Making sure your A Church Near You page is up to date is really important.

As always, the Church of England's national campaign will be sending people to the main A Church Near You website.

From there, people can find the relvant pages for our churches and if your details are not there, you will be missing out on attracting potential visitors to your church over Chistmas. 

Remember too that being an A Church Near You editor also gives you access to a whole load of Christmas resources that you can use for free!

A little time invested now could easily see you rewarded with people engaging with you for the first time over Christmas and beyond.

Adding information to ACNY is easy and the functionality is improving all the time. Incumbents are automatically editors of their church’s ACNY pages, but special arrangements are easily put in place for those parishes in vacancy.

People are already planning which events and activities they will attend this festive period so don’t leave it until Advent before updating ACNY – make sure you have access now so you can get everything in place before the seasonal rush!

At the very least:

1. Ensure your contact details are up to date on ACNY. That means an up-to-date telephone number that people can call (if possible) and a link through to your church's website and/facebook page.
2. Make sure your page's welcome message is there and is actually welcoming! Make it invitational and, most importantly, make it relvant to those visitors to the page who may not already be regularly enganed with the Church. We assume people know they arealways welcome in church, but the sad truth is that many don’t realise that or find it intimidating. A genuine, warm, welcome will ease any anxiety.

 Ideally:

1. Post details of all your Christmas services and special events (such as Christmas tree festivals). This makes them searchable and more easily findable by the general public.
2. Use the system's 'tag' facility to make your events stand out even more.
3. Add your other regular services and group activities. If people like what happens at Christmas, they may want to come back – so make it easy for them!
4. Facilitate your facilities! Does your church have toilets? Accessible toilets? Do you serve refreshments? Is it wheelchair friendly? Do you have a hearing loop? It’s all useful information to let first-time visitors know what to expect.
5. Lighten up! Christmas is a time of joy and hope and of giving and sharing, so let your communicatios reflect this and don't be afraid to inject a little humour.

See also:

>> How to become an editor of your A Church Near You page (CofE website)

If you struggle with your A Church Near You page, please contact the Communications Team. (Please note, the Comms team cannot give you access to your page or update it for you, but we can help you get there!)

Want to take this further?

Watch how to use your ACNY page as your main website

We love all the creative and different ways churches are engaging with their parishes and beyond.

Our vision is The Kingdom of God, Good News for All and it's great to see how so many churches in the Diocese of Derby are sharing stories of their success in achieving transformed lives through growing church and building community.

They're also sharing news of their plans and projects.

Don't forget to keep posting your photos and stories on social media - show the world what you're doing to grow church and build community

See also:

• Why you shouldn't just put your event posters on social media - and what to do instread!

Here are a few that have caught our eye recently:

More than 70 Bishop's Badge Awards have been presented to church and community volunteers in the Diocese of Derby this year.

The final presentations were made in a special Celebration of Lay Ministry, in Derby Cathedral on Sunday, 1 October.

The annual awards celebrate lay ministry and service in church and community, and recognise the distinguished service and dedication of many individuals contributing in Jesus’s name to the mission of the church.

Bishop Libby said: "It is always a pleasure to mark and celebrate the gifts of people across the Diocese of Derby and to thank those who offer so much to develop and sustain the life of the church and its work in the wider community.

"We give thanks for the often hidden, yet crucial and remarkable work of people who do not seek recognition, but whom we honour specially today."

>> See the photos from Sunday, 1 October

>> See the photos from Sunday 17 September

There were three Bishop's Badge Services this year.

The first was held to celebrate generosity and courage shown by school children towards others.

The other two services, held in September and October, recognised missional innovation and missional long service in parishes, churches and communities thoughout the diocese.

Recipients of the Bishop's Badge are nominated by clergy in the parishes of the diocese and the reasons for the nominations can be wide and varied.

On receiving his Bishop's Badge in September, John Sterland said: "My late father whilst being a member and former tower captain of St Andrew’s (Swanwick) received a badge a few years ago for his work supporting the major refurbishment of the clock and bells at St Martin’s Alfreton. I feel quite reflective and privileged at being recognised in a similar way."

And nominating Cara for a Bishop's Badge Schools Award, her head teacher said: "Cara goes above and beyond to show love and support to her peers; always noticing if someone is struggling or left out and offering friendship; showing what it means to build community by supporting and welcoming everyone. Her unquestioning support for others during tough times, even when she herself has been experiencing difficult situations, is transforming to those who she stands alongside and a model for others to follow."

Those presented with Bishop's Badges on Sunday, 1 October were:

Awards for Missional Innovation

• Helen Hodgson, Belper, St Peter
• Beryl Hill, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Ann Johnson, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Ann Jwala, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Sue McIntyre, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Anne Parkin, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Barbara Walford, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Margaret Bromby, Cotmanhay and Shipley, Christ Church
• Robert Henry Glassey, Elmton with Creswell and Whitwell with Steetley
• June Fawcett, Great Longstone, St Giles
• Su Woollen, Great Longstone, St Giles
• Hilary Maltby, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
• Sue Wells, Old Whittington, St Bartholomew

Awards for Missional Long Service

• Barrie Birkin, Ashford in the Water, Holy Trinity
• David Lee, Ashford in the Water, Holy Trinity
• Kathryn Naylor, Bakewell, All Saints
• Carol Wicksteed, Bakewell, All Saints
• Joy Layton, arlow, St Lawrence
• Alan Milner, Barlow, St Lawrence
• Roger Stubbins, Barlow, St Lawrence
• Geoff Walker, Barlow, St Lawrence
• Keith Wollerton. Belper, St Peter
• Robin Norman, Blackwell, St Werburgh
• Julie Barker, Boulton, St Mary
• Iris Armett, Buxton Team Parish
• Josephine Fry, Buxton Team Parish
• Alan Kirk, Buxton Team Parish
• Eric Thompson, Buxton Team Parish
• Pam Woodroffe, Buxton Team Parish
• Brian Moorhouse, Castleton, St Edmund
• Doris Gould, Chesterfield, Holy Trinity & Christ Church
• John Holmes, Chesterfield, Holy Trinity & Christ Church
• Audrey Musson, Chesterfield, Holy Trinity & Christ Church
• Julie Hart, Cotmanhay and Shipley, Christ Church
• Alwyn Tew, Cromford, St Mary
• Kim Hardy, Derby, St Anne
• Alison Haslam, Derby, St Anne
• Dennis Bull, Derby, St Barnabas
• Dorothy Ann Oliver, Derby, St Barnabas
• Valerie Dykes, Etwall, St Helen
• Jennifer Rowson, Great Longstone, St Giles
• Jennifer Rowson, Great Longstone, St Giles
• Peter Rowson, Great Longstone, St Giles
• Andrea Clarke, Hatton, All Saints Church
• Alison Mottram, Hatton, All Saints Church
• Frances Toye, Hatton, All Saints Church
• Michael Osborne, Holbrook, St Michael
• Susan Crabb, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
• Lindsay Steele, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
• Rachel Coupe, Melbourne,St Michael with St Mary
• Hazel Hole, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
• Margaret James, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
• David Wellens, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
• Pat Hassall, Sawley, All Saints and St Mary
• Anne Ball,Stanley and Stanley Common
• Janet Costall, Stanley and Stanley Common
• Sue Hartley, Sutton on the Hill, St Michael
• Janet Hopper, Swadlincote, Emmanuel
• David Hopper, Swadlincote, Emmanuel
• Maggie Fenby-Taylor, Ticknall, St George
• Jenny Stewart, Ticknall, St George
• Margaret Whyte, Ticknall, St George
• Paul Whitehall, Walbrook Epiphany
• Jean Parsons, West Hallam, St Wilfrid
• Ruth Bennett, Whitfield, St James
• Gillian Booth, Whitfield, St Luke
• Laurie Gill, Whitfield, St Luke
• Janet Magson, Wingerworth, All Saints

Those presented with Bishop's Badges on Sunday, 17 September were:

Awards for Missional Innovation

• John Bird, Littleover, St Peter & Blagreaves
• Jim Davison, West Hallam, St Wilfrid
• Gen Tarr, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
• Margaret Weightman, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
  
  

Awards for Missional Long Service

• Michèle Aspinall, Allestree, St Edmund
• Kate Bassford, Sawley, All Saints and St Mary
• Janet Bradshaw, Sutton-cum-Duckmanton
• Liz Broomhead, Hartington
• Christine Brown, Blackwell, St Werburgh
• Bryan Clarke, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Margaret Clarke, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Emson Maneya, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Ann Cooper, Youlgreave
• Averill Crisp, Swadlincote, Emmanuel
• Lynne Dawson, Old Brampton, St Peter & St Paul
• Christopher Dullage, Hartington
• John Entwistle, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
• Jane Entwistle, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
• Rob Groome, Risley, All Saints
• Brenda Harrop, Youlgreave
• Hannah Hawkins, Brimington, St Michael and All Angels
• Sylvia Homer, Stanton by Dale, St Michael and All Angels
• Zoe Leleux, Stanton by Dale, St Michael and All Angels
• Sue Marsh, Bakewell, All Saints
• Sally Renshaw, Tibshelf, St John the Baptist
• Patricia Rhodes, Tibshelf, St John the Baptist
• Cyril Roberts, Old Brampton, St Peter & St Paul
• Melanie Rose, Belper, St Peter
• Phil Sparrow, Chesterfield, SS Augustine
• John Sterland, Swanwick, St Andrew and Pentrich, St Matthew
• Mary Thompson, Smalley, St John the Baptist
• Mo Tolson, Risley, All Saints
• Alan Tolson, Risley, All Saints

Recipients and their families take the opportunity for a photographic memento with Bishop Libby

Derby Cathedral is currently hosting one of a number of artworks created by local and national artists as part of Shedding Light on long Covid, a thought-provoking programme of events to engage local communities in the latest long Covid research.

The installation, outside the cathedral, invites visitors and passers-by to spend a few minutes sitting on a specially installed headset bench and listening to an audio track which they can download via a QR code.

The track, Breathturn, reflects on the moment of pause we collectively shared during the pandemic and how it affected those with Long COVID using their own words to describe their experience.

Shedding Light on Long Covid has been developed by Scientists and arts researchers at the University of Derby.

The Very Reverend Dr Peter Robinson, Dean of Derby, said: "Derby Cathedral is delighted to welcome S.H.E.D, once again.

"This is such an important opportunity being offered to people of all generations to delve deeply into our shared experiences of long Covid.

"We hope that many will come to the cathedral and enjoy the headset benches under the trees in our church yard and so form part of this precious, continued research."

 In Derbyshire alone, there are approximately 10,000 patients living with long Covid, and this figure is rising weekly.

The virtual and interactive exhibition has been created by S.H.E.D – Social Higher Education Depot, a research and innovation space that engages the public with lifelong learning and teaching through creative industry and cultural practice.

The University has been at the forefront of research into causes and effects of long Covid since 2020.

The research has mostly been learning about the challenges of the condition and how this impacts the abilities of people to undertake their everyday tasks.

The research team hopes to use this learning to create pathways to support people with long Covid.

>> Get resources for your church/parish

>> Generosity Week podcasts

Bishop Libby has presented around 30 Bishop's Badges to those nominated for missional long service and missional innovation awards.

The special service, A Celebration of Lay Ministry, took place in Derby Cathedral.

The annual presentations celebrate ministry and service in church and community, and recognise the distinguished service and dedication of many individuals contributing in Jesus’s name to the mission of the church.

>> See photos from the Bishop's Badge service

Bishop Libby said: "It is always a pleasure to mark and celebrate the gifts of people across the Diocese of Derby and to thank those who offer so much to develop and sustain the life of the church and its work in the wider community.

"We give thanks for the often hidden, yet crucial and remarkable work of people who do not seek recognition, but whom we honour specially today."

The message of thanks was echoed by Bishop Malcolm in his reflection.

The service is one of three being held this year to present Bishop's Badges; the first was held to celebrate generosity and courage shown by school children towards others.

The final service will be held on Sunday, 1 October.

Those presented with Bishop's Badges on Sunday, 17 September were:

Awards for Missional Innovation

John Bird, Littleover, St Peter & Blagreaves

Jim Davison, West Hallam, St Wilfrid

Gen Tarr, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr

Margaret Weightman, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby

Awards for Missional Long Service

Michèle Aspinall, Allestree, St Edmund

Kate Bassford, Sawley, All Saints and St Mary

Janet Bradshaw, Sutton-cum-Duckmanton

Liz Broomhead, Hartington

Christine Brown, Blackwell, St Werburgh

Bryan Clarke, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby

Margaret Clarke, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby

Emson Maneya, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby

Ann Cooper, Youlgreave

Averill Crisp, Swadlincote, Emmanuel

Lynne Dawson, Old Brampton, St Peter & St Paul

Christopher Dullage, Hartington

John Entwistle, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity

Jane Entwistle, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity

Rob Groome, Risley, All Saints

Brenda Harrop, Youlgreave

Hannah Hawkins, Brimington, St Michael and All Angels

Sylvia Homer, Stanton by Dale, St Michael and All Angels

Zoe Leleux, Stanton by Dale, St Michael and All Angels

Sue Marsh, Bakewell, All Saints

Sally Renshaw, Tibshelf, St John the Baptist

Patricia Rhodes, Tibshelf, St John the Baptist

Cyril Roberts, Old Brampton, St Peter & St Paul

Melanie Rose, Belper, St Peter

Phil Sparrow, Chesterfield, SS Augustine

John Sterland, Swanwick, St Andrew and Pentrich, St Matthew

Mary Thompson, Smalley, St John the Baptist

Mo Tolson, Risley, All Saints

Alan Tolson, Risley, All Saints

Canon Carolyn Lewis, Diocesan Director of Education, writes:

It was a great joy to be able to welcome new headteachers from across the Diocese of Derby and to be hosted by the Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby.

We shared together in a commissioning service where Bishop Libby shared words of encouragement and affirmation to the new school leaders and they were each given a holding cross as a small gift to remind them of their belonging to the diocesan family.

The Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton, Bishop of Repton and Chair of the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE), prayed for the new headteachers and also encouraged them with words from the DBE’s vision:

"In the Diocese of Derby, we are committed to support our schools to be places of transformation, growth and where community is built, as we live out the values of generous faith, courageous hope and life-giving love.

"We do this through offering:

• life-giving, life-changing learning through excellent education, shaped by a distinctively Christ-like vision and ethos 
• inclusive and inspirational collective worship, inviting all to grow in faith 
• excellent religious education, enabling children and young people to reflect critically and explore faith, belief, and Christian responses to life’s big questions 
• hospitality, hope and love to children, young people and households  
• a sense of belonging to those of all faiths and none, building community near and far, local and global.

"As the headteacher of one of our church schools, you have a special responsibility to ensure everyone in your school is valued and recognised as a child of God, uniquely gifted by God.

"You are also responsible for ensuring the school is rooted in Christian values, principles and beliefs, and that worship and religious education are at the centre of the life and work of the school."

Finishing the afternoon with ‘afternoon tea’ new headteachers, the bishops and the DBE staff team were able to make connections and share a little of the joys and challenges of life in school.

>> Visit the Derby Diocesan Board of Education website

Pictured with Bishops Libby and Malcolm are (l-r): Helen Britten, Duffield, William Gilbert Endowed CE Primary; Louise Nicholson, Stretton Handley CE Primary; Katie Forster, Breadsall CE Primary; Emma-Jane Harry, Bakewell CE Infant; Mark Hibbert, Weston-on-Trent CE Primary;  Francesca Mellor, co-head, Hartshorne CE Primary.

The DBE also welcomes: Liz Wooliscroft, Carsington & Hopton; Jayne Jackson, Castleton; Sarah Bellicoso, Dove Holes CE Primary; Suzanne Gardner, Langley Mill CofE (VC) Infant & Nursery; Jodie Daniels, Rosliston; Jakki Rogers, Whitfield, St Luke's.

Nicky Fenton has been collated and installed as Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales.

The service was held at Derby Cathedral on Saturday, 30 September, with Bishop Libby and Dean Peter.

Previously, Nicky was the Bishop of Derby’s chaplain, and a Residentiary Canon at Derby Cathedral. Prior to that, she was priest-in-charge of Hazelwood, Holbrook and Milford.

>> See the photos of the Collation and Installation Service

During her first sermon as archdeacon, Nicky spoke about the Archdeaconry of Derbyshire Peak and Dales and the whole diocese working as a team, and how each of us is called by God to use our individual talents to help each other and to further the work of the Church.

The choir of St John’s, Buxton, from the Archdeaconry of Derbyshire Peak and Dales, sang May the Love of Christ Enfold Us, and Derby Cathedral Junior Choir, the cathedral’s pre-chorister choir for children aged five to nine, sang Mother Mary Full of Mercy.

>> Meet Archdeacon Nicky

 The Collation and Installation Service featured music from Derby Cathedral Junior Choir

We love all the creative and different ways churches are engaging with their parishes and beyond.

Our vision is The Kingdom of God, Good News for All and it's great to see how so many churches in the Diocese of Derby are sharing stories of their success in achieving transformed lives through growing church and building community.

Here are a few that have caught our eye recently: