Items filtered by date: December 2015
The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people ...’
Luke 2.10-11
The Church of England’s Advent and Christmas theme for 2025 revolves round a single word: Joy! Our churches will - as always - be seeking to make the most of the opportunity December brings to share The Joy of Christmas with their communities.
The great joy of Christmas, of course, is the good news the angel declared to the shepherds - the news of Jesus’ birth as Emmanuel (God With Us).
Click here to find a church near you
On this page you will find Advent and Christmas resources for churches, individuals and schools designed to help all ages to be drawn into the joy of the first Christmas.
We will be posting weekly videos and daily prayers on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Watch Advent Sunday with Bishop Libby here
Watch 'What brings you Joy at Christmas' with St Peter's Belper community here
Watch 'Hope in the season of Advent' with Canon Julian Hollywell here
Watch 'What's your favourite Christmas Carol?' here
Watch ' Christmas Joy' with Steve Johnson here
Under the Church of England Learning and Development Framework, safeguarding training must be renewed every three years, in addition you must also have a valid DBS check, which also needs to be renewed every three years.
Currently, the Diocesan Safeguarding Team sends reminders at 6, 4, and 2 months before expiry. From 1 January 2026, this process will change to a single reminder sent 4 months before expiry for both safeguarding training and DBS checks.
This change coincides with the Diocese of Derby becoming the first in the country to implement a Diocesan Safeguarding Hub. The Hub will:
- Automatically send renewal reminders
- Allow you to access your own records and check expiry dates
- Put you in control of keeping your training and DBS up to date
Access to the Hub will be restricted to those who need it, including the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, the Bishop’s Office and Warden of Readers. All information will be managed in line with GDPR regulations.
If you have any questions or require further clarification, please contact us at safeguarding@derby.anglican.org
Thank you for your continued commitment to safeguarding.
Diocesan Safeguarding Team
Diocese of Derby
Based at All Saints’ Church, Ockbrook near Derby (Available Full-time, term time only, or part-time)
Would you like to join a thriving, community-minded church to continue, grow, and develop our varied ministry with the children and young people in our local villages, supported by our committed and enthusiastic volunteers? All Saints’ Ockbrook has a growing congregation of different ages and a desire to bless all those around us. Our worship services are relatively informal, with a music group and variety of leaders and preachers.
Existing weekly activities include Shining Stars, a busy pre-school group, a Wednesday after-school Youth Café, Sunday Night Saints (a lively teenage group), and Rise & Shine (a Sunday morning group for 4 to 12-year-olds). We run a summer holiday club and a youth weekend away, enjoy periodic interactive all age (4ALL) services, and have experimented with breakfast services for families with pre-school children and babies. There are strong connections with the 3 primary schools in our parish, where the children’s coordinator is warmly welcomed to take assemblies and be involved in their activities.
You will have a strong Christian faith, have worked or volunteered with children or young people, and be passionate about encouraging children, young people, and their volunteer helpers. You will be educated to A-Level (or degree standard) or have an equivalent level of experience of working with children and/or young people.
This is available as a full-time position (37.5 hours a week), or as two part-time positions for a children’s coordinator and a youth coordinator (19 hours a week). In both cases, candidates can choose to work 52 weeks a year or 41 weeks a year mainly in term-time. You will receive close support including at the weekly church leadership meetings, and during regular one-to-ones with our vicar.
The salary for a full-time, full-year position is £27,441 with 28 days’ holiday including bank holidays. Salary and holidays will be pro-rata if working part-time and/or fewer weeks.
For more details, and an application pack, please email Tim Sumpter, Vicar of All Saints Ockbrook with St Stephen’s Borrowash, tmsumpter@hotmail.co.uk
On 16 November 2025, a special diocesan service was held for Safeguarding Sunday at St John’s Church, Walton, to give thanks for those working in safeguarding in our parishes and to remember victims and survivors of abuse. The service was led by both Bishop Libby and Bishop Malcolm, and the Diocesan Safeguarding team.
Safeguarding Sunday is an annual campaign led by the Christian safeguarding charity thirtyone:eight. Churches are encouraged to reflect on and improve their safeguarding practices to ensure vulnerable people are protected. The key theme for 2025 is "Action Speaks Louder".
Bishop Libby gave thanks for all those working for the good of our church and communities: to repent of our failings and hold before God all those who have been hurt or harmed by our action or inaction; and to look to the future, committing ourselves afresh to seek the Kingdom of God by playing our part in being a safer church.
Bishop Malcolm focused his sermon on the reading in the service from 1 John 3.16-24 where St John said, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth. Loving in action and in truth”.
He highlighted that “we should model ourselves on the example of Jesus, in whom the truth is spelt out in both action and words. It’s all very well expressing sympathy, or empathy – but if “I am not willing to lift a finger to help”, or to “dig deep in my pocket to help”, what use am I? ‘I hear what you say’ or ‘I hear your pain’ is all very well – but what do I do to make up for the damage done? Action speaks louder than words”.
“As St Theresa of Kolkata taught, we should spend more time washing feet, so there is less time for throwing stones. How we and the world all need to learn that lesson”.
“Talking of words, truth matters. In the media, in daily life, and especially when it comes to safeguarding. Listening well, getting it right, telling it clearly, not twisting others’ words, but speaking and acting, in love”.
Lisa Marriott, Head of Safeguarding and Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, gave her thanks to Parish Safeguarding Officers for their ongoing commitment to safeguarding, highlighting that their vigilance, care, and willingness to embed safeguarding into the life of our churches makes a real difference.
She said, “Together, we are creating communities where everyone feels safer, valued, and protected. This work is not always easy, but it is vital, and your dedication is deeply appreciated. Safeguarding is not a tick-box exercise. It is a reflection of our faith, it embodies the core values of care, protection and justice that lie at the heart of Christian teaching. Let’s continue to build a church where safeguarding is not just a standard, but a way of life”.
The Parish of St. Alkmund’s in Derby is seeking to appoint an energetic, imaginative, experienced and suitably qualified person to the position of Youth and Young Adult Ministry Leader. This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of the ministry team in the parish, working with clergy, lay leaders and volunteers to realise the parish vision for effective youth and family ministry.
Able to connect with young people both inside and outside of church, you will be passionate about sharing the good news of Jesus and committed to nurturing faith in our youth. St. Alkmund’s is a lively, charismatic evangelical church in the Diocese of Derby. The appointment is for an initial period of 3 years. Hours are part time constituting 20 hours per week. Salary is £27,000 - £30,000 per annum pro rata.
Closing date for applications: Friday, 28 Nov 2025 at 5pm
Shortlisting: Monday, 1 Dec 2025
Interviews: Wednesday. 10 Dec 2025
Provisional starting date - as soon as possible.
An application pack and form are available by emailing mina@stalkmunds.org.uk
For further information or an informal chat, please contact Revd Mina Munns on 07960 250497.
>> Job advert
28 November
The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Gillian (Gill) Ball, Assistant Curate (SSM) of the benefice of Old Brampton and Great Barlow and of the benefice of Loundsley Green, The Ascension LEP, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of the same benefice, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled
21 November
Revd Matthew (Matt) Green will be instituted as Rector of the Benefice of Aston-on-Trent, Elvaston, Weston-on-Trent and Shardlow, Barrow-upon-Trent with Twyford and Swarkestone, on Saturday, 24 January 2026, at 3 pm at All Saints, Aston-on-Trent by the Bishop of Derby and inducted by the Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.
Revd Frances (Fran) Smettem will be licensed as Priest-in-Charge of the benefice of Eyam with Foolow and Baslow, and Priest-in-Charge of the parishes of Curbar and Stoney Middleton, on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, at 7 pm at St Lawrence’s Eyam, by the Bishop of Derby, assisted by the Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.
6 November
Canon Jack Cooper, Lay Canon of Derby Cathedral until 17th October, when his term of office came to an end, has been appointed Lay Canon Emeritus with effect from 18 October 2025.
The Revd Susannah (Susie) Curtis, Ordained Ministry Development Officer and holder of the Bishop of Derby’s Permission to Officiate, Diocese of Derby, has stepped down as Assistant Area Dean of Derby City. Her last day in this role was 14 September 2025.
The Revd Alan Winfield, Associate Priest of Melbourne, Smisby, Stanton-by-Bridge and Ticknall, Diocese of Debry, has been appointed Assistant Area Dean of Mercia. His first day in this role was 3 November 2025.
The Diocese of Derby Disability Inclusion Action Group (DIAG) successfully launched their recognisable symbols project; all housed in one website – www.accessiblechurch.net.
The symbols enable churches to make a positive difference by openly displaying the accessibility available to support worshippers with all kinds of disabilities and neurodiversity.
As a result of this project, Helen James, Disability Project Manager for the Church of England confirmed that the symbols will be made available for all parishes throughout all dioceses to use and implement.
They will feature in a free national webinar on Tuesday, 4 November 2025.
As the diocesan lead on the project, Bishop Malcolm Macnaughton said “‘All people, including those with all kinds of disabilities and neurodiversity’s, are made in God’s image, and called to be disciples of Jesus, reflecting God’s glory by the way we live. Church communities want to be welcoming and inclusive to everyone, but we struggle to make everything equally accessible for all needs. These symbols make this easier by making it clear to everyone what is possible in a particular church building and what is not. My prayer is that churches will find that communicating clearly helps people with a range of needs feel at home in church, and able to play their part. ‘
Carl Veal, Chair of DIAG, said “The Disability Inclusion Action Group comprises clergy and lay people with a range of disabilities, from across the Diocese of Derby. Their aim is to see disability inclusion taken seriously in our churches and across the Diocese. Their work is focused around three key themes - Attitude, Access, and Agency.”
>> Book your free webinar place
Journeying together: a summary of Diocesan Synod, 18 October 2025
Diocesan finances and our Net Zero Carbon strategy were the focus of conversation at the Derby Diocesan Synod, as it met for its 147th session on Saturday, 18 October in St John’s Church, Walton.
This was a really active meeting and our thanks to everyone who attended and provided their input.
If you want to know more, read the summary of the meeting here.
St Peter's Church in Hartshorne is delighted to announce that we have been awarded a generous grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support essential repairs to our historic building and develop a hub for our local history. The restoration work is scheduled to begin next spring and will focus on preserving the church’s architectural integrity for future generations.
As part of the project, there will be opportunities for the local community to get involved. This includes educational activities and engagement sessions with our local schools and the village community, offering a chance to learn about heritage conservation and the church’s rich history.
Debbie Patrick, Churchwarden of St Peters Church. “We are very excited to get this project going; giving us the opportunity to do much needed repairs to our village church, which has stood on the hill in Hartshorne since the 15th century and has played a significant role in the life of our village for many generations; seeing the villagers through good times and bad, feasts and famines, peace time and wars. The restoration works, undertaken by ASBC of Melbourne - www.asbc.ltd - will be the beginning of ongoing work to ensure that our church remains a vital part of our community for many years to come; not to mention the fantastic opportunity this project gives us to explore and display the history for visitors and locals alike for years to come”.
We are grateful for the support of the The National Lottery Heritage Fund and look forward to working closely with the community throughout this exciting project.
We are seeking a compassionate and Jesus-centred leader who will lead this growing and flourishing church, situated mid-way between Derby and Nottingham in South East Derbyshire, in our faith journey and take us to the next stage of all that God is calling us to.
We are praying for someone who:
- Is Spirit-led and prayerful, able to teach and encourage deeper discipleship through Sunday worship and throughout the week, helping to grow a ‘praying church’.
- Will work alongside established and thriving volunteer-led community engagement, seeking to deepen faith connections amongst those who engage with the church in the community.
- Has the ability and experience to nurture lay leadership in every aspect of church life.
- Can lead, develop and encourage pastoral care across congregation and community.
- Has a commitment to growth across all generations.
- Values and promotes diversity, equality and inclusion.
For more information about this post, please contact: the Venerable Matthew Trick, Acting Archdeacon of East Derbyshire: matthew.trick@derby.anglican.org
Please download the application form, profile and additional information using the links below:
Letter from the Bishop of Derby
The Diocese of Derby is committed to safeguarding. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. For information on safeguarding, recruitment checks and how we process your data, visit https://bit.ly/DODSaferRecruitment
Closing date: Noon, Friday 13th February 2026
Interview date: Tuesday 24th March 2026
