The Kingdom of God is Good News for All

In 2027, the Diocese of Derby will celebrate 100 years since its formation.

This centenary provides an opportunity to give thanks for the past, celebrate the present, and look to the future with confidence and hope. Through the lens of "A Century of Faith, A Future of Hope", we will reflect on the people, places and stories that have shaped our diocese since 1927, while exploring what God is calling us to be in the years ahead.

The Centenary Programme is a year-long invitation for churches, schools, chaplaincies, worshipping communities, partner organisations and local communities across Derbyshire to take part in ways that are meaningful to their own context. We want every part of the diocesan family to help shape and tell this shared story.

Above all, the centenary sits under our diocesan vision that the Kingdom of God is Good News for All. While we will celebrate our history and heritage, this is about far more than marking an anniversary. It is an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ, celebrate God's faithfulness across generations, and renew our commitment to serving our communities with hope, love and purpose.

Meet the Centenary Programme Manager

Hello, I'm Ali Davies-Marsh, the Diocese of Derby's Centenary Programme Manager.

My role is to help coordinate and support the planning of our centenary celebrations, working alongside parishes, schools, Derby Cathedral, chaplaincies, diocesan teams and community partners across Derbyshire.

My hope is that the centenary will help us tell the story of God's faithfulness across the last hundred years while inspiring confidence for the future. We want to celebrate the rich diversity of church life across Derbyshire, create opportunities for people to connect with one another, and ensure that the message of Jesus remains at the heart of everything we do.

Whether you are part of a parish church, a church school, a fresh expression, a chaplaincy, a worshipping community or a local partner organisation, we want you to know that your story matters and has a place within the wider story of our diocese.

Our Plans

Planning for the centenary is well underway and we are working to create a programme that is both diocesan in scope and locally meaningful in delivery.

Current areas of work include:

• Supporting churches and schools to develop their own centenary activities and celebrations.
• Gathering and sharing stories from across the first 100 years of diocesan life.
• Working with Derby Cathedral and other partners on significant moments of celebration and reflection.
• Developing opportunities for service, community engagement and legacy projects.
• Creating ways for children and young people to play a central role in the celebrations.
• Building partnerships with civic, voluntary and community organisations across Derbyshire.

We want the centenary to be more than a collection of events. Our aim is that it strengthens relationships, encourages faith, celebrates service, tells the story of God's work in Derbyshire, and helps shape a hopeful future for the next generation.

Share Your Story or Idea

The Centenary Programme will be strongest when it reflects the breadth, diversity and creativity of the people and communities that make up the Diocese of Derby.

If you have an idea, a story, a project, a memory, a partnership opportunity, or simply a thought about how we might mark this special year, please do get in touch. Whoever you are, and whatever your context, we would love to hear from you. Whether you are part of a church, school, chaplaincy, community organisation or local neighbourhood, your ideas and experiences can help shape the Centenary Programme and ensure it reflects the life of the whole diocese.

Please contact Ali at ali.davies-marsh@derby.anglican.org . We are keen to hear from people across Derbyshire and to work together to make this a centenary that celebrates God's faithfulness, shares the good news of Jesus, and inspires hope for the future.

Get Involved

Over the coming months we will be sharing opportunities for churches, schools, individuals and organisations to become involved.

Whether you have a story to tell, an idea to share, a project to develop or simply a desire to take part, we would love to hear from you.

Together, as we celebrate A Century of Faith, A Future of Hope, we can give thanks for all that God has done, share the good news of Jesus Christ, and look forward with confidence to the next chapter in the life of the Diocese of Derby, knowing that the Kingdom of God is Good News for All.