The Ven Ian Gatford, Archdeacon of Derby, has officially announced he will retire in September this year.

An Archdeacon in the Church of England is a demanding, senior post and in the Diocese of Derby, there are just two. They work closely with the Bishop of Derby and hold a brief for the Bishop in the business life and policy-making committees of the diocese and wider church. Each has oversight of approximately half of Derbyshire's Anglican churches and Archdeacon Ian, (65), has been in this role for the 143 parishes in the south of the county since 1993.

During his 21 years of ministry in Derbyshire, he was for nine years a senior member of the staff of Derby Cathedral as Canon Precentor and then Vice-Provost during which period he also presented BBC Radio Derby's Sunday Morning religious programme. He was made Archdeacon of Derby in 1993. During his 12 years as Archdeacon he has been involved for the Bishop in the appointment and pastoral care of clergy and other church staff and their families.

Other roles on numerous diocesan councils have included the areas of communications, diocesan finance, clergy housing, reordering of church interiors and specific legal oversights/responsibilities. He has therefore been a well known face and voice to thousands of people in Derby and Derbyshire.

He said: "It has been an enormous privilege to play a part in so much of the life of the church and local community. Each area has given me the opportunity to support people in the parishes, clergy and lay, as they use their skills, commitment and every day involvement, to be the Church in their place. It has been a particular privilege to assist the Bishop in his overall responsibility for leadership."

Mr Gatford began his ordained ministry when became a deacon in 1967 and then a priest in 1968. Before he came into the Diocese of Derby he had several positions in the diocese of Southwell (which covers Nottinghamshire), including Curate in the parish of Clifton with Glapton 1967-71, then Team Vicar of Holy
Trinity Clifton until 1975. He then became Vicar of St Martin, Sherwood, until 1984. He was for 10 years presenter of BBC Radio Nottingham's 'Who Cares?' Community Concern phone-in programme.

The Rt Rev'd David Hawtin, Bishop of Repton said: "Archdeacon Ian is a warm-hearted Christian with a faith that reaches out widely into everyday issues. To his great credit, he has managed to combine the wider perspective with diligent and effective handling of detail in his duties as Archdeacon. He is very special."

The Archdeacon will retire in the Derby area with his wife Anne. A farewell service, to which all are welcome, will take place at 7.30pm at Derby Cathedral on Monday, September 12th.

The appointment of a new Archdeacon of Derby will be a task for the Rt Rev'd Dr Alastair Redfern, the Bishop of Derby designate, once he is in post this autumn.

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