The Diocese of Derby

Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 November 2010 11:39

- The Diocese of Derby, founded in 1927, is almost co-terminus with Derbyshire. 
- Approximately 997 square miles in size. 
- A population of about 1 million people, of whom nearly a quarter live in the urban area of Derby.  
- The diocese (and county) has a rich variety of topography, sociology and culture, ranging from the recognisably ‘Midlands’ environment of the south, around Derby to the distinctly ‘northern’ character of Chesterfield (the second main conurbation), the Peak District and its market towns such as Bakewell, Buxton and Glossop. 
- It is a place where the concept of parish and church at the centre of a community still has meaning; there are over thirty distinct towns with populations between 10,000 and a 100,000 people, and this helps to define the character of the diocese.

History of the Diocese

The Archdeaconry of Derby was originally part of the Diocese of Lichfield, but was moved to form part of the Diocese of Southwell, when that diocese was created in 1884. In 1927 the Archdeaconries of Derby and Chesterfield became the new Diocese of Derby, as a response to population growth.  All Saints, Derby was hallowed as the Cathedral on the 28th October 1927 and the next day the first Bishop of Derby, Edmund Pearce, was enthroned.   Although only founded as a separate diocese in 1927, the county has a long and rich Christian history.

Edward, King of the West Saxons, founded a Church of All Saints on the site of the present Cathedral about the year 943. It was a Collegiate Church served by a college of seven priests, a dean and six canons who maintained daily worship and lived a community life. Nothing of the first Saxon Church remains nor of the College next door, though the name College Place is a reminder.

All Saints was one of the three pre-conquest churches of Derby, along with St Werburgh’s and St Alkmund’s. The latter housed the shrine of St Alkmund, Prince of Northumbria, killed in battle in defence of his kingdom in 800 and venerated as a Christian Martyr.  Alkmund is regarded as the patron saint of the city of Derby.

Although the Oxford English dictionary agrees to differ, there is strong local evidence that the traditional Shrovetide football match (preserved in a sanitised form in the Parish of Ashbourne in the Diocese to this day), played by the parishes of All Saints and St Peter’s Derby across the town in the Middle Ages gave the world the phrase ‘local derby’.

The Diocese is blessed with a wealth of historic churches, of great beauty and importance from Tideswell, the Cathedral of the Peak, to the Crooked Spire of St Mary’s Chesterfield and a host of other architectural gems.

But no history of Christianity in Derbyshire would be complete without a brief mention of the people of Eyam in the Peak District.  In August 1665 bubonic plague arrived in the village via a bale of cloth brought from London. On the advice of the rector, William Mompesson, the village quarantined itself, over the next fourteen months 260 of the villagers died. Eyam's selfless villagers, with their strong Christian convictions, had shown immense personal courage and self sacrifice. They had prevented the plague from spreading across the north, but many paid the ultimate price for their commitment.  A heritage of faith and community concern that marks the Diocese to this day.

Bishops of Derby

A Look back at Derby Cathedral...

British Pathé Film Clip
(click the image below to view the clip on the British Pathé web site)

"OUR NEWEST CATHEDRAL"