TWO COMMUNITIES, PRAYERFULLY AWAITING THE MINISTRY OF
A NEW PARISH PRIEST
ST LUKE’S CHURCH
AND
ST BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH
DERBY
PARISH PROFILES
See of Ebbsfleet
JANUARY2015
OUR NEXT PRIEST
Our parishes urgently need the ministry of a resident priest and this is what we
are praying for…
We would warmly welcome as our next incumbent a committed AngloCatholic priest with the pastoral experience, energy and readiness to teach
the faith, deepen our sacramental life, and lead and equip us for more
outward-looking expressions of our life together.
He will have the pastoral openness and skill to communicate effectively,
especially in the priority areas of relations with our schools, and with the
spiritual needs of younger families.
We want to be a flourishing part of the church in Derby, and so we also need
our next priest to be strongly committed both to The Society and Forward in
Faith, and also to the Church of England and the Principles that underlie the
recent House of Bishops Declaration. He needs to be prepared to work to
strengthen local collaboration between the churches.
This is an opportunity for a priest seeking a new challenge. Parishes like ours
in vacancy for two and seven years respectively need the kind of focused
spiritual leadership which only an experienced priest can provide.
The incoming priest can expect complete support as well as a warm welcome
from both PCCs.
INTRODUCTION
The parishes of St. Luke & St. Bartholomew are located within the city of Derby and are members
of MMA (Mission and Ministry Area) 37. Both churches are members of Forward in Faith, have taken
resolutions A, B and C and are under the Episcopal and Sacramental care of the Bishop of Ebbsfleet.
St. Luke’s is in Derby North Deanery. St. Bartholomew’s is in the Deanery of Derby South. In recent
years St. Luke’s and St. Bartholomew’s have shared Holy Week and Easter services, and supported
each other’s Patronal Festivals. Services are in the modern Anglo Catholic tradition and the Blessed
Sacrament is reserved. Vestments are worn and incense used at all Sung Masses. It is intended
that St. Luke's and St. Bartholemews’ will be linked together under one Priest who will live in St.
Luke's Vicarage.
CITY OF DERBY
Derby is a city in the East Midlands region of England lying on the banks of the River Derwent, in
the south of the county of Derbyshire and the beautiful Peak District. With a good industrial base
including Rolls-Royce, Bombardier and Toyota, it has a population of approximately 248,700
consisting of many ethnic groups and different Faiths, and has good road and rail links with the rest
of the country. Birmingham England’s second city, is on a direct train line with frequent services.
Nottingham and Leicester are even closer. The city centre has a large shopping complex called intu
which together with an indoor market and other independent retailers gives a good choice of
shopping. The new Derby Arena with its Olympic standard velodrome and multi-purpose areas,
Derby Theatre, and Guildhall as well as three multi-screen cinemas and the Quad centre offer a
wide range of entertainment. The city also boasts a fine university attracting students from many
countries, some superb parks and a new Royal Derby Hospital. The nearby Peak District offers
beautiful countryside for walking, climbing, caving and relaxing with a number of notable National
Trust properties (Calke Abbey, Kedleston Hall and Hardwick Hall) and private stately homes
(Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall) to visit. Derby is an exciting city with all the amenities of a
larger city where there is plenty to do.
SPOTLIGHTS ON LIFE IN OUR PARISHES
To help you to get to know more information about the community life in south Derby that is served
by our two parishes you may like to browse the following ‘Spotlight’ profiles.
Spotlight brings together a range of information about individual parishes, in terms of their
congregations but also in terms of the whole community living in them. Alongside statistics such as
church attendance and giving, it covers such areas as Christian affiliation, population age and
ethnicity profiles, household structures, deprivation, employment, schools and qualifications.
The profiles can be found on the diocesan website at:
http://www.derby.anglican.org/en/resources/derby-north/derby,-st-luke.html
http://www.derby.anglican.org/en/resources/derby-south/derby-st-bartholomew.html
ST. LUKE’S PROFILE
THE PAST
The Parish of St. Luke is in the California district of Derby. The fine Gothic revival Church of St.
Luke (Grade 2*) was consecrated on St. John the Baptists Day 24th June 1871. From its beginnings
there was an adherence to the principles of the Oxford Movement and the Catholic revival in the
Church of England. The working class population of the parish grew rapidly, at its heart the Church,
surrounded by back to back terrace properties on Stockbrook and Parliament Streets. All that
changed in the 1970's when the town Council moved to re-develop the area. The old housing was
torn down and replaced with modern units and the displaced people did not return. Other church
buildings adjacent to the Church itself were also pulled down. This had consequences for the
effectiveness of the worshipping community to minister to a population in excess of 9,000 people.
More recently most of the remaining mills have been replaced by private flats and student
accommodation.
ST. LUKE'S PARISH
St. Luke's Church boundaries lie close to the city centre and within the ring road. The new Derby
Royal Hospital lies just outside the parish boundaries, and the University is about 2miles away.
Bishop Lonsdale School is a Church Aided Nursery and Primary School, with which St. Luke’s has
strong links. The previous Parish Priest was invited into the two other Primary Schools in the Parish
and their Harvest and Christmas Services were at St. Luke’s. There is also a Secondary School.
The population of the Parish continues to grow, with old mills being replaced by blocks of flats.
Other housing includes student lets, owner occupied properties and sheltered housing for the
elderly. The Church Electoral roll is 71 of which 38 are non resident. The average of the usual
Sunday Communicants last year was 47 with 7 children (and this number accurately represented
the numbers attending on a Sunday,) although during the interregnum the numbers have fallen.
Whilst the average age of the congregation is in the region of 60 years, it is heartening to know that
we have a strong and growing core of younger worshippers. We have the reputation for being a
friendly church and long may that continue. The PCC reflects a good age mix. St. Luke's has the
heaviest ring of 8 bells in the Diocese with a practice night each week and the bells rung on Sundays.
Parish Boundary
PASTORAL
There has been a steady stream of confirmation candidates in recent years, and there are Bible
Study and other group meetings for the purpose of deepening our faith and empowering us for
Mission. There have been strong ecumenical links through the Churches Together in Stockbrook.
which need to be reinstated. Led by our former Reader and visiting facilitators we hosted a
successful 'Fan the Flame' mission week. This was supported by other Anglican churches and by
Roman Catholic, Methodist and Baptist churches nearby. In Bishop Lonsdale school we have the
blessing of a Church Aided Nursery and Primary Aided School. The previous incumbent visited
regularly to take assemblies in his capacity as ex officio foundation Governor. The children visit
the church building for worship and for the purposes of topic work. The PCC have two active
members as school governors. The previous incumbent was also invited into two other primary
schools in the Parish, and we hosted their Harvest and Christmas Services. Bemrose Secondary
School is also in the Parish. Shoots of growth are to be seen in a small, but vibrant Mother's Union
branch who sponsor baptisms. The Baptism preparation during the interregnum has been
undertaken by members of the Mothers Union. Important pastoral care is offered to the bereaved
through the Dove group by church members, all of whom have been trained by an accredited
bereavement counsellor and an annual service for the bereaved is held on Remembrance Sunday.
We also have Mr Alan Winfield appointed as our reader.
WORSHIP
Sunday morning worship at St. Luke's is Eucharistic and in the Catholic tradition, with flexibility and
variety on the first Sunday of the month. Evening worship takes place most Sundays. During the
interregnum evening prayer is led by a retired priest or a core group of laity. Mass was said daily
apart from Thursdays, alternating between morning or evening, but during the interregnum we are
only able to have one weekday Mass. Stations of the cross are also regularly visited. We have a
Cell of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham which usually meets monthly and St. Luke's
hosts the annual Walsingham Festival. The liturgy is supported by a faithful band of servers, both
adult and children. St. Luke's has a fine Abbott Organ and the first stage of its restoration starts in
January 2015. We have a small choir led by a versatile choir mistress who plays the piano for some
services. We had 1 wedding, 9 funerals and 4 baptisms in 2014 and an average of 38 communicants
at Sunday mass.
FINANCE, BUILDINGS
We have also been able to raise funds towards the provision of a new heating system, repairing the
church roof, restoration of the fine Rose window, refurbishing the Crypt Chapel, and re-hanging the
bells. We have just installed 3 new toilets in the Narthex and refurbished the one in the crypt. This
has been done along with many other minor improvements to the fabric and church surrounds.
THE VICARAGE
The Vicarage, a couple of minutes walk from the church, was built in the 1970s and has the usual
study entrance hall and toilet before an inner door connects to the rest of the house consisting of
sitting room, dining room, kitchen and utility, 4 good sized bedrooms and a bathroom. The house
has a garage with a small amount of parking and a small garden. It is on a good bus route between
the City Centre and the Hospital. During the interregnum the vicarage garden has been maintained.
SOCIAL
Regular social and fund raising activities are organised by a social committee. These include
regular coffee mornings, Christmas Fayre, various concerts, meals, auctions etc. If possible the
West End of the church, which has been adapted for social occasions is used, or an adjacent hall
is hired. The events are well advertised and seek to bring in new people from the area.
ST BARTHOLOMEW’S PROFILE
The parish of St. Bartholomew Osmaston is a largely residential
area in the city of Derby which includes Osmaston and parts of
Allenton in the south east of the city, with a reasonably static
population of 8,250 people. The church was built in 1926 on land
given by Mrs Walter Evans to serve a growing area of the city, and
was extended in 1966 to give a new Chancel, Lady Chapel and
Vestries. It is in the Deanery of Derby South, has taken resolutions
A, B and C, is a member of Forward in Faith and is under the
Episcopal and Sacramental care of the Bishop of Ebbsfleet. It is
the only church of this integrity in the Deanery. There are no other
churches of mainstream denominations within the parish. The
Bishop of Derby is the Patron.
The Parish Boundary
St Bartholomew’s Church
The parish comprises roughly fifty streets of mainly Housing Association properties. There is one
local nursing home, a fire station, police station, a primary school (immediately opposite the church
gates), a large park with nearby swimming pool and sports track, two community centres and some
industry (notably Rolls-Royce and Bombardier). A large number of the population are unemployed
and the area has a low ethnic mix being predominantly white working class.
PARISH WORSHIP
Sunday school Children
Parish Mass
Sunday morning worship at St. Bartholomew’s is Eucharistic and uses a plain mass setting in the
modern Anglo-Catholic tradition, with a Sunday school which takes place during the Eucharist. The
Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the church. Vestments are worn and incense is used at all sung
masses, with the services accompanied on the organ, but there is no choir. Members of the
congregation read the lessons and lead the intercessions. We had a tradition of daily Mass and
observe all Festivals and Solemnities. Prior to the interregnum Evensong and Benediction were
celebrated in Lent and Advent. There is one licensed Eucharistic Minister and a small team of
servers. The local school was involved with the church using it for end of term services, Harvest
Festivals etc., and before the interregnum a large number of baptisms and funerals took place in
church. The parish has been in interregnum since August 2007 and in March 2011 we were affected
by the loss of approximately half the congregation together with retired priest who had been
conducting services, to the Ordinariate. This has left a small, dedicated, mixed age group
congregation of whom about 40% are resident within the parish. Our usual attendance at 10 am
Sunday Parish Mass is between 12 and 15 people including children. The Confraternity of the
Blessed Sacrament hold their office here on occasion. We have an electoral roll of thirteen.
THE CHURCH BUILDING
Lady Chapel
East End
North Aspect
The church was built in 1926 and extended in1966 to include a new chancel, Lady Chapel and
vestries. It has a good open nave with a light and airy chancel making it a good environment for
worship. To the north side of the chancel is a Lady Chapel and to the south side the clergy and
servers vestries. At the west end there is a gallery which houses the organ and a small upper room.
During the last ten years extensive work has been carried out to the church including a new heating
system and major repairs to the roof and ceiling, together with a disabled access toilet, hearing loop
and sound system. The last quinquennial inspection took place in 2011.
CHURCH HALL
A new long awaited church hall was opened in October 2006 for
use by the church and local community. It consists of a large
room (14x11.5m) and a smaller meeting room (4.5x4.5m),
kitchen and toilets. Local residents’ meetings take place there
and it is also used as a polling station. Unfortunately because of
the interregnum the use of the building has been somewhat
curtailed but it has great potential for the future development of
the parish.
The Church Hall
PARISH FINANCE
In common with many churches parish finances are tight, but with careful management we have
taken steps to reduce expenditure where necessary to enable us to remain solvent. Due to the
reduction in the size of the congregation, there has been a fall in income although the parish share
has continued to be paid in full. The church owns a house which was originally used as
accommodation for a curate, but is now let to bring extra income.
THE FUTURE
After a long interregnums, both St. Batholomew’s and St. Luke’s need the kind of focus and impetus
that only the sacramental and pastoral ministry of a priest can bring to our life. The traditions,
successes and challenges of our Parishes are very similar, and both PCC’s have confidence in a
model that brings us closer to one another under the care of one parish priest. We believe too, as
parishes long associated with the care and ministry of bishops of Ebbsfleet, that our witness and
contribution to the wider life of the diocese, will be helped by this arrangement.
Our immediate priorities are clear to both PCCs;

we need a pastor and teacher, who can help us deepen and strengthen our discipleship
as lay people - our confidence in the faith, our personal prayer, our Eucharistic community,
and our ministry of service
and

we need a pastor and communicator, who can help us to open out our parish life, especially
its schools, and its young families, and its old age centres networks, to help us show that the
church wants to contribute positively to the hope of our communities
and

we want to find realistic ways of flourishing with and alongside our neighbouring parishes.
One of the clearest challenges will be happening in St. Bartholomew’s Parish: namely the
emergence of the new community being developed on the site of the former Rolls-Royce
factory-the Osmaston Regeneration Project. For more information you might like to
browse,www.oscarderby.org. As with all such new developments elsewhere in the country,
this is a challenge for all local churches together, even for the diocesan family as a whole;
but it is our local community, and it’s an exciting(and daunting) opportunity for our faith and
mission.
We often reflect on the verse from Matthew 9 (v36-8): ‘When Jesus saw the crowds, he had
compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, “There’s plenty of harvest to be had, but not many workers! So pray
the master of the harvest to send more workers in his harvest fields!” After which the Lord taught
the twelve what their mission would be (Matthew10). Are you the right priest - do you know the right
priest - to come and help us to become more effective disciples and witnesses?
From the Bishops of Ebbsfleet and Derby
“The Anglo-Catholic presence in the City of Derby is a story of great and often
sacrificial faithfulness to the kingdom of God in a very rapidly changing civic
environment. St Luke’s and St Bartholomew’s are situated in the kind of mixed
working communities in which catholic clergy and communities have for decades
flourished with joy as well as with prophetic edge. But like all parishes, they need
the ministry of a dedicated and prayerful priest, and they need it soon, if they are to
be the eucharistic communities they aspire to be - inviting and supporting men and
women in their communities to become fellow disciples of Jesus Christ. Are you the
priest- or do you know the priest - who can respond to the faithfulness of the laity in
these parishes, and enable them to achieve their vision to serve and transform their
communities? If so, together with the Bishop of Derby, we trust you will apply.”
Bishop Jonathan Goodall
“This is an exciting and challenging opportunity, with good foundations on which to
build. For the right person I would be interested in exploring the possibility of
appointing a curate: the parishes provide an excellent training context.”
Bishop Alistair Redfern
CONTACT DETAILS
Archdeacon
Ven. Dr. Christopher Cunliffe
Tel:( 01332) 388676
Email:archderby@derby.anglican.org
Bishop ofBishop Jonathan
St. Bartholomew’s Church
St. Luke’s Church
Mr Ian Dew
Tel:( 01332) 760195
Email: dewskiman@hotmail.co.uk
Mr Colin Lancaster
Tel:(01332) 676567
Email: colinlancaster219@btinternet.com
Mrs Rebecca Johnson
Tel:( 01332) 676968
Email: stbartholomewderby@yahoo.co.uk
Mr Frank Stevens
Tel:(01332) 512673
Email: frank.stevens3@ntlworld.com