Items filtered by date: August 2025
When Bob Glassey recently received a package delivered by Royal Mail, little did he realise how 'royal' it would be.
Bob is one of the driving forces behind Creswell Breakfast Club, based at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in the village.
The club ensures that local children continue to receive proper meals during school holidays and closures, as well as socialise and take part in activities.
Bob Glassey at work at Creswell Breakfast Club
The package Bob received was from Buckingham Palace.
He said: "It's not every day I get an envelope with the Crown and ER special delivery on it!
"I had knowledge of what was in the package and very carefully inserted a sharp knife into the padded envelope to open it.
"Inside were two other envelopes with instructions on how to open them, and a red and a white purse.
"Again, cautiously, I opened them.
"In the first envelope was a signed letter from her Majesty and in the other was a letter from the Right Reverend Dr. John Inge, the Lord High Almoner, explaining what the history of the Maundy Gift and what the two leather purses contained.
"The red purse contains £5.50, an allowance for clothing and provisions: the £5 coin commemorates Her Majesty's birthday and the 50 pence coin commemorates the 50th anniversary of Decimal Day in 1971.
"The white purse contains Maundy coins: silver pennies, twopences, threepences and fourpences, totalling 95 pence, corresponding to the Sovereign's age.
"All the coins were newly minted this year."
The letter from the Queen begins: 'I am delighted to send you the Maundy Gift which I hope you will accept as an expression of my personal thanks for all you that have done to enrich the life of your community."
Covid restrictions mean that the annual Maundy Service, due to have been held at Westminster Abbey today have had to be cancelled and the Maundy Money distributed by post.
Bob said: "This year Her Majesty will be 95 on 21 April, so 95 men and women will receive the Royal Maundy gifts, and thanks to Bishop Libby I have been selected as one of those lucky few."
"My thanks to Bishop Libby for nominating me for this Honour for Christian service from our Monarch, who has taken to heart the words and actions of Jesus and given such unstinting Christian service herself."
Though Bob was also typically humble in his response to receiving such an important gift. He added: "It is an honour for the village really.
"It's the team that has got this because I'd never have done it on my own.
"It's always a great team effort."
But he did confess to being "flabbergasted" and "more than happy" with his gift.
"I shall treasure these for ever," he said.
See also: Cresswell Breakfast Club
This fund offers parishes an exciting opportunity to develop their local church or hall premises, making them more community and mission shaped, and accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
Your project needs to meet outcomes which achieve and support mission, community or growth. A preference will be given to applications from parishes in deprived areas of the Diocese. The maximum grant available will be £25,000 and requires match funding. Parishes will be required to take up grants within two years of a successful application.
The fund is not available for maintenance or repair and cannot be applied for retrospectively.
To download the fund criteria and general information click here
To download an an application form click here
Applications will be assessed by the Business Committee at their regular meetings.
2025 deadlines:
Thursday 26th June - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 24th July
Wdnesday 20th August - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 11th September
Wdnesday 17th September - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 9th October
Wdnesday 5th November - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 27th November
For any further information about applying for the Raymond Ross Large Grants, email: gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org or call on 01332 338690
This fund is aimed at supporting local congregations to act with a generous faith, through engaging with and embracing the communities they seek to serve. The Diocesan Vision encourages us to be outward facing, rooted in and connected to our communities.
There is an expectation that parishes will work in partnership and create networks for the common good, with particular care for the marginalised and vulnerable. The projects this fund is seeking to support are those which see the church proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom in word and action. The church needs to be good news for all, and this means projects that look to include and/or partner with, other groups or individuals in the host community, demonstrating meaningful and open engagement with those who have had little or no contact with the congregation.
The Diocese wishes to particularly encourage churches to reach out to those who have not considered the church community as a group to which they can relate. Projects that build on the notion of tolerance, reconciliation and friendship will be of particular interest, as will projects that clearly demonstrate the key characteristic of outward-facing generosity, impacting the world for good.
You can apply for up to £2000 without match funding required. Further information, criteria and application forms can be downloaded here or requested from the Church Buildings Support Officer, Gareth Greenwood by email at gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
2025 application deadlines
Thursday 26th June - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 24th July
Wdnesday 20th August - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 11th September
Wdnesday 17th September - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 9th October
Wdnesday 5th November - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 27th November
For any further information about applying for the Building Community Fund, email: gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org or call on 01332338690
You can download the application form and criteria here
Do you have a small church project that could have a big impact?
Are you looking for a relatively small grant that requires no match funding?
If so, this could be just right for you; £5,000 to fund small but not insignificant capital projects that will generate outcomes which achieve and support mission, community or growth.
There are always good ideas on the boil to enhance welcome, improve accessibility, or perhaps to make small but much needed changes to internal areas. So now is the time to make a significant impact through a small change.
Details, including a full list of criteria and downloadable application form, are available below.
If you are successful, you will be expected to draw on the grant within 12 months.
Applications will be considered by Business Committee at their regular meetings.
2025 application deadlines
Thursday 26th June - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 24th July
Wdnesday 20th August - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 11th September
Wdnesday 17th September - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 9th October
Wdnesday 5th November - signed application and supporting documents scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org - Business Committee consider application on Thursday 27th November
For any further information about applying for the Raymond Ross Large Grants email: gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org or call on 01332338690 (Mondays/Tuesdays)
On 4 May 2021, the long-trailed changes to the way marriages are registered come into force.
Clergy have already been sent links to the government's training pages.
Clergy may share the link to the online training with parish administrators – and it should be shared with churchwardens where the parish or benefice is in vacancy.
Register of Marriage Services,
Churches will need a new Register of Marriage Services which is now available to pre-order via this link:
Register of Marriage Services - Hardback (chpublishing.co.uk)
Obtaining the Marriage Document
GRO will be sending out very clear information about the marriage document and where clergy can get it from. The free on-line admin tool provided by the Church of England www.lifeeventsdiary.org will be updated to enable printing of the marriage document after 4th May.
Charge for Marriage Certificate
From May 4th Marriage Certificates will be issued by the Register Office and not the church, so couples should no longer be charged for a certificate. The Fees table , fees form and fees information for couples will be updated to reflect this change.
There is an FAQ regarding the changes available on the LRSA's website.
How will this impact the work and responsibilities as a member of the Clergy?
What won’t change:
- You will still be required to ensure couples meet the requirements to marry in your building.
- You will still be required to ensure couples complete the relevant preliminaries, i.e.: the calling of banns, issue of common or special licence or, where required, the prior attendance of the couple at the relevant register office to give their notices of marriage in the correct timescale.
- You will still be required to conduct pre-marriage checks and confirm that the details contained on the marriage document or marriage schedule are correct before the marriage proceeds.
- The marriage will still be performed by Church of England or Church in Wales rites.
- You will still use registration ink to complete the marriage schedule.
What will change:
- You will be required to create a marriage document or obtain the marriage schedule prior to the date of marriage.
- You will no longer complete the formal register for the marriages you solemnize (There will still be a register kept by you for the records of your church).
- You will no longer issue the legal marriage certificates.
- The completed marriage document or marriage schedule must be returned to the register office for the registration to take place in the electronic marriage register before a certificate can be issued.
- You will no longer need to complete quarterly returns for marriages which take place in your building.
- You will no longer be responsible for corrections in marriage registers. After the changes are introduced, all corrections to marriage entries will be carried out by the registration officers or GRO.
- The electronic register will also allow for the names of parents of the couple (mother / father / parent) to be included in the marriage entry instead of only their fathers’ names as is currently the case.
Pupils from Biggin Church of England Primary School have been quizzing Bishop Libby about the importance of being a Church School.
The four Year Six pupils asked the bishop a range of questions, including why it is important to learn about God and the Bible, what benefit there is to being a Church school and what obstacles she had to overcome in her life.
Rachel Morris has decided to stand down from her position as diocesan secretary of the Derby Diocesan Board of Finance.
She will also leave her role as chapter steward at Derby Cathedral.
Rachel has been with the cathedral and latterly the diocese for six years in which time she has led positive change.
Bishop Libby said: “We are very grateful to Rachel for the faithful leadership she has given during a time of considerable change: her contribution to diocesan life has been extensive.
"I have valued her partnership and friendship. We wish her well and assure her of our continuing prayers.”
Mrs Morris said: “I am grateful for the opportunities during this time and extend my heartfelt thanks to all colleagues, volunteers and partners across the diocese and beyond who have helped achieve great things.
"I wish all those involved with the cathedral and the diocese the very best for the future.”
Mrs Morris left on February 28 with our thanks for her significant contribution and our best wishes for the next chapter in her life.
The Diocese of Derby is supporting an initiative by Christian Aid to give both thanks and a donation once they have received the vaccine.
As a direct result of the pandemic, many communities around the world are still at risk from coronavirus and have no access to vaccines. Because jobs and livelihoods have been lost, many of our global neighbours lack the basics they need to protect themselves - like clean water and soap for handwashing.
The donation will be used by Christian Aid to help vulnerable communities around the world access soap, food and vital health information in the face of the pandemic.
Christian Aid will also support vaccination programmes in countries where it is operating by providing data on hard-to-reach populations to local health services and by challenging misleading information about the virus and vaccination, as well as any stigma faced by those who contract Covid-19.
>> Give thanks and make your donation here
On launching the appeal in Derbyshire, Bishop Libby said: "The vaccine brings with it hope for families and communities across the Diocese of Derby, the UK and around the world, and there will be many of us who will want to express our gratitude by helping others.
"Giving thanks and giving a donation to help those who do not have the benefits that we have, and for whom hope may seem all too distant, is a wonderful way of reaching out to others and to express a wish to see all God’s people living safely. I hope that people will give generously to the work of Christian Aid.
"Every donation, however large or small, will help make a difference and bring hope and love to people everywhere, in the spirit of thanksgiving and compassion that Jesus taught us."
Christian Aid partners have so far directly helped over half a million people in 27 countries including distributing food packages to nearly 60,000 people struggling to feed their families after losing work during lockdown and the economic downturn.
Going forwards, Christian Aid will support vaccination programmes in communities by providing data on hard-to-reach populations to local health services and by working with trusted community figures to challenge misleading information about the virus and vaccination as well as any stigma faced by those who contract Covid-19.
>> Give thanks and make your donation here
A woman receiving her hygiene kit at a Christian Aid facility in Nigeria
Chine McDonald, Christian Aid’s Head of Community Fundraising and Public Engagement, said: "The coronavirus pandemic has shown us that none of us are safe, until all of us are safe. It has been amazing to see the speed at which the vaccines have been rolled out in the UK – every jab in someone’s arm brings us closer to the end of Covid-19.
"But the reality is that richer countries like ours are getting more access to vaccines, while the poorer countries in which Christian Aid works are left at the back of the queue. As a Christian organisation, we believe that every person is equal in the sight of God and worthy of living lives with dignity, equality and justice.
"We’re delighted to work together with the Diocese of Derby to give people an opportunity to say thanks and help protect our global neighbours while the vaccine is out of reach."
The appeal launch comes after nearly two thirds of people asked in a UK poll agreed that a global COVID-19 vaccine programme should be created which does not prioritise richer countries over poorer ones.
The Avenue Church of England Primary School Application Approved!
Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT) is delighted to announce that the Department for Education has approved an application to establish a new Church of England primary school at The Avenue development site, near to Wingerworth.
The new school will be developed as part of the Government’s Free School programme.
It will create much needed nursery and primary school places for families as the number of residential dwellings on The Avenue site increases alongside other developments in the local area.
The proposed Church of England primary school and nursery will be inclusive and open to pupils from families of all backgrounds and faiths (including no faith) where every child will be welcomed, respected and nurtured.
The school will offer a family-friendly approach with breakfast club and after-school provision offering a wide range of enrichment activities, operating as a community hub and supporting community cohesion.
DDAT is a multi-academy trust of 28 schools situated across Derby and Derbyshire and has a successful track-record of working with schools (including in the Chesterfield area) to improve provision.
In September 2018, DDAT successfully opened the first Church of England secondary school within the Diocese of Derby when Derby Cathedral School opened its doors to its first cohort of students.
DDAT has the experience of both rapidly improving schools and supporting established high-performing schools. DDAT is excited to create this new provision and will ensure the new primary school at the Avenue is a success from day 1.
Chief Executive Officer of DDAT, Mark Mallender, said: “I am thrilled that the Department for Education has approved our application for a new primary school and nursery serving the Wingerworth and Clay Cross areas of Chesterfield.
"We now have the opportunity to work with parents and the community to develop a highly effective school that will ensure our pupils make exceptional progress and leave fully prepared for their secondary education.
"The DDAT team are ready and excited to begin detailed work on developing this school and will ensure that plans are shared with the community as part of future consultations.”
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Young People, Councillor Alex Dale, said: “We’ve worked with Derby Diocesan Academy Trust on planning for this school and I’m sure that they will do an excellent job in getting it built and ready for the students who will attend.
“It’s great to see the government supporting the council in investing in first-class educational facilities to help give children and young people in Derbyshire the best possible start in life.”
The Trust will start planning its pre-opening programme, including consultations and events in the local area, leading up to the opening of the school.
The Trust will share its programme as soon as it is developed and agreed with its strategic partners including the Department for Education and Derbyshire County Council.
