Items filtered by date: May 2025
Meet Dom Gavan, head chorister of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield.
Chesterfield Parish Church (The Crooked Spire) has had an excellent repertoire of music since its dedication in 1234, and has upheld a sustainable and large choir for much of this time.
From huge concerts with the Philharmonic Choir to small, midweek services, the music has been nothing but exquisite and I have been fortunate to be a part of it for some six years, and have been Head Chorister since 2016.
Sunday - Palm Sunday
Alarm at 7.00am, up, dressed, teeth, hair, church! Got to church, Cassock on, warm up, and sing. Setting today was Communion Service in A minor (Darke), and Christus Factus Est (Felice Anerio) as the communion motet. Went well, started outside with blessing of Palms and thankfully it wasn’t raining. I have a solo tonight so ultra-important I don’t get a cold! Sunday lunch with the Family, and back to church for Evensong.
Monday
Went to church at 11am to help run the gift shop, stuck around until 2pm. Went home and chilled. Back to Church at 6pm for a choir practice. Many composers later, its time to go home. Bath and Bed, how cosy.
Tuesday
My only day off this week - Tidied my room, did my ironing for the week, looked through my music, practiced my organ pieces, and ate. Not much to say today.
Wednesday
Stressful day today - Picked up my cassock from the dry cleaners, washed my surplus, and then off for a coffee with my Mum, had a nice chat and then home for an extensive music practice for this week’s services. The pressure builds…
Thursday (Maundy Thursday)
Busy day today. Off to church at 10am to help out, sold some gifts! Back to church at 7am for the Last Supper mass with lots of music and a very atmospheric singing of Psalm 88 in the dark! The service ended with the watch until midnight, which was only spoiled by a dance show down the road.
Friday (Good Friday)
The Good Friday afternoon liturgy began at 3pm. I caught a glimpse of the procession of witness as I walked from my bus to the Church for rehearsal. Music today was demanding at times, but fitting for Good Friday: O Vos Omnes (Pablo Casals); Crux Fidelis (Plainsong); Popule Meus (Victoria) and Psalm 22 to my favourite Anglican Chant.
Saturday (Holy Saturday)
A very busy day today, with too much to do and not a lot of time to do it. I helped the vergers prepare all the altars for Easter. Some altars took more time than others. Once the altars were finished, it was time for breakfast - nothing beats a Pain Au Chocolat and coffee at 10am on a Saturday! Many coffees later, the church was fully furnished and ready for the Easter Vigil mass at 8.30pm. Home, bath, new set of clothes, and then back to church. After the service, the vicar invited the congregation to champagne and chocolate. I was too tired, so went home to bed.
Sunday (Easter Sunday)
Up early to get the first dibs on easter eggs! The church looked so wonderfully radiant in the glorious sunshine. The morning service was rounded off by the choristers pelting an assortment of Crème and Caramel eggs at the congregation, making sure to include the Vicar and Servers! Enjoyed the famous ‘Easter Lamb Dinner’ at my Nana’s house, filling me up ready for the evening of singing ahead. The clock in my house struck 5.30pm, meaning it was time for the last service of the term. The music this evening was magnificent, as well as being very nerve racking for the soloists. We sang Blair in B minor, and the anthem was Haec Dies, an 8-part anthem sung in canon between 2 sides, which really literally raised the roof. After the service, I went straight to bed for a nice long sleep, I had no energy to go on.
>> See Also: The Crooked Spire
To help mark the 50th anniversary of the Peak Centre, Edale, and to celebrate all that is good about the Chesterfield Archdeaconry, Archdeacon Carol and Ben Acty, warden at the Peak Centre, invite you to join them for a family walk on Saturday, 31st August 2019.
The walk will start at 10.30 am at the Peak Centre, S33 7ZA.
Ben will lead you on a pleasant walk around the Edale area, which will take in Edale itself, Barber Booth, and a part of the Pennine Way.
The walk will last between two and four hours and will be tailored to suit the group on the day.
>> Book your place today - it's free!
Archdeacon Carol said: “Derbyshire has some of the most wonderful landscape in the country and we should celebrate that. The Peak District in particular has a rich diversity of wildlife, terrain and communities, and it is our responsibility to ensure we both enjoy and preserve it.
“This walk is about celebrating the scenery and communities we are privileged to walk among.
“It is great to be able to use the Peak Centre in Edale as the start of our Archdeaconry walk; the centre is such a great asset for the Diocese of Derby.
“Our walk will take us on a gentle exploration of the high peaks - all ages and dogs are welcome to join us. My Jack Russell, Fudge, at 16 is definitely up for it!”
In September, the Peak Centre at Edale celebrates 50 years of helping to get people of all ages and all faiths to enjoy outdoor pursuits whilst considering the values of being a Christian - or any other faith – such as respect, teamwork and trust.
It caters mainly for primary school children and offers residential stays and day group activities.
The Revd Nick Gurney was licensed as Priest-in-Charge of Dinting Vale and Pioneer Missioner to the Glossopdale Mission Community, on Wednesday, 25 September at Holy Trinity Dinting Vale by the Bishop of Derby assisted by the Archdeacon of Chesterfield.
The Revd Paul Desborough, Assistant Curate of Boulton, will transfer his curacy and become Assistant Curate of Derby St Alkmund and St Werburgh, in the same diocese.
The Revd Canon Geraldine Pond, Diocesan Director of Vocations with additional responsibility for clergy well being and Warden of Readers, retired in October 2019. Canon Pond’s last day in post was 6 October, with her retirement taking effect from 7 October. Canon Pond will be appointed Canon Emeritus of Derby Cathedral in retirement and will move away from Diocese.
The Revd Rob Heeley, Assistant Curate (Associate Priest) of the benefice of Charlesworth and Gamesley, of the benefice of Dinting Vale, of the benefice of Glossop and the benefice of Hadfield (with particular responsibility for Dinting Vale), retired in September 2019. Mr Heeley’s last day in post was 29 September, with his retirement taking effect from 30 September. He will continue to live in the Diocese.
The Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Libby Lane, and the Bishop of Repton, the Rt Revd Jan McFarlane, have said those affected by the partial collapse of the Toddbrook Reservoir dam will be in the prayers of the whole Diocese.
Bishop Libby said:
"Our prayers continue for all those affected by the risk of collapse of Toddbrook Reservoir Dam. We pray for those evacuated from their homes, the community of Whaley Bridge, the Emergency Services and all those working tirelessly to prevent collapse and avert the danger.
"The evacuation prompted a sense of community and care that has been wonderful to see. Those displaced from Whaley Bridge have been met with hospitality and generosity, from Chapel-en-le-Frith and beyond. People of all faiths and none have come together, in partnership with statutory providers, with practical and emotional support. We honour those who have been working, despite the risks involved, to keep the people of Whaley Bridge safe.
"We are conscious of the effect this situation must have had on all those impacted and involved. So, as we hope the danger passes and longer term solutions are found, as people return to their homes and businesses, we continue to offer our support with compassion and hope."
See more:
St Augustine's Church, in the parish of Walbrook Epiphany, has presented three Derby schools with a range of Christian books.
Eco Church News is targeted at Diocese of Derby parishes engaging in the Eco Church scheme and/or working towards Net Zero.
For more about that see the bitesize video.
>> sign up to receive the Eco Church News
Sally-Anne Beecham: ordained deacon on 30 June 2019
"God is on the move and I’m excited to be joining in!"
I’m Sally-Anne Beecham and live in Chesterfield with my husband and two children aged 12 and 14.
I became a Christian at 21 after a friend at University told me about her faith and I nervously tried her church one Sunday.
Shemil was born and brought up in Kerala, South India.
He first studied for a Bachelor's and Master's degree in English language and literature, before achieving both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Theology from the University of Gloucestershire, and then an MTh from Oxford University.
He was ordained in the Diocese of Peterborough and has experience of working in Sri Lanka as a CMS mission partner.
Shemil is the Anglican chaplain at Oxford Brookes University and Vocations Adviser for the Diocese of Oxford. He is a founding member of AMEN (Anglican Minority Ethnic Network).
He is a trainer in Unconscious Bias awareness and a tutor in Contextual theology. His first language is Malayalam and has a working knowledge of Tamil and Hindi.
Shemil is married to Becky, who is the vicar of Allestree and Quandon in Derby. He holds Permission to Officiate from the Bishop of Derby.
The Revd Nicola Pepper, Assistant Curate (SSM) of New Mills, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Assistant Curate (SSM-to be known as Associate Priest) of Glossop. Mrs Pepper was licensed to this post on Sunday, 14 July 2019 by the Bishop of Repton.
The Revd Andrew Baguley will be licensed as Priest-in-Charge of Ilkeston St Mary and of Ilkeston St John, Diocese of Derby, on Tuesday, 1 October 2019 at 7.30 pm at Ilkeston St Mary by the Bishop of Derby assisted by the Archdeacon of Derby.
The Revd Ian Price, Assistant Curate (SSM) of Eckington and Ridgeway, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Assistant Curate (SSM - to be known as Associate Priest) in the Dronfield with Holmesfield Team Ministry, in the same diocese.
The Very Revd Dr Stephen Hance, Dean of Derby, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed National Lead for Evangelism and Witness for the Church of England. Dr Hance will take up his new role at the end of September. His final service will be on Sunday, 1 September 2019 at 10.45 am at Derby Cathedral.
The Revd Dr Graham Rutter, Priest-in-Charge of Swadlincote, Assistant Curate (known as Minister Responsible) for the parish of Hartshorne within the benefice of Hartshorne and Bretby, Assistant Curate (known as Associate Priest) of Gresley and of Newhall and Area Dean of Mercia, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Tutor of Old Testament at St Mellitus North West. Dr Rutter hopes to take up his new post in the autumn.
The Revd Hilary Moore, Assistant Curate (SSM) of Chesterfield Ss Augustine, of Brampton St Mark and with The Order of the Black Sheep, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Assistant Curate (SSM-to be known as Associate Priest) of Chesterfield Ss Augustine, Brampton St Mark, Brampton St Thomas, Walton St John, and Chesterfield St Mary and All Saints and Associate Pioneer Minister to the Order of the Black Sheep in the same diocese. Miss Moore will be licensed on Tuesday, 20 August 2019 at 9.30 am at Ss Augustine by the Bishop of Repton.
The Revd Nick Gurney, Vicar of Boulton, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of Dinting Vale and Pioneer Missioner to the Glossopdale Mission Community in the same diocese. Mr Gurney hopes to start his new post in the autumn.
Mr David Meredith, Parish Resource Officer in the Diocese of Derby, will be leaving the Board of Finance at the end of September. His last working day will be Friday, 27 September 2019 (morning only).
The Revd Julian Penfold, Assistant Curate (SSM) in the benefice of Alfreton and of Riddings and Ironville, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Assistant Curate (SSM-to be known as Associate Priest) of the benefice of Alfreton, of Riddings and Ironville and of Somercotes in the same diocese. Mr Penfold was licensed on Thursday, 18 July 2019 at 7 pm at St James’ Riddings by the Bishop of Repton.
The Revd Andrew Baguley, Assistant Curate of Belper St Peter, Diocese of Derby, currently on placement at Foremark, Repton and Newton Solney, has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of Ilkeston St Mary and of Ilkeston St John in the same diocese. Mr Baguley hopes to take up his new role in the Autumn.
The Revd Susie Curtis, who held the Bishop of Derby’s Permission to Officiate, was licensed as interim Assistant Curate (to be known as Associate Minister) of Derby St Alkmund and St Werburgh, Diocese of Derby, on Tuesday, 25 June 2019.
