Items filtered by date: December 2015
17 April
The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Simon Drew, Vicar of Middlewich and Byley, Diocese of Chester, has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of the benefice of Chellaston, Diocese of Derby, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.
Bishop Libby writes:
It was my profound privilege to have an audience with Pope Francis soon after I was consecrated Bishop in 2015.
He was generous with his time and gracious and humorous in his conversation (spending as time discussing football with me as expressing celebration and care for my ministry).
As was his practice, Pope Francis asked that I pray for him, and I have done so for the past 10 years.
As Archbishop Stephen has noted in his tribute, ‘Pope Francis whole life was centred on Jesus who comes among us not to be served but to serve … Francis showed us how to follow Jesus and encouraged us to go and do likewise’.
He was a holy and humble man. Although I am saddened by the news of his death and recognise the grief felt by millions of Roman Catholics across the world today, having celebrated Easter yesterday, he died in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection knowing the joy of the risen Christ. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Please join me in in prayer, giving thanks for his life and ministry:
Father in heaven, we praise your name for all who have finished this life loving and trusting you for the example of their lives, the life and grace you gave them and the peace in which they rest.
We praise you today for your servant Francis and for all that you did through him.
Meet us in our sadness and fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving,
for the sake of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant Francis.
Acknowledge, we pray, a sheep of your own fold,
a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.
Enfold him in the arms of your mercy,
In the blessed rest of everlasting peace and in the glorious company of the saints in light.
Amen.
Recently, many Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) came together with Bishop Libby at St Barnabas Centre in Danesmoor for a quiet day.
LLM(R)s play an important role in the public ministry of the Church by teaching the faith, enabling mission in the everyday, and leading in church and society.
They are key leaders in our churches, and work collaboratively with clergy colleagues across the diocese.
On Saturday, 3 May 2025, 12 LLM(R) candidates will be admitted to the Office of Reader 2.30pm in Derby Cathedral, after which they will take up their new ministry.
We’ll be sharing details on the LLM(R) candidates in the coming weeks.
27 March
The Revd Paul Hygate, Assistant Curate (Associate Priest) of the benefice of Aston-on-Trent, Elvaston, Weston-on-Trent and Shardlow, Barrow-upon-Trent with Twyford and Swarkestone, resigned on 23rd February 2025.
21 March
The Revd John Jacklin, ordained deacon and priest in 1972, who began his ministry in Santiago, Chile 1972-1975, was Curate of Roxeth Christ Church (London) 1975-1978, Vicar of Selston St Helen (Southwell and Nottingham) 1978-1995, who retired in 1995 and held the Bishop of Derby’s Permission to Officiate 1997-2018, died on 13 February 2025. His funeral will take place on Friday, 28h March with a cremation service at Trent Valley crematorium, Aston on Trent, Derbyshire at 11:30 am, followed by a service of celebration at All Saint’s Church, Ockbrook, Derbyshire at 12:30 pm.
The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Robertson (Rob) Stewart, previously Curate in the Wick Benefice, Diocese of Bristol, has been appointed Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of the benefice of Alvaston, Diocese of Derby. Rob will be licensed to his new post on Wednesday, 23 April 2025 at 7 pm at St Michael and All Angels Alvaston by the Bishop of Derby, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.
The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Matthew (Matt) Taylor, Associate Rector of Sevenoaks St Nicholas, Diocese of Rochester, has been appointed Minister of Trinity Church Buxton, Diocese of Derby, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.
13 March
The Venerable Geoffrey (Geoff) Johnston - A Requiem Mass for The Ven. Johnston, who died on 9 March 2025, will take place on Tuesday, 1 April 2025 at 12 noon at Derby Cathedral.
13 March
The Venerable Geoffrey (Geoff) Johnston, Curate of Blakenall Heath Christ Church (Lichfield) 1968-1972, Curate of St Buryan (St Buriana), St Levan and Sennen (Truro) 1972- 1973, Curate of Blakenall Heath Christ Church (Lichfield) 1973-1975, Priest-in-Charge of Willenhall St Stephen 1975-1976, Curate of West Bromwich (All Saints) (St Mary Magdalene) 1976-1977, Lecturer West Bromwich College of Commerce and Technology 1978-1982, Industrial Chaplain (Worcester) 1982-1994, Team Vicar of Halesowen 1982- 1994, Non-Stipendiary Minister of Dudley St Francis 1994-1999, Priest-in-Charge of Dudley St Francis 1999-2008, Priest-in-Charge of Dudley St Edmund King and Martyr 2004-2008, Priest-in-Charge of the Anglican Church in Nerja and Almuñécar (Gibraltar in Europe) 2008- 2013, Area Dean of Gibraltar 2013, Interim Archdeacon of Gibraltar 2013-2019, Acting Archdeacon of Italy and Malta 2018-2019, who held Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Derby 2015-2024 and in the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe from 2019, died on Sunday 9th March. Details of the funeral will be announced once confirmed
6 March
The Revd Dr Michael (Mike) Firbank stood down as Area Dean of Mercia, Diocese of Derby, from 4th March 2025. He continues in post as Vicar of the benefice of Gresley.
The Revd Sam Mackie, Assistant Curate in the benefice of East Scarsdale (Team Ministry), Diocese of Derby, has been appointed LGBTQ+ Chaplain in the parish of St Alban Westcliff- on-Sea and St Mark Southend-on-Sea, Diocese of Chelmsford. Sam’s last day in post will be 18th March, with their new role starting on 19th March 2025.
The Revd Paul Mellars,Team Vicar of the benefice of Dronfield with Holmesfield (Team Ministry), Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Vicar to the united benefice of Darton with Staincross and Mapplewell, Diocese of Leeds.
The Revd Stephen (Steve) Short, Priest-in-Charge of the benefice of Foremark and Repton with Newton Solney, and the benefice of Willington, Diocese of Derby, has also been appointed Area Dean of Mercia. Steve started in post on 4th March 2025.
On 1 March 2025, Belper Town Football Club welcomed their new Chaplain Revd Rachel Burdett. Revd Rachel was joined by Bishop Libby who presented the man of the match.
It turns out that Bishop Libby and Revd Rachel were lucky mascots on the day as Belper Town FC won 2-0 v Garforth Town FC.
Photo L-R: Revd Rachel, Bishop Libby, Ian Woodward (BTFC Chairman) and Lee Attenborough (BTFC Manager)
Revd Rachel said: It was exciting to watch my first Nailers’ game, especially as they won! I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and adding my support to the team. It is an important part of life in Belper and it is an honour to be the new chaplain.
Ian said we welcome Revd Rachel as our new Chaplain. We look forward to working with her as she continues to build on the existing relationship with Christ Church Belper and we look forward to welcoming her to support “The Nailers!”.
Photo Credit to Tim Harrison (BTFC)
Question & Answer Session with the Archdeacons
Thursday, 20 November 2025
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
We are delighted to invite all Churchwardens to a special online Q&A session with the Archdeacons.
This is a valuable opportunity to put forward your questions in advance and hear directly from the Archdeacons as they respond during the meeting.
- An email will be sent out with details on how to submit your questions.
- A meeting link will also be provided so you can join easily on the day.
This will be an informative and supportive session, and we very much hope you will be able to attend.
The care and maintenance of church buildings
Video recording of meeting on 7 May 2025 for Churchwardens in the Diocese of Derby.
