The Venerable Emma Sykes has been formally welcomed, collated and installed as Archdeacon of East Derbyshire this week, at a special Evensong service at Derby Cathedral.

Emma shares a little about her story up until this point. She writes…

“I have lived in Birmingham for nearly 30 years and began my working life in the charity
sector working with young people facing homelessness and other challenging issues. From there I became a youth minister for a short time at St Michael's Church in Boldmere which became a significant part of discerning a call to ordained ministry.

“I trained a t St John's College, Nottingham and in 2008, was ordained at Birmingham Cathedral. I served my curacy at St Martin in the Bull Ring and became Associate Rector there three years later. In 2014, I took a break from full-time ministry and took a 'portfolio' approach, taking on a variety of different roles as a self-supporting minister including being an assistant DDO and a BAP advisor.

“I also worked part time for CPAS as a Leadership Specialist with a focus on young vocations and facilitating training for Curates and Incumbents. In May 2020, I followed God's call back to full-time parish ministry, as Vicar of St Barnabas Erdington and Oversight Minister for the Erdington Area and became a member of General Synod in June 2024.

“I am married to Andrew (also known as Mac) and have two adult sons. In my spare time I enjoy running, walking and being on adventures with Mac in our campervan. I am delighted to be joining the Diocese of Derby and especially getting to know the people and churches in the East Derbyshire Archdeaconry as we share together the Kingdom of God being good news for all.”