Items filtered by date: April 2026

Alterations to enable the conversion of the former bank/office-premises on the corner of King Street and Milford Road in Duffield into a new daytime café and evening event space have now been approved by Amber Valley Borough Council.

Planning permission has now been granted for a new accessible entrance, which will enable the conversion of the former bank building into a café over the next few months.

The Duffield Bank Café will provide an attractive and welcoming space to people in Duffield during the daytime on Tuesdays to Saturdays.

After it has closed for the day, the café space and other areas in the premises will be available for a wide range of activities during the evenings, with the building equipped for flexible use as an event-space.

The new café will create two full-time jobs (a Chef and a Manager).

There will also be various volunteer opportunities to support the running of the café, both in the kitchen and with front-of-house; working alongside the full-time staff.

The project is being implemented and financed by members of the congregation of St Alkmund’s Parish Church in Duffield.

Revd Dr James Hughes, Vicar of St Alkmund’s said: “Our vision as a church is to have a presence in the village where we can reach out to, and make connections with, our friends and neighbours in the village, and provide a base for both our church ministries and for other activities. We’re really looking forward to developing this exciting project over the next few months and welcoming people to the café in the near future”.

image provided by James Boon Architects.

Parishes are required to submit their APCM results to Church House, Derby no later than 31st May

APCM - Forms and Notices:

>> APCM01. Notice of APCM PDF or Word 

>> APCM02. PCC Nomination form - PDF or Word

>> APCM03. Results (Return to Church House)  PDF or Word

>> Diocese of Derby Data Form 

>> Electoral Roll - Forms and Notices 

Nomination for Churchwarden form

Notice of a meeting for the election of churchwardens

>> CW01 Notice of Church Warden election [Word]

>> CW02 Nomination for Church Warden [Word]

You can see more about the Church Representation Rules (March 2022 edition) here.

30 January 2026

The Revd Canon Christopher (Michael) Brinkworth, Curate of Lancaster St Mary (Blackburn) 1967-1970, Curate of Milton (Portsmouth) 1970-1974, Vicar of Ault Hucknall (Derby) 1974-1984, Vicar of Derby St Anne and St John 1984-2006, Honorary Canan of Derby Cathedral 2000-2006, who retired in 2006 and held the Bishop of Derby’s Permission to Officiate from 2006-2026, died on 24 January 2026. Details of the funeral will be announced once confirmed.

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Adam Watkinson, Chaplain of Repton School, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Chaplain to the Bishop of Derby in the same diocese. Adam will begin his induction on 1 February 2026 on a part-time basis, with his full-time role starting on 1 May 2026. His last day in post at Repton School will be 30 April 2026.

29 January 2026

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Mark Griffin, Priest-in-Charge of the benefice of Beeley and Edensor, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Vicar of the same benefice, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.

22 January 2026

The Revd Jeremy Allum, Curate of Hornchurch St Andrew (Chelmsford) 1962-1967, Priest-in-Charge of West Derby St Luke (Liverpool) 1967-1969, Vicar of the same benefice 1969-1975, Priest-in-Charge of Boulton (Derby) 1975-1990, Rural Dean of Melbourne 1986-1990, Vicar of Hathersage 1990-1998, who retired in 1998 and held the Bishop of Derby’s Permission to Officiate 1998-2021, died on 2 January, 2026. His funeral will take place on Friday, 6 February 2026 at 11.30 am at Derby Cathedral.

The Revd Dawn Knight will be collated as Vicar of the benefice of Cotmanhay and Shipley, Diocese of Derby, on Wednesday, 4 February 2026 at 7 pm at Christ Church Cotmanhay by the Bishop of Repton and inducted by the Acting Archdeacon of East Derbyshire.

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Prebendary Romita Shrisunder, Bishop's Director of Ordinands, Diocese of Lichfield, has been appointed Canon for Community Outreach and Social Justice at Derby Cathedral, Diocese of Derby, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.

15 January 2026

The Revd Esther (Rachma) Abbott will be licensed as Priest-in-Charge (House for Duty) of the benefice of Ault Hucknall and Scarcliffe and Assistant Curate (Associate Priest) of the benefice of Bolsover, Diocese of Derby, on Saturday, 7 March at 3 pm at St John the Baptist Ault Hucknall by the Bishop of Derby assisted by the Acting Archdeacon of East Derbyshire, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.

8 January 2026

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Esther (Rachma) Abbott, who holds the Bishop of Salisbury’s Permission to Officiate, has been appointed Priest-in-Charge (House for Duty) of the benefice of Ault Hucknall and Scarcliffe and Assistant Curate (Associate Priest) of the benefice of Bolsover, Diocese of Derby, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.

The Revd Fiona Barber will be licensed as Associate Minister (Assistant Curate) of the benefice of Sinfin Moor, Diocese of Derby, on Saturday 28th February at 3 pm at Sinfin Moor Church by the Bishop of Derby.

The survey will be open from Tuesday 17 February to Tuesday 24 March.

All clergy including curates and self-supporting clergy within the diocese will be invited to participate in the survey via a personlised email link which will be sent when the survey opens. 

Survey background documents

Letter to clergy from Bishop Libby (PDF format)

Download Clergy Wellbeing Survey Frequently Asked Questions (PDF format)

Data protection background documents

See the Data Protection Impact Assessment (PDF format)

See the Legitimate Interests Assessment (PDF format)

This is a summary of the monthly Church Leaders' mailing which was sent on Thursday 8 January. The full version can be found here

Looking ahead

• A Mission Action Planning tool is being developed, with the aim of being released in April 2026 to enable churches to complete before the end of this year (and the beginning of our centenary year in 2027)
• The deadline for submitting Statistics for Mission for 2025 is 31 January.
• Please submit the results of your APCM to the Parish Support Team as soon as you can, and no later than Sunday 31 May, so that we can ensure new Deanery Synod members can take part in the General Synod elections
• Please submit your parish finance returns by Sunday 28 June

Mission and ministry

• Sign up to receive the Growing a Younger Church mailing here
• See the latest advice from the Church of England about Net Zero here

Safeguarding

• Reporting Serious Incidents to the Charity Commission: a summary of what a serious incident is and actions that your church may need to take can be found here
• Change to Reminder Process for Safeguarding Training and DBS Renewals: reminders will now be sent to people four months before their safeguarding training or DBS certificate expires. Full details can be found here.

Updated guidance

• Parochial fees: We have updated our guidance document following feedback that some sections needed clearer explanation. This resource outlines who is eligible for fees, how they are calculated and where a fee is applicable. The accompanying form, now updated with 2026 prices and marked with plum boxes, can be found on the fees page of the diocesan website.
• Common fund request letters: We’re aware that some treasurers have experienced difficulties accessing the letter sent out. To make this easier,  we’ve uploaded each parish’s individual letter in PDF format to our website.

External events

These events or services are not organised by the Diocese of Derby and are shared for information only.

• Church Times: Springtime for the Church of England: Where are we seeing growth? - Saturday 31 January, 10am to 5pm, St John’s Waterloo, London - For the full list of speakers and details of how to book tickets visit the Church Times website

• Through the Roof: Communicating with children and young people with additional needs - Monday 9 February, 7pm to 8pm, Online via Zoom - Registration for this event can be done here. All are welcome.

• Council of Christians and Jews: Understanding and countering anti-Jewish hate training - Wednesday 18 February, Derby location to be confirmed - Spaces are limited. To book a place and receive venue details contact Rev Canon Alan Griggs on 07804 735556 or email at alandeut6@gmail.com

Future dates for your diary 

• Growing a Younger Church conference - Saturday 6 June, Location to be confirmed - Details for how to book will follow in future mailings, but for now please save the date in your diaries! 
• Annual Clergy Conference - Monday 12 to Tuesday 13 October 2026, The Hayes Conference Centre - Details for how to book will follow in future mailings, but for now please save the date in your diaries! 

In case you missed it

• Bishop Libby has appointed the Revd Emma Sykes as the next Archdeacon of East Derbyshire

Christmas message from Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby

The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, has appointed the Revd Emma Sykes as the next Archdeacon of East Derbyshire.

Emma is currently serving in the Diocese of Birmingham, where she has lived for nearly 30 years. She began her working life in the charity sector working with young people facing homelessness and other challenging issues. As a youth minister at St Michael’s Church in Boldmere, she began to discern a call to ordained ministry. She trained at St John’s College, Nottingham and, in 2008, was ordained at Birmingham Cathedral.

She served her curacy at St Martin in the Bull Ring and became Associate Rector there three years later. In 2014, she took a break from full-time ministry and took a ‘portfolio’ approach, taking on a variety of different roles as a self-supporting minister including being an assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands and a Bishop’s Advisory Panel advisor. She also worked part time for CPAS as a Leadership Specialist with a focus on young vocations and facilitating training for Curates and Incumbents.

In May 2020, she followed God’s call back to fulltime parish ministry, into her current role as Vicar of St Barnabas Erdington and Oversight Minister for the Erdington Area. Emma has been a member of General Synod since June 2024.

Speaking on her appointment, Emma said: “I’m delighted, honoured and a little overwhelmed to be asked to be the next Archdeacon of East Derbyshire. I’m looking forward to getting to know the people in the archdeaconry and supporting them to flourish in mission and ministry.

“Whilst I’m excited, I also carry sadness at leaving Birmingham Diocese and especially the people of St Barnabas whose resilience, generosity and joy has helped shape me as I follow God’s call to step into this new role.”

Bishop Libby said: “I am delighted that Emma has accepted my invitation to serve as Archdeacon of East Derbyshire. Her varied experience, both in parish ministry and other ministry contexts, will be an asset as she takes up this role within our diocese. I am looking forward to working with her as we follow our shared vision of the Kingdom of God as Good News for all, and seeing that come to fruition for the congregations and communities of East Derbyshire and across the Diocese. Please join me in praying for Emma as she prepares to join us next year.”

Further details about Emma’s Installation as Archdeacon will come in the new year.

>> Parochial Fees Table 2026 [PDF]

>> Parochial Fees Guidance 2026 [PDF]

>> PF26 Form PDF format [PDF]

>> PF26 Form Excel format [.xlsx]

At Christmas services, our doors will be open to many people within our communities who may need some additional support or reassurance.

With the support of the Diocese’s Disability Inclusion Action Group (DIAG), a 2-sided checklist has been devised with some easy-to-implement ways to make every church open and inviting this special season.

>> Download the accessible Christmas guide [PDF]

The Christmas guide comes at the end of a very special and successful year for DIAG.

Over the summer, they launched a series of accessible symbols for churches to freely download and use in their publicity. These can be used to highlight the accessibility provisions available so that our churches can become welcome spaces. A website was designed especially for the symbols so that they are available to freely download.

The disability arm of our national church was so supportive during the consultation phase and championed the end result by making them available to all parishes across the Church of England earlier than anticipated.

This was followed by a seminar in November where Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton, the Bishop of Repton, Carl Veal (DIAG Chair) and Lynda Herbert (DIAG representative) presented on the subject of “Enhancing accessibility in parish churches”. A recording of the webinar is available here.

A difference has truly been made in 2025, and we can look forward to what comes next from DIAG in 2026.

Thank you to all who give their time freely to champion this work.