Items filtered by date: August 2025

Gold Award

Congratulations to Glossop 

read their story on the front page click here

If you are not yet registered as a parish, why not check out the new user guide and tutorial from A Rocha along with the Diocesan bitesize course.

Good news from Hadfield

The Wild Peak Programme: St Andrews Junior School | Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

Latest training / events from internal and external networks

DEO+

The Church of England Environment Team actively support Diocesan Environment Officers (DEO). They are a brilliant team to connect with.

They are offering wider invite virtual events twice a year. If you are reading this as a volunteer from a parish in Diocese of Derby you are invited.

Tuesday September 12th 2-3:30 Register in advance for this meeting. 

This is free and if you can't attend on the day you will get updated information through signing up.

As part of the new action packs on Net Zero there are some new resources click here.

The full Net Zero series can be caught up, book to get the links sent to you first. See Net Zero Carbon - YouTube for most recent uploads.

Young Christian Climate Network, are an action-focused community of young Christians in the UK aged 18-30, website https://www.yccn.uk/ 

Their campaign Take the Veg Pledge, includes a recorded launch event, 

What Would Jesus Eat?, exploring connections of food, Christianity & climate change.

Biodiversity

>> Latest statement on Biodiversity from the CofE National Investing Bodies 

Climate intercessors monthly Zoom prayer meet is on the second Tuesday of the month at 1pm or 8pm.

It is a well managed international prayer gathering with items of focus - both well researched and with continuity.

Recommended by DEO as a useful space to listen, thank God and interceed on these issues it is highly recommended. It is also a valued antidote to being overwhelmed or grieving the impact of humans on the planet. there is also a monthly update to direct your prayers see Prayer Resources & Guides — Climate Intercessors.

click here to find out more Climate Intercessors

Local News: Eco Church newsletter

Subscribe to the CofE Environment bulletin for the latest offer nationally including virtual training courses. 

It includes training opportunities and is recommended for Eco Churches and parishes working to net zero.

Citizen Science: Churches Count on Nature June 2023

Catch up on the Webinars on Land and Nature for Churches Count on Nature 

see the new Guide to Ancient and Veteran Trees

Whether you are the custodian of an ancient tree or just an interested observer, Caring for God's Acre's comprehensive guide to ancient yews and other trees is an interesting read. It includes history, folklore, management and some tips on how to enthuse other people about these majestic trees.

Take a look at the webpage or download the guide directly. 

Operation Noah: 

Operation Noah: News Expanding the Bright Now Campaign. 

Church Land and the Climate Crisis report 2022: says we should 1) get our own house in order, 2) use our assets- land and investments- wisely, 3) use our voice.

Environmental Fundraising - webinar recordings can be viewed here.

See Funding - Parish ResourcesParish Resources and/or  Diocesan advice.

Recommended publications

• “There is no Planet B” and “How bad are bananas?” by Mike Berners Lee 
• “Wilding” by Isabella Tree – about nature and rewilding in general and the Knepp Estate (West Sussex) in particular
• “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World” by Katharine Hayhoe 
• “A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues” by Martin J Hodson and Margot R Hodson

Grove Booklets

• Grace Thomas, DEO for Manchester, “Climate Action as Mission: How to Link the Gospel with Safeguarding Creation”
• Rachel Mash, Green Anglicans, “Renewing the Life of the Earth: Christian Discipleship and Environmental Action”
• Policy interest Watch the Climate Assembly UK documentary on BBC iPlayer | involve.org.uk

IPCC report Feb 2022 shows climate change is hitting wildlife hard. 

IPCC report published (Aug 2021) shows 

• It is unequivocal that human behaviour is changing the climate
• The impacts of climate change are already being felt in every region across the globe (temperate regions are not safe)
• The impacts of climate change will continue to get worse until we stop burning fossil fuel
• The longer we leave it to make change, the worse the impacts will be

Summary for Policymakers and comment from Bishop Graham.

Eco Church case studies and webinars from the CofE.

Eco Church

To contact a local church engaging or find volunteering opportunities contact or go to find a church or see the up to date list on Eco Church: Turn your church green

There is a bitesize introductory course on Becoming an Eco church (community section) and a resource sheet for parishes.

The Eco Church website has a resources page - everything from measuring your carbon footprint, or being wildlife friendly to different types of recyclable cup available.

Please contact us when you register your parish so we can keep in touch with your news and share training and new resources. If you have been on the journey for sometime, please give the best email contact for your parish or benefice.

Buildings advice 

Historic England guidance and webinar programme

SPAB - Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings

Advice in this Diocese is from DAC

Carbon footprint 

• CofE churches - Energy Footprint Tool
• Any church - 360Carbon - includes energy, transport, food, procurement, and more
• National report on the findings of the Energy Footprint Tool 

Transport 

Useful carbon footprint transport calculator from Climate Stewards - it allows you to compare journeys.

The Environment Working Group are looking car charging points currently so advice will be forthcoming.

OZEV - grants for EV car charging posts.

EV charging posts Zap Map.
(note - church webinar programme above includes a webinar on EV car charging). 

Simply car share journeys, use of public transport and active travel are ways to act more sustainably too.

Sustainable preaching and Service resources

ARocha UK produced prayers including videos for Great Big Green week Pray with us this Great Big Green Week - A Rocha UK.

A new resource combining the benefits of previous resources with preaching notes and ideas for every Sunday in the lectionary.

https://preachingforgodsworld.org/

If you decide to hold an outdoor service see the Church of England advice and related resources. 
Ask your Pioneer minister about Forest Church or Muddy Church.

Resources 

Churches could do more on climate change. 
Tearfund report with young Christians: only 1:10 young people say churches are acting as they should.
Two thirds of young people had never heard a Sunday sermon on the issue.
>> Tearfund campaigns information.

Worship and music 

Outdoor worship guidance page  

Creation-themed liturgy A Time for Creation

Liturgy for the Agricultural Year

Doxecology by Resound worship

Bishop Olivia of Reading’s theological reflections (+Olivia chairs the Oxford net zero taskforce)

A Rocha International - YouTube channel - search for Dave Bookless New Wine talks NL 2020 

Land and nature

Land and nature webinar programme - A great place to start, with lots of videos offering practical advice on a wide range of topics from bats to biodiversity, trees to Forest Church, and managing your grass. (You can also find them as a single YouTube playlist here.) 

CofE Biodiversity page and Trees page 

Botanical Companion which has a list of the species most often found in churchyards:

Caring for God’s Acre free resources

Grass cutting advice sheet  

Minifilms  

information sheet on the Five Steps for good churchard management 

Bats in Churches project . 

Study resources 

Saying Yes to Life Ruth Valerio, written as a lent course - useful stand alone chapters for novice and engaged Christian. Highly readable. Available as a book and as a e-read.

Tenants of the King, a 4 part study updated for 2022 looking at what the Bible has to say about climate change, from Operation Noah. Worth looking at purely for answers to common questions pages 22-25. Paper copies were offered at clergy Conference 2018 so ask around and it was recommended by those who used it.

Dave Bookless Planetwise and God doesn't do waste. The study series for planetwise. Dave was a founder of A Rocha Uk which gave rise to Eco church.

Mission and Creation Care for disciples, John Ray Institute.

Faith in a Changing Climate USPG downloadable study resource with case studies from across the Anglican Communion. It includes a very helpful page on Climate Change FAQs 

Bible study based on Cherishing the Earth (2008) Margot and Martin Hodson- six week course. A blend of science and theology.

Let there be stuff...? Course of 6 sessions aimed at teenagers/ young adults.

7 weeks detox from consumerism. Based on Consumer Detox by Mark Powley, St Georges, Leeds.

Christian Aid Theology of Climate Change.

Church Mission Society study resource 'The Possible world'.

Plenty from Joy in Enough (Green Christian) offer a study and a challenge to rethink our economy,  acknowledge our complicity in consumerism and climate change.

Range of resources from A Rocha including one based on Jesus and the earth, James Jones (2003).

Caring for Creation and Living in Hope York Courses. 

Nature Connection

 All age service from Sarah Brown sign up for her newsletter email.

Resources from Christian Climate Action 

Derbyshire Churches Environment Network service outline aimed at use in small social distanced groups in the outdoors.

Climate is highly political, some global multinationals have alot to loose. So Climate Denial hasn't gone away – here's how to spot arguments for delaying climate action. New research exposes the common tropes of bad faith arguments about climate change. Read more in The Conversation UK

Frameworks for individual / household action 

• Creation Care, a framework for households which congregations can follow together
• Count us in - 16 high impact steps which individuals can take to cut carbon
• WWF Footprint Calculator - simple footprint tool, and an informative process

Frameworks for schools and youth 

• For schools: resources from Let’s Go Zero, Eco Schools, Christian Aid, and PECT
• For youth engagement: resources from Tearfund, Christian Aid, and ACEN
• The CofE net zero carbon schools webinars
• Letters for Creation, and joint project with Christian Aid. Resources include an assembly, lesson plans, and resources to help produce creative letters and art.

Funding 

• Watch the recordings of CofE webinars on environmental fundraising for environmental projects 
• CofE grants funding guide from Parish Resources
• And a suite for “how to” guides from Parish Resources.
• Community Energy England funding opportunities
• For local grants, find out whether you have a local CVS (Council for Voluntary Services).  If so, they generally have a free searchable grants directory. Also contact the sustainability or community engagement officer at your local authority  or in the DM+M team and at webpage.

News archive 

Green Christian magazine is freely available online. 

List of councils who have declared a Climate Emergency.

Other resources

Repair Cafe helps reduce waste through mending items that might otherwise be discarded. Please note there are conditions to using the name and logo.
There may be one nearby you can access - in New Mills, Eyam, Chesterfield.

Refil app. If your church has a publicly available tap which people could use to refil drinking bottles (and reduce waste) you can add it to this scheme.

LiftShare UK.

For the keen cyclist - the cathedral cycle route challenge

Plant Lock bike rack - as one example of what is possible where there is no local scheme available.

B-Lines - Buglife 

Misc Training

• The CRES (Christian Rural & Environmental Studies) courses 
• Scythe Association to find trainers in scything 

Climate Resilience

• The Climate Resilient Church landing page

Forest Church

• Forest Church Grove Booklet - a good place to start if you want to know about Forest Church
• Forest Church facebook group
• Wild church page 

Food in the Anthropocene, how changes in diet could feed the planets population.

Living the change

Frack Free Barlborough talk with Dr Ian Fairlie, international toxicologist talking about radon risk in Fracking. For Powerpoint slides email.

Sustainable Heating and Lighting conference [Powering Gods Northern Powerhouse Dec 2018] resources to download. 

At the Churchwarden Networking Day at St Thomas Brampton on 30 June 2022, Community Project Development Officer Gareth Greenwood gave a presentation on funding building projects.

The slides are available here:

↓ Download the slide presentation PowerPoint [.ppt] | PDF format

For more support, email gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org

At the Churchwarden Networking Day at St Thomas Brampton on 30 June 2022, the Diocesan Environment Officer gave a presentation on moving towards net-zero carbon.

The slides are available here:

↓ Download the slide presentation PowerPoint [.ppt] | PDF format

At the churchwarden networking day on 30 June 2022, a panel of experts answered a variety of questions from churchwardens regarding their buildings and being eco-friendly.

The panel was:

John Beardmore - Energy Adviser to the Diocese of Derby (John@T4sLtd.co.uk)

Stella Collishaw - Community Action Officer (stella.collishaw@derby.anglican.org)

Gareth Greenwood - Community Projects Development Officer (gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org)

Nigel Sherratt - DAC and DMPC Secretary (dac@derby.anglican.org)

↓ Download the information handout from the Q&A session PDF format | Word format

Jump to the individual questions (on YouTube):

1. We want to insulate our entire roof space but the cost is astronomical. Can you help?

2. We have a lot of stonework that needs repairing and a poorly organ. Is there any help available?

3. What evidence would the DAC require to justify the replacement of a very inefficient gas heating system with a modern system, as other options do not appear to be very practical?

4. Are there any grants available to help with installing solar panels?

5. We would like some advice about replacing a very old, uneconomical electric boiler. There is no gas supply available.

6. How do churches measure their carbon footprint and the impact of potential changes to determine if they are making progress toward the net zero target? And what do the panel consider to be the high-value carbon savings in old, energy-inefficient buildings?

7. Does the DAC give advice on heating options?

8. Given the move towards renewable energies, is the DAC more likely to look more favourably on visually intrusive schemes, such as solar panels or air ducts, than it may have done in the past?

9. When calculating carbon footprint, do we exclude for example the purchasing things, paper that we use for photocopying etc?

More for churchwardens

Kay Duckett (Wingerworth) and Bernard Madden (Hathersage) recently joined the Archbishop of York to celebrate the 100^th 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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>> Find back-issues of eNews

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]

► Meet the new deacons

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.