do this is using the diocesan Contact Management System (CMS) and we have been testing it to ensure that we have come up with a solution that works technically.
This is how it will work:
- Each licensed churchwarden can request access to the CMS online (this can take a number of days to process so don’t leave it until the last minute!) Instructions for this are in the attached guide to using the CMS.
- Once logged in to the system, you will be able to search for readers and (soon) Clergy PtOs who are available to be contacted to cover services. You will be able to see where they are based and a small amount of information about how far they might be willing to travel, general availability (eg ‘Only available on Sundays’) etc
- To protect the integrity of the system, you will not be able to export or copy lists from the system
- At the moment, a limited number of readers are included in this search, but we anticipate this growing as the system becomes more widely used. Clergy PtOs are not yet included but we hope to be able to add them soon.
The advantage to readers and PtOs is that they can ask to be added / removed to this search facility with ease, and their information can be updated as is necessary.
The advantage to churchwardens is that you will only see those who wish to make themselves available and that you won’t be working from an out-of-date list.
The advantage to area deans and deanery administrators is that you will no longer need to ask them to help find cover.
The advantage to the diocese is that it means we keep within the law!
Using the CMS – access for churchwardens
► Download this CMS guide as a PDF
Registering for access
First, you need to register for access to the CMS.
This can take a number of days so please don’t leave it till the last minute! You must have your own access – you are NOT allowed to share login details with anyone else.
If you would like to request access to the CMS for this purpose, please:Go to: https://cofeportal.org/ and click on the ‘Register for an account’ link and enter your details, remembering to choose a password that conforms to their requirements, ie it must have eight characters including one capital letter and one number.
Once you have done this, an activation code will be sent to your email address and the email you receive will tell you how to activate your account.
Next, you will need to return to https://cofeportal.org/ and sign in using your email address and password.
Then you should see the following buttons:
Click on the button that says CMS and you will be asked to select your diocese – choose Derby.
Click on the button that says CMS and you will be asked to select your diocese – choose Derby.
The system will now alert our CMS administrator who will check that you are a bona-fide churchwarden and entitled to view the system before granting you access (this is the bit that can take a few days depending on the administrator’s availability).
You should receive an email confirmation when you have been given access.
You will only need to complete this registration process once.
How to search for cover on CMS – step-by-step guide
Once you have been granted access, go to https://cofeportal.org/login
and sign in with your email address and password.
1. Click CMS – Derby
2. On the left, click ‘Diocesan saved searches’
3.Scroll down to 'On-call Readers' (near the bottom of the list) and click the ‘Load’ button.
4. The screen will then show you a list of ALL the on-call readers.
5. If you want to refine the search by deanery, you can ‘remove’ the unwanted deaneries by clicking the ‘x’ next to the deanery/ies you want to omit from the search.
6. There may be more than one page in the list, so click the page numbers to move to other pages.
7. When you have found a reader you would like to see more about, click the ‘open contact’ button next to their details.
8. The screen will then show you that reader’s basic details – but there may be moreinformation for you. So,…
9. Click the tab that says ‘Post history’
10. Find the row that says ‘On-call reader’ and click the ‘Open post’ button associated with it.
You can now see the on-call reader’s specific details (if they have given any) in the ‘Further details’ area.
If you want to look at other on-call readers, DON’T use your browser’s ‘back’ button, but close the two tabs shown so that only the ‘Contact Search’ tab remains.
Ordained deacon in July 2022 | Ordained priest in July 2023
Hi I'm Cathie. I've lived in various places across the UK but this is my first time living in the Midlands.
I'm from South Wales but I've also lived in Surrey and most recently in Bristol.
Growing up I never would have dreamed of getting ordained.
The only female minister I'd ever seen was Geraldine Granger, the Vicar of Dibley! I thought that because it was a TV programme women vicars were also fictional as I'd only seen men in church leadership roles!
I remember once in the independent church I attended when I was 17 that the son of one of the elders was getting the chance to preach.
As one of the only other young people there I found myself thinking: "Why does he get to share the things God shows him about the Bible with others but I don't just because I'm a girl?"
But I quickly smothered that thought down because I was taught and genuinely believed that girls and women were not allowed to preach or teach if there were men around because it was sinful.
When I went away to university I saw a couple of women preaching for the first time.
Sadly, this was not an eye opening moment that it wa okay because they were not the most enigmatic preachers!
I thought it must be a sign that God doesn't want women to preach rather than than perhaps those individuals may benefit from extra training!
However, a few months later a friend of mine convinced me to go to the student version of Soul Survivor for the first time.
Here I heard Ali Martin preaching.
She was such a gifted communicator who preached amazing things about Jesus, I couldn't believe it.
But I still wrestled with the fact that proof exists (1 Timothy 2:12) and figured Ali must be an exception, not the rule.
Years later, after I met and married my husband, he was exploring ordination.
He kept telling me that I should be looking tooand used to leave copies of the ordinal around the house for me to read.
One day, when clearing up (a rare occasion!), a copy caught my eye and I decided to read it to see what Aidan was signing himself up for.
As I read it I couldn't understand why the ordinal was just for ordained people - surely all Christians are to live this way?
I said as much to him and to a lecturer at Trinity and they both confirmed separately that no, sadly not all Christians do feel called to this.
Conversations with God
I started wrestling with God and felt very annoyed at him.
The conversation/prayer went like this:
Me: "God, Why have you made me feel like the ordinal resonates so much and why give me certain gifts that could bless the church and world if I'm not allowed to as a woman!?"
God: "why do you think it's not okay for you to do these things as a woman?"
Me: "Because the Bible says so."
God: "Don't you think I know what the Bible says better than you do?"
Me: "Touché."
God: "Go read and listen to what other Christians who accept women in Christian leadership say the Bible says and then let's talk about this some more."
Me: "Bit pointless because I already know what it says but okay…"
That day I found a talk from a previous Soul Survivor festival where Krish Kendiah simply laid out different bible passages side by side which complementarians and egalitarians draw their understanding from.
I had no idea there were so many Bible passages and examples of Jesus' treatment of women that affirmed women in leadership.
As I heard them side by side, I was increasingly gobsmacked.
I distinctly remember that when he read out Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" - that I felt like a bolt of lightening of understanding go through me from holy spirit.
I wept with inexpressible joy, peace and freedom. I felt God say "I told you so, now I want you to use those gifts and calling for me."
The road since then has been strange with a mixture of highs and lows.
After completing my time at Trinity College Bristol, having my son during that training, and my husband finishing his curacy in Bristol, I'm so excited to get to serve Jesus in an ordained capacity at St Werburgh's Derby (STW).
I'm looking forward potentially to a Church plant as part of my curacy along with helping university students grow in faith and confidence in the gospel and to show Derby that the gospel is good news for all.
Favourite Bible verse: I don't actually like to pick out individual verses because I think the lack of context can confuse or muddy the meaning! But for the sake of this I'd probably go with Phil. 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Favourite Christian song: I'm going to cheat and use two - Good Good Father by Chris tomlin because I'm always reminded what a good Father God is and Reckless Love by Cory Asbury because I think it's a great proclamation of truth about God's love for us.
I enjoy spending time outside and connecting with God through the natural world
Ordained deacon in July 2022 | Ordained priest in July 2023
My name is Jo Harbidge and I have just completed two years training at Trinity College Bristol, where I completed a post-graduate diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission and have begun a research Masters (MTh) in Mission.
I’m currently exploring hospitality as a model for mission and have a particular interest in the church’s response to refugees and asylum seekers.
I will serve my curacy in the parish of St John’s, Walton, close to Chesterfield.
I grew up in St Albans and have had a faith since my earliest days in Sunday school.
As a teenager, this faith developed through trips to the Taizé community in France and Soul Survivor summer festivals and church.
I love connecting with God in different ways and finding out where the Spirit is at work amongst those who know Jesus.
I have sensed a call to serve in the church since my teens but it has been a long journey of gaining experience in different areas to finally bring me to full-time training and ordination.
There hasn’t really been a ‘lightbulb’ moment so much as a steady and growing awareness in those around me, and in myself, that this is where God is asking me to go next.
Prior to training, I worked in mid-Wales, in secondary education, for more than 15 years.
I love learning and helping others to learn, a theme that has continued through my time at college and I hope to be able to help support and inspire others in their learning about God and faith in the future.
I enjoy spending time outside and connecting with God through the natural world.
I like trying to grow things and am excited by how the church can connect with local communities through outdoor activities such as prayer walking, community gardens and allotment spaces.
I’m looking forward to exploring the Peak District and learning more about a beautiful area of the country!
Favourite Bible verse: Acts 2:42-47, where Luke describes the fellowship and devotion of the early believers as the church began to grow.
Favourite hymn: It’s hard to pick a favourite hymn but as someone who has lived in Wales for many years Dyma Gariad (Here is Love) has got to be up there!
I felt that I’d missed out on so many years with God and I want others to have the opportunity
Ordained deacon in July 2022 | Ordained priest in July 2023
Hi, I’m Fiona and I will serve my curacy just south of the city in Sinfin Moor.
I have just finished an amazing three years studying a BA in Theology, Ministry and Mission at St. Mellitus College, East Midlands and The Good Shepherd, Loughborough.
Although I spent my childhood attending church I didn’t come to faith until my mid-thirties, through an Alpha course.
I have had a passion for mission from the outset because I felt that I’d missed out on so many years with God and I wanted others to have the opportunity to know God’s story and to be able to choose to follow Him.
"The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood." (John 1:14) This verse is my inspiration to share my faith in my neighbourhood and encourage others to do the same so I’m thrilled to be serving my curacy in a pioneering setting on a new housing estate in Sinfin Moor, working to build community amongst those who come to live and work there.
I am creative at heart having studied Jewellery and Silversmithing at art college and having used my creativity later as a primary school teacher and then as children's and families leader in my sending church.
I move to Derby with my husband, Martin, and our two daughters, Alice, (21) who is at Leeds University and Rosie, (18) who will be heading off to university this autumn.
We are looking forward to the adventures and opportunities that God has for us in this new place and with these new people.
Favourite Bible verse: John 1:14 (The Message) “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.”
Favourite hymn: I have a vast range of taste musically (my CD collection has from Abba to Stormzy in it!) - my two favourite hymns/songs are also on different ends of the spectrum: “Be Thou my Vision” and “Oceans” by Hillsong.
Ordained deacon in July 2022 | Ordained priest in July 2023
My home town is Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and I have was hugely privileged to grow up in a Christian home.
I had various life challenges and got a bit angry with God in my teens, but God continued to pursue me and I returned to church age 20 and sensed a call to ordination in the first year of my return to faith, so have been carrying the call for about 22 years now!
It’s a delight to start my curacy at St Alkmund's this year and hope that God will use me as he sees fit!
I have a career background in theatre in education and education administration which involved my last five years prior to ordination working for the Diocese of Gloucester education team.
I am passionate about helping people to understand something of the depth of God’s love for them and the world and am motivated by discipleship, mission and supporting people to draw close to Christ in the midst of all types of suffering and grief.
This is much of my own personal testimony and I believe it’s part of why God has called me to His church.
I’m grateful that no tear is ever wasted by God.
Other passions include, in no particular order: coffee, cheese, prayer, my cat Bundle, my family and gorgeous God children, lego, and reading.
I also have a hugely eclectic music taste which can make people chuckle. Does anyone else remember and love the Wombles?!
Favourite hymn: Great is Thy Faithfulness and favourite modern worship song is Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, because that’s the God I know and can testify about!
Favourite Bible passage: Isaiah 61 - Sums the gospel up beautifully and sums up my journey with God, too!
