This page is maintained by Gareth Greenwood
Church Admin
Do you have a small church project that could have a big impact?
Are you looking for a relatively small grant that requires no match funding?
If so, this could be just right for you; £5,000 to fund small but not insignificant capital projects that will generate outcomes which achieve and support mission, community or growth.
There are always good ideas on the boil to enhance welcome, improve accessibility, or perhaps to make small but much needed changes to internal areas. So now is the time to make a significant impact through a small change.
Details, including a full list of criteria and downloadable application form, are available below.
If you are successful, you will be expected to draw on the grant within 12 months.
Applications will be considered by Business Committee at their regular meetings.
2025 application deadlines
Weds, 17 Sept 2025 - signed application and supporting docs scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 9 October 2025
Weds, 5 Nov 2025 - signed application and supporting doc scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 27 November 2025
For any further information about applying for the Raymond Ross Large Grants email: gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org or call on 01332 338690 (Mondays/Tuesdays)
This fund offers parishes an exciting opportunity to develop their local church or hall premises, making them more community and mission shaped, and accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
Your project needs to meet outcomes which achieve and support mission, community or growth. A preference will be given to applications from parishes in deprived areas of the Diocese. The maximum grant available will be £25,000 and requires match funding. Parishes will be required to take up grants within two years of a successful application.
The fund is not available for maintenance or repair and cannot be applied for retrospectively.
To download the fund criteria and general information click here
To download an an application form click here
Applications will be assessed by the Business Committee at their regular meetings.
2025 deadlines:
Weds, 17 Sept 2025 - signed application and supporting docs scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 9 October 2025
Weds, 5 Nov 2025 - signed application and supporting docs scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 27 November 2025
For any further information about applying for the Raymond Ross Large Grants, email: gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org or call on 01332 338690
This fund is aimed at supporting local congregations to act with a generous faith, through engaging with and embracing the communities they seek to serve. The Diocesan Vision encourages us to be outward facing, rooted in and connected to our communities.
There is an expectation that parishes will work in partnership and create networks for the common good, with particular care for the marginalised and vulnerable. The projects this fund is seeking to support are those which see the church proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom in word and action. The church needs to be good news for all, and this means projects that look to include and/or partner with, other groups or individuals in the host community, demonstrating meaningful and open engagement with those who have had little or no contact with the congregation.
The Diocese wishes to particularly encourage churches to reach out to those who have not considered the church community as a group to which they can relate. Projects that build on the notion of tolerance, reconciliation and friendship will be of particular interest, as will projects that clearly demonstrate the key characteristic of outward-facing generosity, impacting the world for good.
You can apply for up to £2000 without match funding required. Further information, criteria and application forms can be downloaded here or requested from the Church Buildings Support Officer, Gareth Greenwood by email at gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
2025 application deadlines
Weds, 17 Sept 2025 - signed application and supporting docs scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 9 October 2025
Weds, 5 Nov 2025 - signed application and supporting docs scanned in and emailed to gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
Business Committee consider application on Thurs, 27 November 2025
For any further information about applying for the Building Community Fund, email: gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org or call on 01332338690
You can download the application form and criteria here
How your church can start taking card payments!
As fewer people carry cash, it’s becoming increasingly important for parishes to look at alternative ways to receive payments and donations.
There’s a new category on the Parish Buying website to help churches consider the different types of reader for contactless and chip and pin card payments.
Alongside small hand-held card readers (which cost as little as £19 each) there now are more sophisticated self-service donation units available for churches to buy.
To find out more visit www.parishbuying.org.uk/contactless
>> Churches that have trialled a digital collection box have reported a 97% increase in donations! Read more (from BBC News)
How can my Church start taking card payments? 
Watch this short video from the National Stewardship Team: https://vimeo.com/album/5118798/video/265190588
How do I download an app to use my card reader?
Watch this short video from the National Stewardship Team: https://vimeo.com/album/5118798/video/265198072
Why should I set up products?
Watch this short video from the National Stewardship Team: https://vimeo.com/album/5118798/video/265201230
How do I claim Gift Aid on a card donation?
Watch this short video from the National Stewardship Team: https://vimeo.com/album/5118798/video/264576213
>> See also: Parish Giving Scheme
In brief: what is a reader?
Licensed Lay Ministers, also known as Readers, play an important role in the public ministry of the Church by leading worship, teaching and preaching, as well as in a wide range of missional and pastoral contexts. As theologically trained lay people they offer a ministry within the church and to the wider community; and are well placed to encourage people in their everyday faith. The office of Reader in the Church of England is governed by canon law (Canons E4, 5 & 6).
The ministry of individual Readers varies according to their gifting and mission context. Whilst most Readers minister collaboratively as part of a team of lay and ordained ministers some work very much on the margins of society sharing God’s love and message of hope to those who may not yet know it.
READERS ARE:
- Called by God to a ministry of the Word
- Licensed by the Bishop to exercise a public and representative lay ministry in Church and the wider community
- Theologically trained and equipped as:
- teachers of the faith
- enablers of mission in the everyday
- leaders in church and community
Some Readers are also trained and authorised by the Bishop to offer funeral ministry, some are authorised to lead Communion by Extension services.
If you are unsure as to the cicumstances in which you can apply for an interest free loan under this scheme, or have any other questions about the terms, don't hesitate to contact the Head of Finance
EITHER download 'fill in by hand' application to fill out in your own hand, OR
download this 'form field' application, fill in on screen, save and print off, sign and date.
The completed applications must be with the Diocesan Secretary a full month before the Business Committee meeting
The Church of England nationally has negotiated some bulk buying deals to help parishes to cut costs in such areas as energy, photocopying, office supplies and computer software. For the latest details see the Parish Buying website.
