News and Events
On Saturday 3 May, 12 new people will be admitted to the office of Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) at a special service at Derby Cathedral.
Licensed Lay Ministers are volunteers who are called and theologically trained to teach, lead, and equip the church for mission. They are people from a variety of backgrounds, occupations, and contexts who have heard God's call. They work collaboratively with clergy as fellow ministers with complementary gifts and callings.
We asked each of them to tell us a little about themselves and their journey to ministry.
Patience Atkinson-Gregory
To be licensed to: xxxx
When I joined the discipleship course at the beginning of 2022, I was considering taking early retirement from my work in a family business. I felt the course would help me to further develop my own relationship with God and be a good opportunity to develop my theological knowledge.
Towards the end of the course, we were asked if we would like to transfer to the LLM (Readers) course. I found myself saying yes and feeling comfortable with the decision (which I think is always a good sign).
Throughout the course I have felt a calling to serve and feel particularly drawn to pastoral roles. I have a particular passion and desire to work with older people, supporting and encouraging them on their own spiritual journey.
Rachel Bond
To be licensed to: xxxx
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Meri Braziel
To be licensed to: xxxx
As a child I was raised as a Baptist in Texas and then baptised as a Presbyterian in Pittsburgh in my early twenties. Moving to London in the late nineties, I was fortunate to be introduced to the Church of England and the Alpha programme at Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB).
My family and I moved from London to Repton in 2013 and began attending St. Wystan’s. I started helping with Messy Church and then felt moved to start Youth Alpha. We have been running it for almost five years and it continues to thrive.
Two years ago, I felt called to do the lay reader training as I had wonderful role models in fellow lay readers, Ruth Attwood and Stephen Longden. Some of the highlights of my ministry thus far has been my involvement with the All Age Worship Services and Bible Study at St. Michael’s-Willington in our Benefice.
Linda Clark
To be licensed to: xxxx
During the Everyday Faith module, we looked at our faith journeys and asked ourselves the question, ‘Do I have a calling and can we have more than one calling during our lives?’
I reflected that my work in the NHS, caring for and rehabilitating the sick in both physical and mental health settings was very much part of my journey and was a calling to be Jesus’ hands and feet in our local community. I also reflected on what I was being called to do with my time now, as that role had come to an end.
I had been involved in children’s work and teaching in our parish for many years and in helping the team delivering All Age Worship and Café Style worship in our Church. As I retired, I was encouraged to become involved in a new Messy Church and to help in the Parish Little Church.
As I became more involved in church services and parish work, the course was an invaluable resource to enable me to explore my own faith more and to be equipped to share it more effectively with others. I have learned a great deal not only from the study but also from the people I have studied alongside. As a result of continuous reflection on my calling and advice, I transferred from the Certificate to the Lay Readership training.
Although my experience has been with older adults in work and with children within the church setting, I increasingly feel called to support families and the local community as a whole. It is not just about the child who attends Sunday Club or Toddler group, it’s also about the Grandparent who brings them along or the whole family who attend Messy Church. They should all experience and encounter God’s welcome. I am looking forward to seeing what God’s plan is for the future of our parish and how I can be part of that service.
Ann Cooper
To be licensed to: xxxxx
I have been connected to Holy Trinity Church for many years; it’s the church my parents attended, the one in which I was married and where my own children attended Sunday school and youth groups. I have played the organ there for almost 45 years, having started as a ‘temporary measure’ in 1980 (even as I write I can hardly believe it’s been that long!), and have been involved in children’s holiday clubs and family services over the years; 30 years’ experience as a primary school teacher certainly helped. Stepping out into ‘adult’ services is more daunting, however, but the vicar and congregation have given me great support and encouragement. I’m excited to be licensed as a lay minister, and look forward to serving the church and community in the parish. I’m sure that God has great things in store for us!
Karen Cowgill
To be licensed to: xxxxxxx
God’s time is not human time, and we should always trust that He has all things in hand!
This statement probably sums up the most important thing I have learnt during the LLM training process. I first felt called to be a Lay Reader eleven years ago but events conspired against me to prevent anything coming of it. I felt I was letting myself, my family and most importantly, God, down. My faith was not strong enough at that time to realise God had everything in hand. It took a pandemic and a change of Church for me to be in the right place to begin my learning journey.
Everything has worked out well, I am worshiping in a fabulous parish with a loving and supportive congregation, without whom I could never have completed the training. At times it has been tough and I have questioned my ability to finish. God and my friends at Mickleover Anglicans have encouraged me every step of the way and turned up to support me with every task and assignment. I have also had the privilege to train with a wonderful cohort of students. This is not the end of my journey but the beginning of a new chapter.
Helen Hodgson
To be licensed to: xxxxxxx
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Annette Lowe
To be licensed to: xxxxxxxx
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Anne Mann
To be licensed to: xxxxxxxx
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James Rollin
To be licensed to: xxxxx
I grew up in a Christian home and as such my Christian journey doesn’t feature a dramatic “road to Damascus” moment of conversion. Rather it has been one of spiritual learning & development over the years, since I first made a personal commitment to follow Jesus at the age of 11, at a Billy Graham ‘Mission England’ crusade in Sheffield, during summer 1985.
After graduating from university, I spent almost 20 years working in various communications roles within the railway industry, before a change in career circumstances led me to initially volunteer as Churchwarden and subsequently start working full-time for St Alkmund’s church Duffield in late 2019.
Over the past five years working for my church and the past two years undertaking the Lay Reader training, I have led and preached at Sunday services and supported a range of other ministries across the life of our church and benefice, as part of my journey of ministry discernment.
What I am most excited about for my ministry is the opportunity to faithfully preach and teach God’s Word, the Bible, to others and to share the ‘good news’; the great salvation hope of the Gospel. I am also excited about helping other Christians to develop and grow in their faith and discipleship, through sharing fellowship, praying and learning together from God’s word.
Aileen Warneford
To be licensed to: xxxxxx
I came from an evangelical background with a strong emphasis on knowledge of the Bible. When I was twelve years old, I read the whole Bible, word for word, all the way through. I would not recommend this to any Reader in Training today, but I have always had a love of Scripture and I enjoy sharing this with others, either in discussion, guided reflection, or preaching.
I was delighted to find myself on the Ministry Course and find out how the Word of God is put into action through the ministries offered in the Diocese. It was good to find a variety of lenses and the different ways in which outreach can happen.
I am excited about becoming a part of this, developing liturgical skills and practical application so that others will be aware of the love of God and the fullness of life he wants them to have. I see this as a small offering for all I have received myself.
Margaret Wilson
To be licensed to: xxxxx
My journey towards licencing feels as though it has taken a number of years to get going. But through the encouragement and prayers of friends I started the course, which has been amazing. I have learnt a lot about both God and myself and met some truly lovely people along the way.
Unlike a lot of people on the course, I have no particular ministry in mind at the moment, which is a little daunting, as God could take me anywhere. But also extremely excited to see where He is going to take me next as I start this new adventure with him.
Bishop Libby writes:
It was my profound privilege to have an audience with Pope Francis soon after I was consecrated Bishop in 2015.
He was generous with his time and gracious and humorous in his conversation (spending as time discussing football with me as expressing celebration and care for my ministry).
As was his practice, Pope Francis asked that I pray for him, and I have done so for the past 10 years.
As Archbishop Stephen has noted in his tribute, ‘Pope Francis whole life was centred on Jesus who comes among us not to be served but to serve … Francis showed us how to follow Jesus and encouraged us to go and do likewise’.
He was a holy and humble man. Although I am saddened by the news of his death and recognise the grief felt by millions of Roman Catholics across the world today, having celebrated Easter yesterday, he died in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection knowing the joy of the risen Christ. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Please join me in in prayer, giving thanks for his life and ministry:
Father in heaven, we praise your name for all who have finished this life loving and trusting you for the example of their lives, the life and grace you gave them and the peace in which they rest.
We praise you today for your servant Francis and for all that you did through him.
Meet us in our sadness and fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving,
for the sake of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant Francis.
Acknowledge, we pray, a sheep of your own fold,
a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.
Enfold him in the arms of your mercy,
In the blessed rest of everlasting peace and in the glorious company of the saints in light.
Amen.
Recently, many Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) came together with Bishop Libby at St Barnabas Centre in Danesmoor for a quiet day.
LLM(R)s play an important role in the public ministry of the Church by teaching the faith, enabling mission in the everyday, and leading in church and society.
They are key leaders in our churches, and work collaboratively with clergy colleagues across the diocese.
On Saturday, 3 May 2025, 12 LLM(R) candidates will be admitted to the Office of Reader 2.30pm in Derby Cathedral, after which they will take up their new ministry.
We’ll be sharing details on the LLM(R) candidates in the coming weeks.
The message of Holy Week and Easter is that God’s love for us in Jesus is Good News - the best news anyone could ever get. How are we doing at making this obvious to everyone, as it has become obvious to us?
One way we do it is simply to be present in each and every local community across Derbyshire. The way we are with our neighbours, the way we are as a church, and the way we are with each other, are all supposed to express the love of God in Christ – and very often they do! Where there is a community full of life and love and hospitality, people will experience ‘good news’ simply by walking through the door and being made welcome. Others will simply see the church tower, and be prompted to pray.
But how else do we share the wonders of the life in Christ we have been blessed with?
Another way is by making sure our churches are always places where people who are coming with questions about life and faith can find help in their search. Local churches either do it alone or they can team up to ensure there’s always something going on locally geared towards helping people make a start with Jesus. This can be one of the many courses available, or simply a fun evening in church or café or pub where any question is taken seriously, and where new disciples and others can explore the scriptures honestly, making the connections with everyday life.
I do enjoy my ministry a lot – but the best thing I get to do as a bishop is to do confirmations. Hearing the stories of people’s search for God – and sometimes of how God has surprised them without their previously having been interested – this is an extraordinary privilege. It encourages the whole church when they tell their story. I thank God for the many churches where an annual confirmation course has once again become routine -something we lost perhaps during Covid, but now have the opportunity to revive.
More and more we are hearing of newcomers, especially young people, just turning up at church wanting to see what goes on and to find out more. They don’t necessarily want to be smothered – but they are glad when there is clear information about what is going on and how they can engage if they want to.
It is worth thinking of also that most searching and enquiring today happens online. My guess is that some of those who are just randomly turning up at church have begun their search out there. There are a range of great online resources out there to help people become disciples of Jesus – for younger people #thewayuk on Instagram or Youtube or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/twuktv/ is a great place to start.
Or there is the Christian Enquiry Agency -
https://www.christianity.org.uk/site-map
And there is helpful material on the Church of England website too:
https://www.churchofengland.org/faith-life/what-we-believe
This April we keep company with Jesus on his road to Good Friday and to Easter while the guns of war still sound, and in a world where human failure and sin are all too evident. So many lives are broken and hurting. There are many and various factors at play: with ever deepening poverty and rising inequality, with the global rise in political extremism, and with today’s preference for social media silo talk rather than open, honest conversation. Meanwhile the climate emergency only gets more urgent. It would be easy to give in, and give up hope. We must not.
And yet, even in these perilous times, Sunday by Sunday, many are finding real hope in Jesus, the crucified and risen one. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are still good news to those who encounter him alive and present today. In Him there is a new creation – a whole new world.
Let’s find ways old and new to pass this on.
On 1 March 2025, Belper Town Football Club welcomed their new Chaplain Revd Rachel Burdett. Revd Rachel was joined by Bishop Libby who presented the man of the match.
It turns out that Bishop Libby and Revd Rachel were lucky mascots on the day as Belper Town FC won 2-0 v Garforth Town FC.
Photo L-R: Revd Rachel, Bishop Libby, Ian Woodward (BTFC Chairman) and Lee Attenborough (BTFC Manager)
Revd Rachel said: It was exciting to watch my first Nailers’ game, especially as they won! I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and adding my support to the team. It is an important part of life in Belper and it is an honour to be the new chaplain.
Ian said we welcome Revd Rachel as our new Chaplain. We look forward to working with her as she continues to build on the existing relationship with Christ Church Belper and we look forward to welcoming her to support “The Nailers!”.
Photo Credit to Tim Harrison (BTFC)
In 2023, £12,428 was raised by generous giving towards the annual Bishop of Derby’s harvest Appeal to raise money for “trees for life” in Burundi.
The Bujumbura Anglican Diocese have recently reported on the progress of the ‘Trees for Life’ project. The project is to reduce soil erosion and its consequences on the hills of Gisovu, Nyamaboko, Buhina and Kabumba, near to Bujumbura city.
These communities have been exposed to risk of landslide for years, accentuated by steep slopes and the low level of economic development of the area's rural households.
Initially 44 people attended a workshop and received techniques for capacity-building in environmental protection techniques, with a demonstration of contour tracing and protection using agroforestry and fixation grasses.
Beneficiaries were provided with agroforestry seeds and level curve tracing equipment.
They were also made aware of the use of degradable bags.
They received support for 64,840 degradable bags, 64,840 seedlings being produced at 4 nursery sites, eucalyptus, grevilleas and calliandra.
The plan from the outset has been to empower 16 economic clusters for climate resilience which include 240 beneficiaries, with management committees in place, under the care of 4 local supervisors.
The project will continue capacity-building activities for beneficiaries in land management, the production of seedlings up to the planting, and local supervision of beneficiaries to ensure that the knowledge acquired is put into practice in the longer term.
Bishop Malcolm said “It’s wonderful to hear the difference the Bishop of Derby’s 2023 campaign - ‘Trees for Life Burundi’ is making already.
Obviously with an environmental project the main benefit will be long term, but a recent report shows how the work is empowering women and young people raising incomes and prospects for future development.
Seeing the pictures of seedlings ready to go out reminds me how much there is to do in the garden – but this is hugely encouraging news from a country where, for most people, daily life is a struggle”.
The Revd Bernard Rwamigabo, the project manager at The Diocese of Bujumbura said “God bless the entire Derby Diocese for supporting Bujumbura Anglican Diocese”.
Whether you are new to the role or have been serving for some time, the church warden training events aim to provide you with important tools, strategies, and support for you in your role.
It will also be a wonderful chance to connect with other church wardens, discuss challenges, and learn from one another.
Training dates
Saturday, 8 March 2025, 9.30am - 1.00pm, St Alkmunds Church, 40 Kedleston Road, Darley Abbey, Derby DE22 1GU
Saturday, 5 July 2025, 9:30am – 1:00pm, St Thomas, Chesterfield
Saturday, 27 September 2025, 9:30am – 1:00pm, St Barnabas Centre, Danesmoor
Saturday, 8 November 2025, 9:00am – 10:00am on Zoom, Question and Answer session with the Archdeacons.
Please click on the link below to book your place on the next event.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/churchwardens-morning-tickets-1152516851929?aff=oddtdtcreator
Date: Saturday, 8 March 2025
Time: 9.30 – 1pm
Location: St Alkmunds Church, 40 Kedleston Road, Darley Abbey, Derby DE22 1GU
The plan for the day will be as follows:
0930: Arrival and refreshments
1000: Event starts (Opening worship)
1020: Keynote
1045: Workshop 1
1130: Coffee / Tea break
1145: Workshop 2
1230: Plenary/Q&A
1300: Finish
There will be a choice of workshops and this time they will cover these topics:
- Leading worship & intercessions in an emergency
- Buildings for Mission & Environment
- Wellbeing
- ‘Help! I’m the only one!’
Two weeks before the event a sign-up form for the workshops will be sent out, so you can choose which workshops you would like to attend.
Please ensure you have booked in good time to make sure you receive this email.
If you have any queries, please contact:
Derby City and South Derbyshire Archdeaconry - sue.hidderley-burton@derby.anglican.org
Derbyshire Peak and Dales Archdeaconry - emily.redmond@derby.anglican.org
South Derbyshire Archdeaconry - claire.collishaw@derby.anglican.org
This Lent we are encouraged to put down deep roots of hope by connecting with God who is with us at all times.
The Church of England’s Lent theme for 2025 is Living Hope.
In Lent we journey with Jesus on the difficult and thorny road that leads all the way to the cross on Good Friday – and beyond, to the transformation of Easter Day.
God invites us to bring to him our own journey through everyday life. In the disappointment of daily setbacks and the pain of deeper hurts, we discover that God is present with us. And God promises a future where all things are healed and made new.
Living Hope offers us the opportunity to deepen our hope in God and be part of what God is doing to bring hope in the world.
Alongside a printed reflection booklet, the everyday faith app and daily emails there are a range of new resources available for churches, schools, families and individuals available from churchofengland.org and logo and branding items for the resource hub on achurchnearyou.com
A special webinar hosted by the national team will be held on 5 February please click here to register.
A team of volunteers has been packing and delivering special Christmas food packages to families and individuals in need in and around Derby.
The volunteers, including a team from Rolls-Royce, gathered at St Peter’s in the City, Derby, to help pack hampers for Christmas Lunch on Jesus – a project that provides low-income families and individuals with a Christmas meal.
The volunteers packed 300 hampers which will feed around 1,200 people.
The hampers contained everything needed for an enjoyable Christmas lunch, along with a candle and card from the team.
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See pictures from the event here [Flickr]
Volunteers started preparing early in the day, setting out tables containing the various elements of the meal and packing portions of fresh vegetables to go in the hampers.
Then volunteers went around the tables with bags, filling them with the ingredients for tailor-made Christmas dinners for each recipient.
Once the bags were packed, yet another stream of volunteers distributed the hampers to people in Derby and surrounding areas who were nominated by Social Services, GPs, housing associations, women’s refuges, charities and other organisations.
The project costs in the region of £15,000 each year and is financed through donations from businesses, churches, local trusts and individual giving.
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 some of the Christmas social media posts that have caught our eye - and don't forget you can find your local church services and events here.
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Christine McMullen, the Diocese of Derby's former chair of the House of Laity, has been awarded The Canterbury Cross in this year’s Lambeth Awards, in recognition of her exceptional service to both the Diocese of Derby and the Church of England for over 40 years.
The Bishop of Derby, The Rt Revd Libby Lane said: “Christine has been an extraordinary servant of Christ and His church.
"I am delighted her contribution over so many decades and in so many spheres has been recognised and celebrated in this way.
"Her faith and sense of duty have sustained and equipped her to serve at a local, diocesan and national level.
"In the Diocese of Derby, she has been an advocate and champion of lay voice and ministry especially in rural contexts. For 40 years, she has held licence and now has permission to exercise ministry as Reader, for two decades she served as Chair of the House of Laity for Diocesan Synod and is a member of the Bishop’s Council. For many years she held the roles of Deanery Lay Chair, School Governor and Business Committee member. She has also sat on the Vacancy-in-See Committee and acted as Warden of Readers.
"Christine has been Diocesan President of the Mothers' Union, National Vice Chair for the MU and member of the Central Council at Mary Sumner House, London. Christine was the manager of Salcare before, in 1994, she became lecturer and then Vice Principal at the Northern Ordination College, where she taught Pastoral Studies, Human Relationship, Ethics and New Testament Greek. Christine was subsequently on the Governing Council of Trinity Theological College Bristol.
"Whilst a member of the General Synod Christine was a member of many committees and working parties, including at Ministry Division considering Clergy Stipends and working conditions. She was a member of the working party on The Family which produced its report in 1995. She was the founder member of WATCH which campaigned for the ordination of women first as clergy, then the Episcopate.
"We are deeply grateful to Christine for the generous ways she has used her gifts and experience for God. We congratulate her on being awarded the Canterbury cross.”
On receiving the award Christine said: “I was not very excited when I read the email offering me the Canterbury Cross. I thought it was just a hoax!
"I decided I had better check so I phoned Bishop Libby to ask her if it were genuine, and when the Bishop stopped laughing, she reassured me it was true and I had better send a reply!
"This was a few weeks ago and the hardest thing has been not able to share the news!
"What I have done with my life is based on the support of my friends and what my family taught me - to trust God, to be kind, to look into people’s eyes when talking to them and to listen carefully to what they are saying ( and not saying) without making judgements.
"There was a lot of noise round our family table, my mother was a great giggler, and my father was quieter but had a canny eye for the idiosyncrasies of people in everyday life and had a great gift for doing things in his own way, and my children were unbelievably honest. I owe a lot to them.”
Congratulations to Christine on this amazing achievement!
Archdeacon Nicky preached at the Safeguarding Sunday service at Ashbourne on Sunday 18 November 2024
As we gather here today on this Safeguarding Sunday, our hearts and minds can’t help but be troubled and heavy in the light of the findings of the Makin Report. We are shocked and disturbed by the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth. We are ashamed of the institutional failures of the Church of England and many of its senior clergy.
As Archbishop Justin has resigned and prepares to step down, we can’t help but wonder what comes next? How will we continue to learn from the mistakes of the past? What might the future of the Church look like?
The prophet Jeremiah tells us that God’s plan is always to give us a future and a hope. The two Bible readings we’ve read today help us to think about what that future and that hope might look like and how we might contribute to bringing God’s plans and purposes to fruition.
God’s desire is that all people might know his love and come to live within his kingdom. The kingdom of God which is good news for all. The way into that kingdom is open for all who will enter by putting their faith and trust in Jesus, the one who died that we might have life.
In our liturgy, we sometimes talk about Jesus’ death as opening his arms for us upon the cross – a gesture of welcome, invitation and drawing us in. When you watch a priest presiding at the eucharist, the sleeves of our vestments look very much like wings. That is imagery which the psalmist picks up in our first reading today, Psalm 91:1-4.
God offers us the opportunity to live within his kingdom, to find shelter under his protection. To lean upon his strength, and rest in the shadow of his wings, to be truly and deeply safe and secure. God’s kingdom sets us free from anything that would enslave us as God’s perfect love casts out our fear and helps us grow into wholeness and fullness of life. God’s desire for us is that we will flourish and thrive and become the people we were created to be.
Our Diocesan Vision is nothing less than a vision of the kingdom of God. In our different roles and responsibilities, we are seeking to be good news for all the people God sends our way. In all our churches across the diocese, we are creating safe spaces where people can flourish and thrive and live out their God-given calling. Knowing that we are loved beyond measure by God in Christ, we are learning to love without measure or restraint.
As we reflect on the faithfulness of God and remember with gratitude all he has done for us, our love for him grows, our relationship with him deepens and that love overflows into service of our local contexts. And when we see things around us that are not how God wants them to be we try and find a way to speak out and challenge injustice. And as we do that, other people are impacted and affected and we pray that as they encounter Christ in us and between us and through us, that they too will become disciples and their lives are transformed by Christ.
Today as we gather, it is good to remember that the work we do in safeguarding is absolutely central to all we are and do and to helping our churches reflect the life, values and vision of God’s kingdom.
Thank you for the part that you are playing. It is good that our amazing safeguarding team are here today and we thank God for the faithful and diligent way in which they serve us. But, as we all know, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility- though without some really committed volunteers who are willing to devote their time, energy and focus their ministry around this area, our churches would be less safe and people would be at risk.
The work that our churches are doing in safeguarding is often unseen and unnoticed. No-one knows how much time is spent updating Parish dashboards. No-one (other than our trainer Nick Harding) sees the thousands of individuals sitting on their laptops completing their training. No-one is there in the middle of the night when you can’t get to sleep because something traumatic has occurred and you’ve been part of the Case Management Meeting trying to find ways of moving forward.
But God sees all those things. His arms of love surround and enfold you, his wings are spread over you giving you protection and shade. His strength helps you to stand and be strong. He catches your tears in a bottle and treasures it for ever. So you are never on your own – God is always with you and has promised to never leave or forsake you. His grace is sufficient, his power is perfected in weakness and his mercies are new every morning for great is his faithfulness. And can I encourage you to allow our Safeguarding team to help and support you too for that is what they are there for. And as well as that professional help and support, can I encourage you to offer peer support to one another through the PSO network and make the most of the resources available to you.
Part of being human is accepting that no-one is perfect, we are all fallen, we all make mistakes, we all need help and we all need God’s forgiveness. As we remember with gratitude all who work within our churches supporting the work of Safeguarding, we pray for the ways in which we as individuals, and our Church as an institution, has failed in our duty to protect people. And failed in our calling to love as we have been loved and provide a safe place for all to thrive. We need to learn from those failures and do everything in our power to move forward in the way God wants us to be.
For those who have been the cause of pain, we pray that the love of God will show them the error of their ways and grant them the grace to repent and change, and opportunities to atone and make amends, where that is appropriate and possible. And for all perpetrators we ask that God will convict them of their sin and change their hearts.
And as we close, I invite you to hold before God all survivors and especially those who have suffered as a result of the failings of our Church. Each one is a unique individual made in God’s image, known and loved by God, infinitely precious and treasured by him. Let us commit ourselves to praying for them, for their healing and protection and that they might encounter the love of God and find safety in the shadow of his wings.
A statement from the Right Reverend Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, following the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby:
The victims and survivors of abuse will have suffered unimaginable distress at the findings of the Makin Report, and I want to convey my thanks for their bravery in telling their stories.
I also commend Archbishop Justin for his honourable decision to take both personal and institutional responsibility for the failings described in the report.
The Church of England has made a commitment to safeguarding, to creating a safer Church, and to learning from the Makin Report - and the Diocese of Derby and I echo those commitments wholeheartedly.
We will continue to put victims and survivors of abuse first and to prioritise their care.
We will continue to work together with survivors to build a safer Church in which they, and anyone who has suffered as a result of their relationship with the Church of England, receive the support they need and deserve.
It must also be a church where, collectively, we promote a culture in which victims are heard and responded to well, and children and other vulnerable people can know that they are protected and safe. That is the responsibility of us all.
Please pray for all those who have been harmed, for Archbishop Justin and for the wider Church that it may truly become a place of welcome, compassion and safety.
>> Read Justin Welby's resignation statement in full
>> A sermon for Safeguarding Sunday (Archdeacon Matthew Trick)
>> A sermon for Safeguarding Sunday (Archdeaon Nicky Fenton)
The Diocese of Derby has a new gold Eco Church, and new silver and bronze awards were awarded to a number of parishes over the summer months.
St Peter's Church in Belper is the second recipient of the gold award in the diocese.
Achieving gold means that creation care is embedded in the life of a church for the long term.
To achieve this, churches must reach a gold level across all five categories of the Eco Church survey (worship and teaching, buildings, land, community and global engagement, and lifestyle) and showcase their activities by presenting supporting evidence.
A spokesperson from A Rocha, the Eco Church scheme organisers, said: "Well done to everyone who has worked so hard to reach this milestone.
"Thank you for becoming a beacon for saving nature, for joining A Rocha UK’s Eco Church movement and for answering the missional call for creation.
"And thank you on behalf of the insects that are now buzzing, the birds that are singing, and the plants that are springing into life."
Silver Eco Church awards have been made to:
And bronze has been awarded to:
- Newbold St John the Evangelist
- North Wingfield St Lawrence
- Chesterfield Ss Augustine
- Etwall St Helen
- Old Brampton St Peter and St Paul
- Dinting Vale Holy Trinity
- Sutton on the Hill St Michael
- Derby St Peter (St Peter's in the City)
The Diocese of Derby has also been awarded bronze Eco Diocese status and provides a framework to support parishes in taking practical action to care for God’s earth.
On hearing of the awards, Bishop Libby said: "It is heartwarming and incredibly encouraging that more and more churches in the Diocese of Derby are demonstrating their commitment to caring for God's creation and inspiring others to follow their lead.
"All these individual actions, be they small or large, collectively make a positive difference to the local environment and, ultimately, to the planet."
Churches in the Diocese of Derby that have tried contactless giving have hailed the devices a success.
Contactless giving has become an important tool for encouraging generosity within parishes and, to help parishes understand the advantages, the Church of England’s National Giving Team distributed 50 free contactless devices to parishes in the Diocese of Derby, thereby facilitating easier giving in an increasingly cashless society.
The devices - essentially simple card readers - allow visitors and congregation members to make donations effortlessly during services, weddings, christenings, and even quiet moments of reflection in the church.
This is particularly relevant as fewer people these days are carrying cash.
One church to try contactless giving is Horsley St Clements, which installed a card reader in August 2024.
The church reported that income soon increased considerably and that more than £300.00 was donated in September - money that the church says would not have been received without the device.
Many churches in the UK are adopting cashless methods to encourage spontaneous donations, especially from visitors or infrequent attendees who are inclined to give but want to pay digitally.
This has led to the launch of a Try-Before-You-Buy scheme, whereby a church can use a contactless donation device to assess how it may work in its own church context without the risk of capital outlay.
Making it easy for people to give
Steve Johnson, the Diocese of Derby's Living Generously Adviser, has been a key figure in this initiative.
He said: "What we have to do is lower barriers to participation and engagement in church life, making the church more accessible and appealing to the broader community.
"The Diocese of Derby has embraced this as part of efforts to make giving easier, more convenient, and aligned with today's digital habits."
St Bartholomew’s Church, Hognaston, used the Try-Before-You-Buy option.
Treasurer Kay Wright said: "Our village church installed a contactless giving station in June this year.
"Within the first three months we collected £280.
"Whilst a portion of this may have been cash in the collection plate, it has made it so much easier for our congregation and visitors too!"
And Revd Sarah Watson, Derby City's area dean and priest-in-charge in Allestree, Quarndon and Darley Abbey, said: "Steve has been a tremendous support to our parishes giving his time & expertise which has really helped.
"The CollecTin trial led to us purchasing one. Increasingly people give and spend by phone or contactless card which can be (but not exclusively) generational and younger visitors have especially commented favourably."
The benefits of contactless giving are that congregations and visitors can give easily, without needing to carry cash, and that they can give quickly via card or mobile.
This in turn makes it easier for both the church and donors to keep track of the funds and churches are reporting higher donation amounts.
And St Werb's in Derby has reported that the advantages have gone beyond occasional giving.
Alex Dann, the Operations Manager there, said: "We now have a contactless donation point by way of a grant, QR codes linking with Give A Little and the majority of our regular givers using the Parish Giving Scheme, which has resulted in regular automatic gift aid payments boosting our cash flow."
Many contactless systems allow donors to add Gift Aid to their donations, meaning churches can reclaim an additional 25% on eligible donations. This provides a significant boost to the funds raised, especially during a period like Christmas when giving increases.
Steve Johnson said: "Churches that have adopted these devices have praised their ease of use and the financial benefits they bring, helping ensure their sustainability in the future.
"Contactless donations continue to increase month by month, with September 2024 being the highest month so far and they will surely rise further at the end of the year."
And so as we approach Advent and Christmas 2024, a season of generosity and reflection, our churches find themselves at the intersection of tradition and modernity. While the heart of Christmas remains unchanged, the way people give has evolved, with contactless giving becoming a vital tool for churches.
In 2024, contactless giving is more than a modern convenience—it’s a critical tool for Diocese of Derby churches during Advent and Christmas.
It ensures that the spirit of generosity is met with accessibility, helps churches adapt to changing financial habits, and supports their ongoing missions.
By embracing these technologies, churches can focus on what truly matters: spreading the message of hope, love, and compassion during this sacred season.
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 some of the social media stories that have caught our eye recently:
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