Madelaine Goddard retired from Derby city deanery after over ten years as their lay chair. At the most recent meeting of the Deanery Synod (October 2025) Madelaine offered a typically grace—filled retirement speech.

Rev’d Sarah Watson, Area Dean of Derby city, thanked Madeline for her support and wisdom and presented her with flowers and a crowd-funded gift as a token of the deanery’s great appreciation.

Archdeacon Matthew Trick, Archdeacon of Derby and South Derbyshire, commented, “Madelaine Goddard has been a faithful servant of Christ, guiding Derby City deanery from the two city deaneries merging into the present deanery, and successive Area and Asst Deans. She has held the deanery as Lay Chair with care and prayerfulness, offering helpful wisdom and insight into discussions across diocesan life. We are truly grateful for Madelaine's long and faithful service”.  

Photo: Revd Mina Mumms presents Madelaine Goddard with a bouquet of flowers. 

In September, Bishop Malcolm visited Sinfin Moor church for a special tree planting service to help celebrate the installation of solar panels and their commitment to a sustainable future. 

The church paid for the panels with help from the Church of England's 'Give to Go Green' initiative. What began as a spark of vision in Lent 2022 has now blossomed into a vibrant eco-journey, with the whole congregation and wider community coming together to make it happen.

Revd Gael Browne, Assistant Curate at Sinfin Moor Church shares their experience:

Our story began in Lent 2022, when, as a church, we explored the book "Embracing Justice" by Revd Dr Isabelle Hamley. One session on climate justice particularly challenged us, and a retired member of clergy in our congregation, the Revd Eileen Bangay, felt deeply that she had heard from God regarding our call to creation care as a church.

With Melanie (steward) and Joshua (Church Warden) forming a small team alongside Revd Eileen, we took our first step by registering with A Rocha UK’s Eco Church scheme in early 2023.

Momentum quickly built, and by that summer, community groups such as the Guides and Rangers were joining us in eco-focused activities. In June 2023, we were delighted to receive the Silver Eco Church Award, as well as the Bronze retrospectively.

Spurred on by this momentum, our vision continued to grow. By August 2023, we began researching the possibility of installing solar panels. As we are an LEP (Local Ecumenical Partnership), we were able to approach our various denominational partners for support. In early 2025, we received confirmation of successful grant applications from the Methodist Church and the URC Church. This was a huge encouragement that our dream of using more sustainable energy could become a reality.

The real breakthrough came in May 2025, when we joined the Church of England’s 'Give to Go Green' scheme. With encouragement and visits from our Diocesan Parish Support Officers, we set out to raise £5,000 in just six weeks so that match-funding could be unlocked. Through coffee mornings, a beetle drive, a sponsored Bible reading, and a shared lunch, our congregation and community rallied together, and we reached our goal!

Wendy, a member of the congregation, says:

“I love the fact that Sinfin Moor Church has taken responsibility for installing Solar Panels to help reduce the greenhouse effect. It is a great witness to the surrounding community as to how much we care for Father God's creation.”

By August 2025, the solar panels and battery system were installed. In our very first week, we were already feeding energy back into the national grid; a visible sign of stewardship and sustainability in action. 

This has been a journey of faith, community, and determination. We wanted to respond to God’s distinct call to care for creation, and it has been amazing to see people inside and outside the church joining together to make this vision a reality.

As the psalmist reminds us: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). Installing solar panels is just one way of living out our calling to steward God’s world faithfully.

With lower bills, greener energy, and a renewed witness to our community, we pray that our journey will encourage other churches across the Diocese to explore the Eco Church path and seize the opportunities offered by initiatives like 'Give to Go Green'.

The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby today reflected on the announcement of The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury

“I am delighted that Bishop Sarah has been nominated as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. I have long valued her as a colleague, and I look forward to serving with her as she leads the Church of England and the Anglican Communion in the coming years. 

I am grateful for all the gifts and experience she brings from her work before ordination as Chief Nursing Officer, and the rich episcopal ministry she has offered in both the Diocese of Exeter and latterly serving with humility and courage the diverse communities that make up the Diocese of London. She will be a huge blessing to the wider Church and the nation as our next Archbishop.

This is a significant moment for the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Church; please join me in praying for Sarah and her family as she takes on the enormous challenges and responsibilities of archbishop ministry.”

His Majesty The King has approved the nomination of the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, Downing Street has announced.

Bishop Sarah will be the first woman to hold the office. 

She will be installed in a service at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026. Sarah Mullally has been the Bishop of London since 2018, the first woman appointed to that role, and before that was Bishop of Crediton in the Diocese of Exeter. Prior to her ordination in 2001, she was the Government’s Chief Nursing Officer for England – the youngest person ever to be appointed to that role at the age of 37 – having previously specialised as a cancer nurse. Bishop Sarah has described nursing as "an opportunity to reflect the love of God".

The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) for Canterbury nominated Bishop Sarah following a process of public consultation and prayerful discernment that began in February this year. The Canterbury CNC was made up of representatives from across the Church of England, global Anglican Communion and the Diocese of Canterbury. 

Bishop Sarah said: “As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager. 

“At every stage of that journey, through my nursing career and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen deeply – to people and to God’s gentle prompting – to seek to bring people together to find hope and healing.

“I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence in the Gospel, to speak of the love that we find in Jesus Christ and for it to shape our actions. 

“And I look forward to sharing this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion. 

“I know this is a huge responsibility but I approach it with a sense of peace and trust in God to carry me as He always has.” 

Lord Evans, Chair of the Crown Nominations Commission for Canterbury, said: “It has been a great privilege to have chaired the Crown Nominations Commission as it sought to discern who God is calling to lead the Church of England and Anglican Communion as Archbishop of Canterbury. 

“That discernment began with the public consultation, which heard the voices of thousands of people as they expressed their hopes for this nomination, and continued all the way through to the Commission’s final meeting. 

“I would like to thank all those who took part in this process, particularly those who took time to share their views in the consultation and the members of the Commission who worked so diligently over several months, ably assisted by the Appointments Secretaries and by the Appointments and Vocations team at Lambeth Palace. 

“I shall be praying for Bishop Sarah as she prepares to take up this new ministry in the coming months.”   

Bishop Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, said: “I welcome and commend the nomination of Bishop Sarah as the next Archbishop of Canterbury and invite the churches of the global Anglican Communion to pray for her as she prepares to take up this important ministry. 

“May God grant her wisdom and discernment, as she seeks to listen to Member churches, encourage mutual support, and foster unity. 

“The Anglican Communion Office is fully committed to supporting her ministry as she works with other Provinces and the Instruments of the Anglican Communion. 

“Let us pray that God will pour out His Spirit on the Anglican Communion to boldly share Christ's transformational love and the hope of the Gospel in today’s world.”

Read Bishop Libby's response here 

2 October

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Christopher (Chris) Neilson, interim Priest-in-Charge of the benefice of Whitfield, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed to the same benefice on a permanent basis. This took effect on 25th September, 2025.

The secondment arrangement with the Diocese of Leicester, whereby Carolyn Shoyer has been Director of Education for the Diocese of Derby, is concluding on 31st October 2025. Carolyn will return to her role as Director of Education in the Diocese of Leicester fulltime. We thank Carolyn for her leadership of Derby Diocesan Board of Education for the past 4 years. Liz Seymour, currently Deputy Director of Education, will become interim Acting Director of Education effective 1st November 2025.

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Venerable Matthew Trick, Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire and Residential Canon of Derby Cathedral, Diocese of Derby, has also been appointed Acting Archdeacon of East Derbyshire from 1st October 2025.

Our Growing Younger team recently met with Revd James Lee, Team Vicar in the North Wingfield Team about how his team are encouraging families with a new Sunday afternoon service.

Q: Hi James, can you tell us a bit about yourself? 

James: My name is Revd James Lee and since last September, I’ve been Team Vicar in the North Wingfield Team, which is a team of five churches just south of Chesterfield.

Q: What was your motivation for starting your new service? 

James: Of our five churches, four meet on Sunday mornings, but St Barnabas Danesmoor has been a small afternoon congregation for many years, meeting at 5pm. Soon after I started I had a strong sense that there was a brilliant opportunity here for a family-friendly afternoon service for the many families who access the St Barnabas Centre throughout the week. I found that others I spoke to felt the same – and the scale of opportunity was confirmed by seeing 92 people (including nearly 50 children) come to our Christingle service last December.

And so a small team of us began working to launching this new service, which we decided to move to 4pm (as a better time for families) and call ‘St Barnabas@4’.

Q: What does the service look like now? 

James: We launched St Barnabas@4 in February and it’s been a fun roller-coaster ride ever since. If you were to walk in on a Sunday, you’d find us sat round tables in a relaxed style, with paper for drawing/doodling covering each table, with pens, fidget toys and a craft available, as well a play area at the back.

But as you stay, you’ll find that we seek to incorporate many of the normal parts of a regular service – songs, confession, Bible reading, prayers and a short talk – but with a very clear communication that it is ok for children to make noise, run around and play. This has been the most frequent comment from parents – that they’ve been able to come and relax and enjoy it, because they’re not constantly stressing about the noise their child is/could make.

Q: How have you seen your ministry grow? What do you think was the catalyst for this? 

James: We were blown away by having 71 people there on our first week, though I was always aware that ‘regular numbers’ would likely fall off from that. We’ve settled into an average of around 40-45 people each week, about half of whom are children, which is great.

But more than just numbers, it’s been really exciting to see a sense of community and belonging begin to grow – we’ve recently seen our first baptism, with interest in thanksgiving services too. We’re looking to grow our team as well, encouraging people to consider how they might be able to get involved.

As to a catalyst for growth – I think the excellent connections developed over many years at the St Barnabas Centre have been a big part of it, as well as the importance of sharing food together at 5pm each week too! It’s been really encouraging to see people start to invite their own families and friends to come along too!

Q: What is your recent success? 

James: Aside from the blessing of having a baptism a few weeks ago, we’ve had some big highlights over recent months, particularly having a live donkey (and a horse) with us on Palm Sunday and having a big Easter Party with over 100 people coming along!

Q: How has this impacted your wider church community?

James: It’s been an encouragement within our Team of church to see so many children and young people coming along, with St Barnabas going from our smallest congregation to nearly the largest, and is helping us think through what more we can be doing to engage with children and young people across the team.

It’s also given us a closer connection point between the brilliant work of the team at the St Barnabas Centre, and all they do for the community, and St Barnabas Church.

Q: Do you have plans going forward for your current ministry, or anything new starting? 

James: My key watchword for St Barnabas@4 is ‘sustainable’ – it’d be very easy to come in, do a flashy new thing and then fizzle out after six months, but  we’re determined to build something stable and faithful to last for many years to come – still looking to make things good quality and staying fresh, without going in for gimmicks etc.

Our focus at present is building something to last, though we are always considering how to adapt and make things better. Our hope is, in time, to introduce a simple celebration of communion, and explore whether those who attend might be interested in a smaller bible study group. There’s lots of other possibilities too – the challenge is being patient to see what God is calling us into next!

Q: What has challenged you or your team, or continues to challenge you?

James: One of the challenges has been starting with a relatively small team, without a long lead-in time before we launched. But alongside that, it’s been encouraging to see people getting involved in helping out in lots of different ways too.

Also, building community takes time! Many of those who come along have little history of attending church and there are weeks where the number of people there fluctuates a lot, which is normal – I have to keep reminding myself not to judge things solely on numbers!

Q: How would you encourage churches who are thinking of starting out with a children’s or youth ministry? 

James: I would encourage all churches to have ‘Growing Younger’ as a key part of your discussions at PCC and as a church team – to think through what will best enable you to reach children and young people in your area.

Also, have courage to try things! We had no idea how things would go with St Barnabas@4, no idea if anyone would turn up, but we felt this was the opportunity God was leading us towards – so we went for it!

Q: We would love to pray for you, what specifics can we pray for? 

James: Please do pray for us as we continue to get established, for God to be at work to bring more people along, as well as building us into a loving, caring, welcoming community of people who are getting to know Jesus better together. 

Please pray as well for us to continue to find creative and engaging ways to help both adults and young people to be engaging with God’s Word, and to be able to build something that is sustainable for the long term.

25 September

The Revd Josephine (Jo) Harbidge, Assistant Curate of the benefice of Walton St John, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Academic and Formational Tutor at St Hild College. Jo's last day in post will be 31st October 2025. 

The Revd Katherine (Kate) Plant, Priest-in-Charge of the benefice of Breadsall and of the benefice of Morley with Smalley, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed part-time Associate Vicar of Bingley Holy Trinity with St Wilfrid's Gilstead, and St Michael and All Angels Cottingley, Diocese of Leeds.

18 September

The Revd Nicholas (Nick) Green, Vicar of the benefice of Walton St John, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of Christchurch Stockton, Diocese of Durham.

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the following clergy have taken on additional responsibilities in the diocese alongside their current roles, and were licensed on Sunday 7th September, as follows:

The Revd Katrina Jenkins: Assistant Curate (Associate Priest) in the benefices of Matlock Bank and Tansley, of Darley, South Darley and Winster, and of Matlock Bath and Cromford.

The Revd Stephen Monk: Assistant Curate (Associate Priest) in the benefices of Matlock, Dethick, Lea and Holloway and of Matlock Bank and Tansley.

The Revd Richard Reade: Assistant Curate (Associate Priest) in the benefices of Matlock, Dethick, Lea and Holloway, of Darley, South Darley and Winster, and of Matlock Bath and Cromford.

The Revd Catherine (Cathie) Watson, Assistant Curate in the Benefices of Allestree St Edmund and Darley Abbey, of Allestree St Nicholas and of Quarndon, Diocese of Derby, has announced her resignation as she moves to the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Cathie’s last day in post will be 24th September 2025.

Are you a highly organised, empathetic, and proactive professional looking for a role that blends administrative excellence with purpose-driven work? The Diocese of Derby is seeking a dedicated Personal Assistant and Archdeaconry Administrator to support the Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales.

Salary: £30,900 per annum depending on experience

Working hours: 35 hours per week (some remote working possible, as agreed with line manager. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required, for which time off in lieu (TOIL) would be agreed.

Duration: Permanent

Closing date: 12 noon, 16 October 2025

Interviews: 24 October 2025

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