In the week leading up to Advent Sunday, Chesterfield's Crooked Spire opens its doors to visitors far and wide to celebrate the start of the Advent season with its annual Christmas Tree Festival. 

This year’s festival - the ninth - ran for ten days from 17 November and the festival continues to grow in numbers of both trees and visitors!

This year, more than 120 trees, set up by businesses and organisations from across Chesterfield, were on display.

>> See pictures from the Crooked Spire Christmas Tree Festival

Warm and welcoming volunteers were there to greet visitors before they were hit with a visually stunning sight – the array of varied Christmas trees shining beautifully in the church itself nd set against its altars and stained glass windows.

The Revd Canon Patrick Coleman, Vicar of Saint Mary and All Saints in Chesterfield, is often asked why they have a Christmas tree festival at the end of November. 

His response is that the church prepares for Christmas with the season of advent: “We want to bring God’s blessings to Chesterfield by sending out the trees all over the town after they have been blessed by being in the church.

"We hope and pray that all in Chesterfield will be blessed this season.” 

In the weeks leading to Christmas Day, every inch of the church is needed to fit in the hundreds of people who go to services and concerts.

If we needed an example that the church is truly alive, then this is a fine one!

The Advent Season is a time to prepare our hearts, minds and homes for Christ's birth in the world as it is today.

It is a time for faith communities and families to remember, through prayer, reflections, music, and good deeds, the true meaning of Jesus' birth.

Our reflection for the Second Sunday of Advent comes from the Venerable Matthew Trick, Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire.

Press releases are used to communicate news, grab attention, and generate publicity. 

They are generally sent to local newspapers and other publications, local radio stations (BBC and independents) and regional TV centres.

There may be a number of reasons to send a press release, including: 

• a specific event or regular activity – something new to share 
• the appointment of a new member of the team – good news to share 
• winning an award or recognition – share and celebrate success! 
• crisis management – when things go wrong 

Whatever the reason you think you have, work through the basics:

• Is my story newsworthy and interesting to anyone else but me / our church? 
  Make no mistake, when a journalist reads a news release, they are only interested in whether or not it is a good story and an interesting story for their readers/listeners/viewers. It doesn’t matter how interesting or important YOU think it is, if the journalist doesn’t see it as interesting and good for their audience, it won’t make the cut. And if they don't find it interesting in the first couple of paragraphs, it's in the bin!
  
  
• What makes a good story?
  People stories are always the best, but not all stories are about people. Something new or updated; something different or out of the ordinary; something local and/or relevant to your community; something personal or about a person; something visual.  A great story will stick in a person’s memory if it resonates with them.
  
  
• Write down the facts 
  Before you start writing a press release you need to think through what content you have. Write down the detail of what you know - as this helps you gather your thoughts. Who is involved? What is happening? Where is it happening? Why is it happening? How do people feel about this? How will it impact people? What will be the outcome? What do you want your reader to know, feel or do? 
  
• Make it stand out 
  Journalists receive a lot of news releases each day so they will most likely feature the most interesting stories and the easiest ones to cover. Your subject matter is crucial here and you need to grab their attention in the headline and first paragraph, or you’ll simply be wasting your time! Also, remember that just because you send a press release, it doesn’t guarantee any coverage at all.
  
  
• Write a good headline 
  A good headline will grab the journalist’s attention, but the most important thing is that it leaves them in no doubt what the story is about.  Don’t try to be clever with your headline. It needs to convince the journalist that they should read the rest of your release and feature your story (think: it does what it says on the tin). 
  
  
• Write a good first paragraph 
  No more than three of four lines, your first paragraph should summarise the story and address the who, what, where, when and why questions.
   
  
• Keep it simple 
  Don’t fall into the trap of feeling like you have to tell every little detail and list and thank everyone involved – this will make your press release long and boring! Keep it simple! Details that are important to you may not be important to a journalist or to a reader. Remember, you are writing for the reader, not for yourself. 
  
  
• Keep it short 
  A news release should be less than a side of A4 long (300-400 words). If your news release is longer, you risk it not being read or parts of it being ignored. Sometimes, four or five short paragraphs and a quote is often sufficient. 
  
  
• Quotes 
  You should almost always include a quote in a press release, but a quote should be used to add value to the story – aim to make your third paragraph a quote. They should provide a personal view and move the story forward – not information about the church. And don’t let a quote be used as an excuse to include all the boring stuff! Equally, don’t include extra quotes from someone just to satisfy them and make them feel included. If it doesn’t add to the story, don’t use it! 
  
  
• Photos 
  A photo is often essential in modern journalism, and you can attach an image to your press release. However, do ensure that it isn’t a large file size that will clog up the journalist’s inbox (you could instead attach a smaller image size and say in the ‘Notes for Editors’ section that a higher resolution image is available on request). Also, make sure it is a well-taken, relevant and interesting image! 
  
  
• Notes for editors and contacts 
  Notes for editors can be used to add contextual information that doesn’t form part of the main story. Adding a contact – someone the journalist can call or email for more information or to discuss anything they’re unsure about – is vital. 
  
  
• Writing style 
  The purpose of a press release is to communicate news, so don’t be flowery and casual. You need to strike a formal tone, At the same time, don’t try to be too clever in your use of language and words – write in a natural, flowing way. 
  Don’t include links to things on your Facebook feed – if you can’t be bothered to put the information in the press release, why should the journalist be bothered to look at it?! 
  
  
• Get support 
  Before sending your press release, why not ask the diocesan Communications Team to take a look? Or feel free to talk to us before you start writing so we can give you some pointers and suggestions. Contact us: communications@derby.anglican.org or 01332 388671. 
  
  
• Press ‘send’! 
  But before you do, make sure you’re sending it to the most appropriate places. Not sure where to send it? Check with the diocesan Communications Team. 
  For printed publications, remember they often plan and write their copy days or even weeks in advance, so make sure you’ve checked the copy deadline.

The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby,  has recognised long service and missional innovation among church communities in the Diocese of Derby.

At a special service in Derby Cathedral, on Sunday 6th November 2022, Bishop Libby presented more than 75 people with their Bishop's Badge.

>> See photos from the Bishop's Badge Service

Bishop's Badges are awarded to nominees who have supported their churches and local communities.

The recipients are nominated by clergy in the diocese.

The Bishop's Badge, white enamel with the bishop's crest, has historic links, based on a medal that the very first Bishop of Derby, Bishop Edmund Pearce, had struck to celebrate this new beginning.

Medals were presented to distinguished members of the diocese and to all those being confirmed in that year. 

Now, it is a replica of this medal that is mounted in the form of a badge and awarded by the diocesan bishop to acknowledge outstanding service.

Awards for Missional Innovation 

Mike Allwood, Ockbrook with Borrowash

Alison Andrews, Derby Cathedral

Patricia Brough, Holy Trinity and Christ Church, Chesterfield

Jan Calladine, St Paul, Quarndon

Helen Duke, St Marks, Winshill

Barbara Fearnley, All Saints, Glossop

Julia Hewgill, St Thomas, Biggin

Eric Igo, All Saints, Glossop

Margaret Kay, St Barnabas, New Whittington

Jennifer Lewis-Smith, Derby Cathedral

Barbara Lord, St George the Martyr, New Mills

Philip Morris, St Bartholomew, Whittington

Pam Owen, St Barnabas, New Whittington

Abigail Parker, All Saints with St Mary's, Sawley

Janet Procter, All Saints, Glossop

Jennifer Rackstraw, St George the Martyr, New Mills

Claire Ragg, The Journey Community, Wilmorton

Anthony Smith, St Wilfrid's, West Hallam

Fiona Williamson, The Journey Community, Wilmorton

Louise Woods-Williamson, The Journey Community, Wilmorton

Awards for Missional Long Service

Karen Alexander, St George and St Mary, Church Gresley

Judith Archer, All Saints, Bradley

Roger Barfield, St Paul's, Derby

Pauline Boon, Buxton Team Parish

Rita Buckley, Christ Church, Wessington

Tony Bull, St Matthew, Hayfield

Brenda Bunting, St James, Riddings

Gill Campbell, St Osmund's, Wilmorton

Pauline Chester, Emmanuel Church, Swadlincote

Kathleen Cummings, Holy Trinity, Tansley

Jane Dalrymple, St Barnabas Bradwell, Hope valley

Lynda Diggins, St Peter's, Littleover

Barbara Dyson, St James, Riddings

Claire Edmonds, St Wystan's, Bretby

John Flanagan, Chinley and Buxworth

Peter Fleming, Derby Cathedral

Terry Fleming, Derby Cathedral

Terry Gilbert, St Michael with St Mary, Melbourne

Christine Gill, St Barnabas, New Whittington

Jean Goodall, All Saints, Dalbury

Ann Haggard, St Peter's, Holymoorside

Tony Hall, St James, Riddings

Brian Hallam, Stanley and Stanley Common

Betty Hay, St John's Newhall

John Heathcote, St Helen's, Etwall

Monica Hewitt, Derby Cathedral

David Hitchcox, St Andrew's, Swanwick and St Matthew's, Pentrich

Peter Hives, St Peter's, Calow

Marion Hives, St James, Riddings

Joanna Hocknell, St Michael with St Mary, Melbourne

Richard Hole, St George the Martyr, New Mills

Mary Holland, All Saints with St Mary's, Sawley

Peter Igo, St Matthew, Hayfield

June Igo, St Matthew, Hayfield

Poppie Jackson-Lawrence, Alvaston

Anne Jarvis, St Wilfrid's, West Hallam

Anthony Jones, Holy Trinity, Matlock Bath

Linda Latchford, St Michael with St Mary, Melbourne

Ivor Leigh, Holy Trinity and Christ Church, Chesterfield

Louise Lennox, St James, Riddings

David Mellor, All Saints, Matlock Bank

Linda Mills, St James, Riddings

Joanna Moffatt, St Bartholomews, Whittington

William Morris, St Peter's, Hartshorne

Marion Overton, Buxton Team Parish

Hilary Phillips, Holy Trinity, Matlock Bath

Alec Pitt, St Mary's, Boulton

Fran Roberts, St Mark's, Handley

Nigel Rogers, Holy Trinity, Brackenfield

Avril Simcox, St Osmund's, Wilmorton

Hazel Slack, Holy Trinity, Tansley

Philip Tew, St Mary's, Cromford

John Thurstan, Holy Trinity and Christ Church, Chesterfield

Ann Vincent, St Andrew's, Blagreaves

Ruth Walker, Stanley and Stanley Common

Roger Waters, Immanuel Church, Stapenhill

Anne Wood, Buxton Team Parish

Anna wright, All Saints, Matlock Bank

Award for both Missional and Innovation and Missional Long Service

Janet Mawman, St Osmund's and The Journey Community, Wilmorton

As part of the archdeacons’ legal duties under Canon 22, they are required to visit churches regularly and to make comments and recommendations regarding both the fabric and the life of all the churches in the diocese.

In 2023, Carol, Karen and Matthew would also like to take the opportunity, as they begin their first full year, to meet and have conversations with wardens or parish representatives about any concerns.

It will also allow them to familiarise themselves with all the lovely churches in their areas.

For your reference, please download the checklist which the archdeacons will bring with them to make notes on during the course of the visit.

Alongside this, there are also a few areas they would like to have open discussions with parishes about, to gain an understanding of what the actions and feelings are across the diocese on a number of important issues such as:

• Mission Action Plans
• The Fuel Crisis – how are parishes coping?
• Eco Church  - whether you have any particular environmental practices and what actions are/will you be taking to move your church towards the 2030 Net Zero Carbon target?
• Communications within the diocese:
  - A Church Near You - is your church listed?
  - How often do you tend to use the churchwarden section of the diocesan website?

For your reference, please download the checklist which the archdeacons will bring with them to make notes on during the course of the visit.

You don’t need to complete anything beforehand unless you would find it useful yourself as an aide memoire, but please could you make sure you have the registers and other relevant paperwork out ready.

The PAs in the Archdeacons Office will be contacting either wardens or PCC secretaries as appropriate during the course of late 2022/ 2023 to make appointments.

We will be hoping to contact the following two groups prior to Christmas, with a view to visiting in the period between January to Easter:

• Parishes in vacancy
• Parishes which have no wardens

The archdeacons will look forward to meeting you all, to having the opportunity to talk and to seeing your wonderful churches.

The Advent Season is a time to prepare our hearts, minds and homes for Christ's birth in the world as it is today.

It is a time for faith communities and families to remember, through prayer, reflections, music, and good deeds, the true meaning of Jesus' birth.

Our reflection for this First Sunday of Advent comes from the Archdeacon of East Derbyshire.

How quick can you build a chick?

Not the first question you might expect to be asked in church!

If you happened into St Bartholomew’s Church, Old Whittington over the last weekend of September, you might!

It was the weekend of the annual Lego (oh sorry, no, it has to be called) 'Brick' Festival.

Our Brick Festival is like a flower festival but instead of flower arrangements we have tables of Lego models.

Now if you are thinking that Lego is just for the children, then you are a good few years out of date.

It’s come a long way from the red and white blocks of the ‘60s, which seemed to build houses and little more.

Now there are Star Wars and Harry Potter sets; Marvel, Ninjango, Transformers, and at least a dozen other different series.

During a ‘festival’ weekend we expect periods when the church is not so busy.

I think this year the only time we had a bit of a lull was during the school day on the Friday.

Wows all around

Once school finished, families came straight up to church for a first look.

"Oh wow!" They exclaimed as they spotted the rollercoaster and ferris wheel on the fun fair.

More wows were heard at the detail of the Harry Potter models.

Landmarks from around the world left some puzzled as to where they were.

London was the most obvious.

Many folk returned on Saturday, and some even made it again on Sunday afternoon.

The ladies in the kitchen, running the tombola and managing the raffle, all declared it a great success.

On the Monday, our local primary school walked from school to church, one class at a time, for a look round.

Several children had donated models to display and had their photo taken with them.

Where's Jo?

In addition to looking at the Lego models, people were challenged to ‘Find Rev Jo’ - well her Lego figure at least.

But when you do, sshhh don’t tell anyone else!

She moved around the different displays.

It didn’t matter where she hid, she was found.

She started by operating the roller coaster, she rode in the train, a boat, and the big wheel, she took a wedding, went fishing, watched from the rooftop and finished doing an impression of Rose on the Titanic!

Oh and the chick in question…. this is Rev Jo’s time challenge. Each year we set a simple challenge to see who is ‘the champion builder of the year’.

The youngest to complete it was Jack, who is only five and a half years old.

The top three quickest were: third, Freddy, in a time of 3 minutes 5 seconds; second, Cody, in a time of 2 minutes and 55 seconds; and in first place Alfie in a time of 2 minutes and 50 seconds.  

There is a small prize for Alfie, but the real reward is in setting the challenge for next year.

Next Year? I hear you ask.

Oh yes, by popular demand, there’ll be another Brick Festival next year.

The Diocese of Derby understands the challenge posed by the energy crisis to our worshipping communities.

We do hope that this overview is useful in terms of offering advice and practical help in meeting this challenge.

The Archdeacons’ Office will coordinate the diocesan response to the energy crisis and distribute further information as it becomes available.

Parishes and worshipping communities are encouraged to contact their archdeacon for support as required.

We know that many of our parishes have already taken steps to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis, so if your parish has a particular story of innovation or creativity in responding to either the energy or cost of living crises, please contact your archdeacon, who can share good practice.

Good ideas from across the diocese will bring encouragement and wisdom.

Jump to: Energy use guidance | Missional guidance

Saving Energy and Money

There are a number of cheap or free steps that parishes can take to reduce their energy usage.

Many parishes in the diocese are also exploring the environmental impact of their energy use.

The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division has issued the following guidance:

↓ Download CofE Practical suggestions to help parishes save energy and money [PDF]

Energy Use Guidance

National church has identified a number of resources/guides for parishes to help reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

Whilst each church building is different, there may be a number of short to medium term actions PCCs can take that will temper the impact of the high fuel bills you are facing.

↓ Download resources and guides to help reduce energy use and carbon emissions (Appendix 1).

↓ Download a list of practical actions which as a PCC you could go through together, identifying the things that will help in your particular context (Appendix 2). 

Missional Guidance

In the last two years, we have seen a significant shift in the way that we do church. We have adapted to changing circumstances and the Church showed remarkable adaptability and innovation in opening new missional spaces through online church.

This meant those who previously found it difficult to access church now had new ways to be present.

Out of the tragedy of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen the Holy Spirit working through His church to reach out to new people with the love of God.

The energy and cost of living crises present an equal challenge to think more simply, more boldly and humbly as we seek opportunities to be similarly creative in the way that we minister.

We welcome Bishop Libby and Bishop Malcolm’s encouragement to worshipping communities to be creative in how and where they meet as they seek to be Good News for All; to try new things and to stretch into new spaces and communities.

We can think about meeting in different buildings, in different locations and new communities, where local people can more easily access worship and events and where creating warm spaces is easier and more cost effective.

We may find that, in doing so, we are “expanding God’s tent” and sharing the Good News of Jesus in ways that we hadn’t previously considered.

You may wish to consider the following points:

• Blending the use of your buildings to ensure inherited spaces can be open (warm) and available at key moments of mission (Christmas, etc) whilst at other times using smaller venues.
• Giving strong consideration to using this opportunity to build ever deeper relationships with Church schools and other community partners. Places that others may actually feel familiar with and more comfortable accessing. By using other community spaces and halls that can be hired more cheaply than the traditional meeting spaces may be heated, the church reduced its costs and carbon footprint whilst forging new partnerships!
• Using different parts of your building, meeting in core spaces that are easier to heat (side chapels etc).
• Having the humility to recognise that rather than being a ‘provider’ of warm space that actually the need is to be a ‘recipient’ of the hospitality of others. This may include, sharing spaces with other churches and denominations across parish and community boundaries, using halls and centres that are more modern with more efficient heating systems.

For those anxious about the legality of this permissive thinking, download this guidance on Canon B40 (Appendix 3)

Temporary Closure of Church Buildings due to Cold Weather

Parishes faced with significantly higher energy bills may wish to explore alternative venues for worship during the coldest months ahead.

Moving worship away from the church building may be a wise, economically expedient, even missional step, but requires careful consideration by PCCs.

Legal, pastoral, missional and reputational issues affect the moving of worship away from church buildings either wholly or in part.

The Archdeacons, Bishops Office, and, Registrar have produced a guidance note and application form to be completed when parishes are considering moving worship to a non-church building.

For a pre-application conversation or to apply for the necessary permissions, please contact your Archdeacon.

↓ Temporary closure of church buildings due to cold weather [PDF]

↓ Application for temporary closure of church building [MS Word]

Warm Hubs

If your parish is operating a Warm Hub in response to the energy crisis, you can register your hub at www.warmwelcome.uk to enable visitors to their website to locate local warm hubs.

Warm Welcome have also produced some helpful resources for churches planning to offer a warm hub.

↓ Warm welcome step-by-sep guide [PDF]

Good safeguarding practice requires those who work closely with children and/or adults experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect, to have an enhanced criminal record check.

The following people would require an enhanced DBS check:

- A worker or volunteer who teaches, trains, instructs, cares for or supervises children or provides advice/guidance on physical, emotional or educational well-being to children
- A worker or volunteer who provides training, teaching, instruction, assistance, advice or guidance to an adult who receives a health or social care service
- A worker of volunteer who carries out health care, personal care, social work, assisting with cash, bills or shopping, assistance with affairs or transportation for an adult
- PCC members and trustees where they sponsor or approve work with children/vulnerable adults.

All Clergy and Readers require an enhanced DBS check.

Those in self-help groups or family and friends arrangements are not eligible for an enhanced check.

This is a broad summary. For full details please refer to the Safeguarding e-manual Chapter on Safer Recruitment and People Management.   Make note of the toolkits which are provided within the document.

There are three types of check:

Basic – this checks for unspent criminal conviction information only
Enhanced – this checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings plus any additional information held by the police that's reasonably considered relevant to the role being applied for
Enhanced with barring list checks – this is like the enhanced check, but includes a check of the DBS barred child and/or adult lists.

The House of Bishops has decided that criminal record checks must be renewed every three years.

Should there ever be a delay in obtaining the criminal record check, the person is not approved by the Church to act and must stand down pending completion of the process.