Items filtered by date: June 2025
Saints of Derbyshire, the book by Revd Simon Taylor and Josephine Simister, is now available to buy.
The illustrated book tells the stories of more than 50 saints associated with Derbyshire and is published by Derby Cathedral, which will also receive all profits from the sale of the book.
At the launch of the book, Simon, formerly area dean of Derby City Deanery, revealed that the idea for the book came during a family trip to Repton.
He said: "We were looking around the parish church there and there are loads of saints associated with Repton, with this magnificent crypt for St Wystan and nowhere could I find enough information about the saints.
"And after that I just started collecting the stories, not just for Repton but for the whole of the county.
"It tells the stories of the saints. I remember some years ago reading a dictionary of saints that said 'the stories of this saint are legendary' and feeling that wasn't very helpful, I wanted to know what the stories were, however legendary and far-fetched because, they're fun and I wanted to know what made the story come alive.
"So we've kept in the monsters and the far-fetched and the supernatural because that's the funa and the joy of these stories.
"It's also a book that we hope people will take out into Derbyshire and go and visit some places and find the saints associated with places.
"And, yes, there are prayers and it is a book that, through the lives of the saints, will connect folk to God - the god that the saints in their very different ways were all trying to find."
The book is also laden with beautiful lino-print illustrations, lovingly created by Jo Simister, deanery administrator for Derby City Deanery.
Jo said: "I think the most lovely thing about this project was that it got me back in touch with my art teaching roots from 40 years ago.
"Just doing the refresher workshop to produce the Repton crypt print was such a joy that I really couldn't resist thinking that maybe I could do one lino print for each of the chapters - not realsiing that there would be 20 chapters!
"I loved doing the research for the different subjects, so for example when it came to doing the design for the hermit who lived in Deepdale and Cratcliffe, I decided to see what the local museums had in the way of cooking pots from that era and I also had a Tudor herbal at home and I scanned some of the photos from that - simple, primitive pictures of daisies and clover that I used in the design.
"And then there were others that were really quite obvious."
Among the church artefacts that are included are the Wirksworth Stone (the lid of a stone vault found buried in Wirksworth Church in 1820), which was used for one of the chapters, and the Saxon font at Ilam, used for the story about Bertrand and the monsters eating his wife!
An exhibition of Jo's lino prints is in Derby Cathedral (until 20 December 2021) and the book, priced £12.50 (plus 4.50 p&p if required) can be ordered by emailing office@derbycathedral.org
The Diocese of Derby has subscribed to the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard online tool to make it easier for our churches to manage their safeguarding requirements.
It is free for parishes to register, update and receive action plans on demand.
The Parish Safeguarding Dashboard also enables the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and senior clergy to make sure that each parish is up to date with its safeguarding administration and offer support to those that may be struggling.
This online tool has been designed to display a clear and simple dashboard on a computer, mobile phone or tablet.
The dashboard overview page allows the safeguarding rep, parish clergy, churchwardens and other invited users to see the current status of compliance at a glance.
A green light would mean all is well, amber would mean that action is needed and red would mean urgent action is required.
Take a tour of the Safeguarding Dashboard website for more information.
All parishes should have been sent an ‘invitation’ to sign-up to the Parish Dashboard, however, if any parishes have yet to register, they can do so by emailing Sue Griffin sue.griffin@derby.anglican.org in the safeguarding team.
The advantages for parishes are illustrated in this short video
If you need any support or advice in relation to your dashboard, please contact Sue Griffin as above.
As we enter Advent, we look for the coming of Christ and of his kingdom, and the hope that gives us.
Between 29 November 2021 and 23 December 2021, Bishops Libby and Malcolm invite you to join them each week on zoom for 45 minutes of prayer and reflection together, based upon seasonal Bible passages.
Advent Hope is open to all and will be held on Monday morning from 7:30-8:15am and repeated on Thursday evening from 7:30-8:15 pm.
Both sessions will be on Zoom.
Do pass this invitation on.
Please email reply@bishopofderby.org for the access link.
Bishop Malcolm writes:
In Covid times we have had to learn to be fleet of foot, and ready to change plans at the drop of a hat.
Those of you who attended the clergy conference back in September will remember that Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy was unable to join us on the Wednesday as he had succumbed to Covid.
I am now pleased to say Lusa has fully recovered, and that he has agreed to give us an Advent address, on Zoom, on Monday, 6 December from 7 pm to 7.45pm, followed by a discussion in breakout groups, a Q&A session with Lusa - leading up to Night Prayer.
This is now opento anyone in the diocese, lay and ordained, but please do book in via this link.
Lusa will be speaking to the title, ‘Threads of hope’, with an Advent theme.
The Revd. Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy is BAME Mission and Ministry Enabler for the Diocese of Leicester.
He recently served on the Archbishops’ Anti Racism Task Force, which produced the report, ‘From Lament to Action’.
He is also a Trustee of Initiatives of Change, a global organisation working to inspire, equip and connect people to play their part in building a better society.
I realise this is rather short notice for such a significant talk, but it is offered in the hope that it may be an encouragement and inspiration during the Advent season.
Please book in right away if you possibly can.
General synod report following the inauguration of the eleventh General Synod and group of sessions 15 - 17 November 2021.
Janice and Sarah, who were involved in this venture in Hathersage, write:
Hathersage held its first Repair Cafe on a Saturday morning which was very well received and well supported.
From the initial trepidation of ‘will anyone come’, we moved to an excited buzz with customers arriving at 9.45am even though we didn’t open until 10am!
Our experts were kept busy throughout the morning as the attached photos show, and tackled a range of requests which they met with skill, expertise and good humour.
A steady request for bacon butties kept Paul and Lucy busy in the kitchen, although they still managed to pop out from time to time to socialise.
Not everyone needed the assistance of our experts and it was lovely to see friends who had popped in for a coffee and a natter, ably overseen by Charlotte, our curate and chief natterer!
Our thanks to those who gave their time and talents so willingly and to all those who came along, with or without an item needing repair.
We hope to repeat the Repair Cafe in the new year and we will publicise it when details have been finalised.
A reflection by Revd Ellie Launders-Brown
As a Christian and a veteran of the Royal Navy, Remembrance Sunday is always an important part of the calendar and will always hold a special place in my heart.
I have spent Remembrance Sunday, at sea, on land in both the UK and abroad, during conflict and at peace.
To stand alongside my serving comrades in remembrance of the sacrifice of all who gave their lives in the service of their country is quite a poignant moment and never fails to stir up many emotions.
As there are very few veterans remaining of the two world wars, it always felt important to me that all people of every nationality should stand together as a living memorial to the fallen in all conflicts.
Hearing the guns fall silent as a mark of respect, gives an insight into how that silence must have felt on 11/11/18, it is quite a deafening and spine-tingling silence to behold.
As I begin my ordained ministry, I feel that this living memorial is still important, but also that our act of remembrance should be a journey.
Yes, we should still look back and remember the sacrifice of others for a freedom that we are fortunate enough to enjoy today, but we should also learn from the past as we look to the present, and how our fellow human beings are still suffering oppression, discrimination, and abuse.
That living memorial we make on Remembrance Sunday is futile if we still allow the mistreatment and injustice that is around today.
I am always drawn at this time of Remembrance to the Words of Micah: ‘Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.’ (Micah 4:3-4).
My prayer as we enter the season of Remembrance is that if we can come together and unite with our fellow human beings, regardless of race, nationality, gender, sexuality, ability or disability, can we then look with hope towards a new future where we can accept and embrace our differences and live together as children of God in peace.
Ellie Launders-Brown was ordained a deacon in 2021 and is currently serving her curacy with East Scardsale Team Ministry.
She is also a veteran of the Royal Navy.
The 15th - 21st November 2021 is National Safeguarding Adults Week which is led by the ann craft trust who work to act against abuse.
In Derbyshire the Derbyshire Adults Safeguarding Board is supporting the week with the provision of a number of free webinars and events. They write in thier latest newsletter (which may be downloaded in full here)
"The week is an opportunity for us all to come together to raise awareness of important safeguarding issues, facilitate conversations and share examples of best practice.
The theme of this year’s National Safeguarding Adults Week is ‘Creating Safer Cultures’. Promoting safer cultures is all about how organisations and individuals can take steps to minimise harm occurring in the first instance, whilst simultaneously ensuring correct policies and procedures are in place so that safeguarding concerns that are raised, are recognised and responded to effectively.
We are already planning our activities for the week, which include the launch of a new awareness-raising campaign, a special edition newsletter, social media posts, as well as some exciting webinar sessions on a variety of safeguarding topics. Please check our events page for the latest information.
We will be hosting the following FREE webinar sessions during National Safeguarding Adults Week, which are all aimed at front-line practitioners and managers across all our partner agencies working with adults who have care and support needs.
- Fire prevention and safeguarding (15 November 2021)
- Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and safeguarding adults (15 November 2021)
- Professional curiosity and the challenges of disguised compliance (16 November 2021)
- Modern slavery awareness (16 November 2021)
- Cyber awareness, fraud and scams (17 November 2021)
- Cuckooing and county lines (18 November 2021)
- Trauma-informed practice: safeguarding adults (19 November 2021)"
#safeguardingAdultsWeek
Natasha's Law
On 1 October 2021, Natasha’s Law came into effect for all foods produced and prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) with food labelling changing in the UK.
This new labelling will provide potentially life-saving allergen information on packaging for consumers.
A full list of ingredients will be required by law to be stated on the label, along with the name of the food.
Parishes are subject to the general law in relation to the sale and supply of food and drink.
This includes complying with the Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 which add Natasha’s Law to the Food Information Regulations 2014.
Regulations definition
The Regulations apply to a “food business” which is defined as any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of production, processing and distribution of food.
The regulations define a “food business operator” as the natural or legal persons responsible for ensuring that the requirements of food law are met within the food business under their control.
As a result of these definitions, PCCs fall within the scope of food business and food business operators.
Private individuals who occasionally sell or offer food at church events are exempt from the allergen information requirements.
However, if an individual is providing food as a food business operator or provides products for consumption to one, such as a church café or regular lunch club, then the necessary allergen information should be provided.
Natasha's Law has extended the 2014 Regulations.
The 2014 Regulations originally applied to foods that are not pre-packed, and Natasha’s Law has extended the Regulations to pre-packed for direct sale to a final consumer.
Where food is not pre-packed, the information must stuill be provided, though in this case it can be provided verbally and either a label attached to the food or notice, ticket or label must be readily visible stating that details of the substance or product can be obtained by asking a member of staff.
Pre-packed food will need to clearly display on the packaging the name of the food, full ingredients list, within allergenic ingredients emphasised.
Learn More
>> What is Natasha's Law?
>> Natasha Allergy Research Foundation
