PARISH PROFILE

for , St. Michael

MACKWORTH with , All Saints

MUGGINTON with , All Saints

April 2017

Kirk Langley Mackworth Mugginton

The United Benefice of the Parishes of: St Michael’s, Kirk Langley, All Saints, Mackworth and All Saints, Mugginton

General Information The three parishes lay adjacent to each other, within the Duffield and Longford Deanery, just to the west and north-west of in the delightful county of . Kirk Langley and Mugginton are small, rural parishes while Mackworth, although equally small and rural, is currently expanding with a new housing development within its borders.

Leisure and Sporting Facilities Derbyshire can boast of six wonderful stately homes including Chatsworth, Kedleston and Calke and a World Heritage site called the Derwent Valley which extends from Derby to Matlock. All three parishes lie within 15 miles of the White Peak which forms part of the Peak District, a very popular National Park where many leisure hours can easily be spent walking, bird-watching, cycling etc. For the more adventurous Wild Park Outdoor Centre has facilities for paintball, quad-biking and archery within the parish of Mugginton. Carsington Water, not far north of the Benefice provides further outdoor facilities including sailing.

Transport Links Transport links to the rest of the country are excellent. The M1 lies just to the east of Derby enabling easy access to anywhere in the country while the A50 links the M1 to the M6 near Stoke. Rail services from Derby can get you to London in under two hours and Airport is just over 40 minutes away allowing easy access to foreign holidays and Birmingham Airport is just under an hour away. An hourly bus service passes through parts of Kirk Langley and Mackworth on the same route whereas Mugginton is served separately.

Services Derby, a city of about a quarter of a million people, borders Mackworth and is only about 5 miles from the other two parishes. It can provide all the leisure facilities any city can provide with a theatre, various cinemas, roller-skating, velodrome, ten-pin bowling, a large indoor shopping centre and museums as well as Derby County Football Club. In fact, it caters for all tastes and all ages. It also is a university town and the seat of the . If a large city is not what is favoured then the nearby towns of Belper and Ashbourne provide a more leisurely setting with different shops with Bakewell and Buxton offering further opportunities. Other services can be accessed close by. There is an excellent Doctors’ Practice in nearby or these can be found in Derby as can dentists and a large hospital in the western suburbs of Derby aiding easy access. Mackworth has garage services, all villages have a pub and there is a hotel and motel in Mackworth as well as a garden centre and café and wine shop in Kirk Langley. In summary - a very convenient and happy place to live! The Map

The Communities

Kirk Langley

Kirk Langley is a rural village located on A52 between Derby and Ashbourne with easy access to major routes leading in all directions. The population of the village is approximately 650 with around 80 children. Within the parish lies the small hamlet of where there is a thriving garden centre and tearoom. The housing is mainly of a private nature with one small close of low cost housing. There are a small number of working farms located in the parish. At the west end of the village there is an industrial unit which employs around 30 people and in Church Lane there is a metal work business employing 6 people. The wine shop opposite the end of Church Lane is part of a family business. On the eastern edge of the village is Wheathills Residential Care Home which has up to 30 residents. The community covers all age ranges with the working population commuting to nearby towns and cities. The Church of School is a primary school located in Moor Lane. The school building was opened in 1879 and has been extended to accommodate the changing demands of education. At the present time there are 80 pupils with approximately half from the village. There are plans for the school to be extended further to accommodate children from the nearby development of Langley Country Park. The church has strong links with the school. The Priest in Charge takes collective worship and is an ex-offico Governor. The pupils visit church throughout the year for special services such as Harvest and Christingle in addition to services at the end of school terms. The school was rated as “Good” at the last OFSTED inspection in 2015. A new headteacher has been appointed and commences her post at the start of the summer term. Pupils from 11 upwards generally go on to Ecclesbourne School in Duffield which is one of the best academies in the County. The Village Hall (Leeke Hall), which is owned by the church, is being renovated as funds become available. It is run by a small management committee. The Hall is used by village and non village organisations. These include a very popular Women’s Institute, KLAAS (local art group), drama group and wine club. The G B Barrington playing field on the south side of the church is the home for the local cricket teams and football club. There is also a children’s play area suitable for the younger members of the village. A community orchard is located in Flagshaw Lane, about half a mile from the church. The Bluebell Inn opens for drinks only at the time of writing but there are plans to redevelop it to serve food this summer. The bus service operates between Derby, Ashbourne and Uttoxeter on a roughly hourly basis. Mackworth

The village of Mackworth lies approximately 3 miles NW of Derby, on the A52 road to Ashbourne. It is in Borough Council, on the border of Derby City, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The village lies along the Ashbourne Road (A52), and the Lower Road, which lies parallel to the A52, and was the medieval road through the village. The two roads are connected at one end by Church Lane, that leads down to the church which lies in a field, on the route of the Roman Road from , in Derby, to Rocester. Markeaton is a hamlet and is situated between Mackworth and Derby. Access to Markeaton is along the narrow winding Markeaton Lane, which joins the A52 to the Kedleston Road.In Mackworth there has been some infilling building developments and barn conversions over the last few years. The housing is a mixture of rented cottages and private houses. However, there is now a major building development of over 600 houses taking place at the top of Radbourne Lane, on the SE edge of the parish, called Langley Country Park. The building started last year, and will be completed in about 3 years. This will increase the original village population by around 8-fold. In December 2016, there were 322 adults on the Amber Valley BC Electoral Roll, with a ‘guestimate’ of possibly more than 50 children. Recent proposals (February, 2017) suggest that there could be more than 600 extra homes built to the west of Radbourne Lane.

A considerable number of the parishioners are retired, but most of those of working age are employed locally in both manual and professional occupations. There is little, if any, unemployment. Mackworth and Markeaton were formerly farming communities, but there is now only one working farm, with the remainder of the land let to neighbouring farmers for pasture. There are two hotels in the village; the ‘Mundy Arms’, with a Premier Inn, and ‘The Farmhouse at Mackworth’. There are several firms in the villages, including a commercial vehicle centre, a garage, a garden centre, a hair and beauty salon, and several other small businesses.

There is no school in the village. The children attend various schools, including Kirk Langley Primary School, and Mackworth is within the catchment area of Ecclesbourne Secondary School.

Mugginton

The church serves a mixed rural community of farmers, commuters and a number of retired people in Mugginton, Mercaston, Weston Underwood, Kedleston and outlying areas. According to the Local Authority electoral roll, the population of the parish is 510, mostly living in private accommodation. There is a very limited amount of council and other rented housing. Six new houses have been built on the site of the farm opposite the church. There is now only one firm in the area with quarrying interests, but McCann's have re-established the concrete flooring works in Weston Underwood. Employment is sought mostly outside the parish in Derby. Public transport is limited to a roughly 2-hourly bus service and most people rely on cars for the 7 miles into Derby or Ashbourne.

Within Mugginton itself there is the church, the school and the village hall and just up the road is the recently refurbished and now thriving Cock Inn. There is a strong sense of community spirit in the parish and varied and busy social and sporting calendars. Many village gatherings take place in the Village Hall which has been successfully refurbished thanks to grants and local fundraising. There are monthly book club Tuesday group meetings and coffee mornings, regular “pub nights” and many fund raising events. It is worth noting that this small community has over the years raised tens of thousands of pounds for the school, the village hall and for the church. We have a young football club, a regular Pilates class, an indoor bowls club and a walking group. The cricket club is at Mugginton Lane End

Mugginton Primary School is rated an “Outstanding church school” Full details of the school can be seen on the school’s website. The school has adopted an extended school day providing care and extracurricular activities from 8.00 am until 4.30 pm and is very much a part of the community.

The Church Buildings

Kirk Langley

St. Michael’s Church is a Grade 1 listed building with exceptional stained glass windows which enhance the beauty of the church. The major part of the church dates back to 1320 but some parts are thought to be Saxon, dating as far back as the 800’s. Major renovations and alterations took place in 1839 and again in 1885.During the restoration of the church in 1885 the pews were replaced with chairs making for a flexible layout. There is seating for around 120 people. In 1995 NADFAS (National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Society) made a complete record of church furnishings. In recent years the church roof and ceilings have been repaired and renovated. The lead on the Nave, Tower and South Aisle has been replaced and stainless steel put on the roof of the North Aisle.The ceilings in the Twyford Chapel and South Aisle have been restored and conserved as required. This work was funded by grants from English Heritage and other charities, insurance claim, village fund raising and money in Church Funds. An audio visual system has been installed. This is used as an aid at some of our services particularly family and special services. In the recent quinquennial report several areas were identified as needing some attention but it is not anticipated that it will require major expenditure.

The Leeke Hall(Village Hall) belongs to the Church and is adjacent to but is let to a separate management committee who are managing the renovation of the Hall for the local community. The work is ongoing and continues as money becomes available from grants and fund raising to cover the planned work.

Mackworth

All Saints’ Church, Mackworth and Markeaton, is a Grade 1 listed building. The Domesday Book refers to a “church in Markeaton” confirming that there was a place of Christian worship in the locality before 1086. The oldest part of the present building is the Chancel which dates from 1320. The Church lies to the north of the A52 road to Ashbourne at the end of Church Lane which is almost opposite Radbourne Lane. The church is surrounded by Glebe fields which are all Scheduled Ancient Monuments because of the likelihood that there are buried artefacts and building foundations dating back to Roman times. The rural setting has prompted the nickname of “the Church in the Fields” and makes it very popular for weddings and baptisms.

The most recent inspection by the Architect states that major restoration of the tower, spire, nave roof and reredos are needed. is the Lay Rector for the Chancel and we are negotiating with the Council to subsidize the restoration which is scheduled for the summer of 2017. A bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund is in preparation to restore the tower, spire and nave roof.

Mugginton

There are three church buildings within the Parish.

All Saints Church is Grade 1 listed, and dates at least as far back as the Domesday Book (1086) with possibly some Saxon elements remaining. In 1987 the 4 bells were removed from a rotting wooden frame, augmented to 6 and returned to a metal frame built by a parishioner. In 2001-2002, when the deteriorating copper roof was removed it exposed near-disastrous decay in most of the roof timbers. A significant restoration project was completed following a major fundraising initiative. This included the roof timbers, stonework, window glass, electrical re-wiring and the restoration of wall paintings at a cost exceeding £500,000. Following the receipt in 2011 of a very substantial Legacy, in 2016 we completed the restoration of windows & stonework, flooring, box pews, heating & sound systems and introduced toilet & servery facilities plus improved disabled access and churchyard paths. Visitors to the church appreciate that this architectural gem is always kept open, and entries in the visitors’ book reflect how it serves as a sanctuary for those in need of spiritual consolation. The church makes use of the refurbished Village Hall as a parish hall.

Halter Devil Chapel is Grade 2 Listed and is a tiny building annexed to a farmhouse on Intake Lane, Mercaston. It was built in 1723, the legend being that it was intended as a sign of the reformation of a notoriously dissolute individual following an unexpected encounter with the Devil. This chapel, formerly only in use at Easter, Harvest Festival time and Christmas, came regularly into use when Mugginton Church was closed for restoration. It proved so popular that it is now used at 8 am once a month plus Christmas Day. The chapel was extensively restored during 2016 and brought back into use in December

All Saints Church, Kedleston in the grounds of the National Trust administered Kedleston Hall, was formerly associated with All Saints Church, Mugginton. It is now redundant and in the care of The Churches Conservation Trust. Nevertheless, it remains consecrated, and occasional services are held there, such as on Ascension Day and Carols, plus a Prayer and Spirituality Day.

The Church Life / Patterns of Worship

Kirk Langley

Our congregation is made up of people from the parish and beyond as well as people from the nearby suburbs of Derby. In March 2016 our electoral roll was 48 with 28 residents and 20 non residents. Everyone is made to feel welcome at our church by our team of greeters. Coffee and tea are served at the end of every Sunday service which is well attended and provides a useful weekly social event Our monthly service pattern is 1st Sunday – 9.45 Family service 2nd Sunday – 9.45 Holy Communion (CW) 3rd Sunday – 8.00 – Holy Communion (BCP), 9.45 Morning Prayer (CW) 4th Sunday – 9.45 Holy Communion (CW) 5th Sunday United Benefice 10.30 Attendance is normally between 20-30 with major festivals attracting much larger congregations. For Mothering Sunday the ladies are given a posy of flowers. During Lent there are weekly group discussion sessions usually following the York Course. As a farming community we celebrate Rogation outside going to a farm close by. The gifts of the harvest are taken to The Hope Charity in Derby and the money raised from the sale of produce at the Harvest Supper goes to our chosen charity. The Supper which is held in Church on the day following our Harvest Festival is one of our main fundraisers. The school children also attend the Christingle and Carols in the Afternoon services and have their Leaver’s service and Christmas production in Church. The church has been used as a venue for prayer and spirituality days as well as for concerts to showcase local and professional talent. The church layout lends itself to these various functions as furniture can be moved around. We have an excellent and retained organist but no choir, although a number of our regulars robe and form a choir for major festivals and weddings if required. The bells are chimed before each service by a small but committed team of ringers. Our three main fundraising events are Summer Fete, Dinner at Meynell Langley and Harvest Supper.

Mackworth

Churchmanship is middle of the road. The current pattern of services is as follows: 1st Sunday: Holy Communion at 11.15am 2nd Sunday: Morning Worship at 11.15am 3rd Sunday: Holy Communion at 11.15am 4th Sunday: Morning Worship at 11.15am 5th Sunday: United Parish Service rotating round the 3 Parishes.

Midweek Joint Parish activities: 1st Wednesday: Home Quiet Time guided meditation Typical attendance is 5. 4th Wednesday: Home or Church Taizé Worship Typical attendance is 6. Study/discussion home groups meet on Wednesdays during Lent and at other times during the year. Midweek Meetings are attended by people from the three Parishes and beyond.

The average attendance at the Sunday Services (excluding major Festivals) was 27 in 2016. The Electoral roll was 47 of whom 10 lived in the Parish.

The Sunday services are Common Worship Holy Communions with Morning Worships in either a Celtic or simple modern style. There is a choir with 4 members. A team of visiting organists cover the services, weddings, funerals and special services (Ash Wednesday, Memorial service, and Carol Service when the Derby Choristers often lead the singing).

Baptisms are normally held after the morning service starting at 1.15pm. During 2016, 18 children were baptized and there were five weddings. Divorced people have been married at the discretion of the priest.

Mugginton

The current pattern of services is as follows: 1st Sunday: 9.30 am Morning Worshipki 2nd Sunday: 8.00 am Holy Communion (at Halter Devil Chapel) 3rd Sunday: 9.30 am Parish Communion 4th Sunday: 8.00 am Holy Communion 5th Sunday: 10.30 am United Services

In addition the school holds six end-of-term services in the church as well as special services at Harvest Festival, Christingle etc attended by more than 70 children and parents. The Remembrance Day service is well supported ( 70 plus) in conjunction with the Royal British Legion and Air Cadet groups marking the special connection to the Aircrew memorial at Leasowes Farm.

Last year the congregation averaged 7 at 8.00 am and 15 at 9.30 am services (including Mothering Sunday and a Songs of Praise). On average there are 3 weddings and 3 funerals each year with attendances often in excess of 150. Services were held in the Village Hall for some 5 months last year during the major restoration and improvements project; whilst the Halter Devil Chapel was out of use for 10 months for repairs. The PCC electoral Roll stood at 18 in 2016.

Our churchmanship can be described as middle-of-the-road and liberal. We have always accepted new ideas or forms of worship, and been prepared to develop special services. Forms of worship are based on Common Worship with dedicated service sheets provided. With respect to the formalities of baptism and weddings the PCC has followed the lead of the incumbent. We possess a good 2-manual organ and currently enjoy the services of two regular organists. In the absence of a Churchwarden we have a working rota for setting up services. There is an excellent team of ladies, many of whom are non-churchgoers, undertaking flower arranging duties throughout the year. There is an enthusiastic team of bellringers to herald services on our restored 6 bells. The new servery and toilet facilities are proving valuable assets for after service refreshments and for those attending weddings and funerals.

Parish Finance

Kirk Langley

The church has a yearly income from Gift Aid (weekly Envelope Scheme, monthly Direct Debits and one-off donations), loose collections and fund- raising that just about meets its outgoings. The Common Fund has always been paid in full. This year there is a substantial rise in the demand and the church has chosen to pay the same as last year + 2% and will see if funds allow us to pay the balance off at the end of the year. Annual turnover is between £30 - £35k. Three main fund-raising events are held each year. We also make various charitable donations each year. The church has recently undergone its Quinquennial Inspection and funds are in place to meet most of the needs of the report.

Mackworth

The Common Fund for 2016 was £8736, this was paid monthly, and paid in full. The Common Fund for 2017 is £11,074, increasing in stages to £15,403 in 2019. Mackworth also paid in full its share of the expenses of the Priest-in-Charge. All debts are fully paid. Our normal fund-raising events to cover general church expenses include: the Summer and Christmas Fairs, Christmas Tree Festival, Harvest Supper, concerts and Craft Fairs. A committed giving envelope scheme is in operation. At 31st December, 2016 the balance in the General Fund was £24,830. Mackworth also have two restricted funds: the Churchyard Fund (£931) and the Conservation Fund (£8354). Mackworth Church needs some major restoration on the tower, spire, nave roof and reredos in the near future, so we are endeavouring to build up the Conservation Fund to help towards this work. Derby City Council, as Lay Rectors for the chancel, should cover 8/9ths of the cost of the reredos restoration. A bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund is in preparation for the other repairs.

Mugginton

The parish share for 2016 was £6,784 and has always been paid in full. Until recently regular gift aided income fully covered our ongoing annual running costs. However, regular giving has reduced significantly for a variety of reasons and we now need to meet the shortfall by transfers from our Legacy Fund. An English Heritage/Heritage Lottery Grant covered 46% of the restoration works dating from 2001/2002 costing in excess of £500,000 with the balance funded by other grants, local fundraising and a National Appeal. The PCC are very fortunate that in 2011 it received a substantial legacy of £480,000 from the Estate of Harry Taylor Wood, a former Churchwarden, following the sale of School House Farm. These funds were invested and their market value has increased significantly. The PCC decided, after lengthy discussions, to allocate half the funds to Fabric needs and the other half to Ministry & Mission, supporting the ongoing worship in our parish and some £21,000 donated annually to appropriate UK & Overseas charitable causes.

Safeguarding

Each parish are in the process of adopting Diocesan Safeguarding Policy (see http://www.derby.anglican.org/en/about-us/safeguarding-information- menu.html)

Health and Safety

Policies and Procedures are in place and annual checks recorded to ensure the churches meet their Health and Safety requirements. Policies are updated as and when necessary. The Parish’s Strengths

Kirk Langley Mackworth Mugginton

A loving Church community, coordinated The beautiful building is much loved and the The church is financially sound and is able to and organised, able to successfully organise congregation is motivated to restore it and support outside charities. Both All Saints and activities for fund raising and promoting maintain it and the Church yard in good Halter Devil Chapel are in good repair Christian values. condition. We have a coordinated group who are A welcoming and friendly community Visitors to the church remark on how they dedicated to their maintenance as a seat of committed to offering a varied range of are made to feel welcome. worship and share weekly tasks. All Saints is services and events. The congregation members care for each particularly appreciated for always being A supportive community at large that other, visiting the sick and helping when open for quiet prayer. The team of flower responds to major events. needed. arrangers make the church look very An excellent and knowledgeable organist to welcoming. support services and arranges occasional Holy Communion is taken monthly to musical events. Wheathills Care Home. The School was judged an “outstanding” Links with the successful and developing The baptism ministry encourages attendance church school in 2014 and 2016, has an Church school. at special and family services such as enthusiastic new head and holds services A stable core church community with great Christingle and Mothering Sunday. throughout the year attended by upwards of experience and expertise. The church has been updated with the 70 -150 people. Cooperation with other village groups to installation of the toilet and tea-point in the The bell-ringers are an active group, with enrich community life. tower, the removal of a block of pews to representation as officials in the Diocesan form an open carpeted association area, and national associations. The band has won cushioned seating, and the use of technology Prizes in competition, and the use of the bells to make an up-to-date impression at selected is regularly requested by visitors. services. The wider community, not necessarily church goers, support the church by regular giving and flower arranging.

The Parish Challenges

Kirk Langley Mackworth Mugginton

Church numbers remain stubbornly static. We need to maintain the size of congregation While Mugginton and district has a thriving The profile of the congregation is towards by continuing to attract new people through social life and an excellent church school, the the more mature. the baptism and wedding ministries and from Sunday church attendances are poor. There is the new houses in the Parish . a lack of connection in the Parish between We need to expand the core of active people. the church and the parish. The remaining We need to encourage a more consistent members of the church community would attendance at services (especially joint Parish like to address this. services). While our Charity work has increased (Children’s Society, Food bank), we need to increase it further. We need to make a greater impact on the new housing estate perhaps by more social events and developing a Local Studies and History Group. There are considerable challenges ahead in restoring and maintaining the fabric of the mediaeval building. Heating in the church is barely adequate in the depths of winter. Insufficient lighting on the path to church, and the drive through the field to church.

Parish Opportunities

Kirk Langley

A church building with a fully flexible seating plan and layout ideally suited to varied activities. Great potential for improved cooperative efforts with the Church school and a widening of the sphere of influence through expansion. Great potential to develop a new web site to reflect church life more dynamically and make use of social media to promote the church and community. Encourage a greater number of young families to attend church on a regular basis. An opportunity to review the current pattern of services to encourage growth of our congregation. The potential to develop groups e.g. Toddlers and mums, the elderly on a monthly basis to extend social links and associated benefits to extend the influence of the church. Potential to work more cooperatively within the current congregation and other village groups. With the new housing development within the parishes there is an opportunity for interesting and exciting initiatives.

Mackworth

The outreach to the new residents of the Parish is crucial. Regular Family Services will be started, perhaps eventually with a simple breakfast. Make contact with local schools, especially Mugginton? Form a local History/Study group. More social events/groups to encourage community feeling. Build on the successful series of Craft Fairs, Christmas Tree Festival, concerts. Encourage more regular giving?

Mugginton

We have the opportunity to build on our relationship with the school, develop a consistent arrangement for pastoral care including sick and social visiting and to use the enthusiasm of members of the community to build connections by organising events such as a summer fete

This would extend the activities of the Church into the Parish through pastoral work and may increase the size of the congregation.

Now we have the new facilities we have the opportunity to use All Saints for more events including quiet days.

We will welcome the new incumbent and look forward to supporting him or her with new initiatives they bring with them. In all things we would like the clergy to guide us and be active within the community.

The next priest

We are looking for an Incumbent who is caring, kind and interested in people of all ages and in the rural way of life. They must have excellent communication and social skills and be able to interact with all ages. In essence we are looking for someone:  Who can help us to develop Christian worship and understand what it means to be a Christian in the 21st century  Has an enthusiasm for outreach work with the two schools and young families and the development of 600 new homes as well as encouraging the churches to be at the centre of the community  Who has good organisational skills and can lead a committed team of lay people  Who listens carefully, is friendly, welcoming and sensitive to the needs of all with a good sense of humour!  Is open to leading different types of services at various times  Has good administrative skills across the various roles  Is able to reach out and encourage those who only attend church on special occasions to become regular worshippers  Build on the links to the C of E schools in Kirk Langley and Mugginton

We are fortunate to have a very active Lay Reader, and the help of an Associate Priest two weeks per month. Each church has a small dedicated team of helpers who work hard to raise funds to keep the churches financially viable and who give of their time freely.

Contact People

The Venerable Dr Christopher Cunliffe, Archdeacon of Derby. 01332 388676, email [email protected]

Revd Fr Jonathan Page, Vicar of Christ Church, Belper and All Saints, Turnditch. Rural Dean of Duffield Deanery 01773 824974, email [email protected]

For the Parishes Mary Debling

Kirk Langley Mackworth Mugginton

Churchwarden and Parish Representative Church Warden and Parish Parish Representative Mrs Mary Debling Representative Mrs Annette Eley 38 Parsons Green, Miss Betty Bond, Boams Farm Derby. The Gables, Mugginton DE22 4DS Ashbourne Road, Ashbourne 01332 720344 Mackworth, DE6 9PL [email protected] Derby DE22 4LZ. 01335 360415 01332 366 567 / 07932 420 412 [email protected] Churchwarden and Parish Representative [email protected] Mr Godfrey Meynell Meynell Langley Church Warden, Reader and Parish Kirk Langley Representative Parish Representative Ashbourne Prof Bryan Jones, Mrs Stacey Archer DE6 4NT 15, View, 4 Shiney Row 07792 268609 , Mercaston [email protected] Derby DE22 2XJ Ashbourne 01332 541 713 / 07504 827 808 DE6 3BJ [email protected] (preferred) 07973 828741 [email protected] [email protected]

The Rectory

The Rectory is situated on Church Lane, Kirk Langley, about 50 metres from the Church. It is an attractive and well-appointed family house situated in the heart of the village. The accommodation is spacious comprising an entrance hall with cloaks/wc off, good sized lounge, separate dining room, study/office, fitted kitchen, four bedrooms – 3 doubles and a single and a family bathroom. It has the benefit of gas central heating and largely double glazed. At the side of the house is a single garage. It has a shared driveway with parking for 3-4 vehicles on the forecourt to the house. At the front is a small garden area but at the rear there is a large garden with a tree lined aspect. Our last incumbent has added a range of fruit trees and soft fruit bushes as well as organic vegetable beds plus a large nature pond.

Front elevation Rear elevation

The Area Dean

One of the outcomes of the Developing Deaneries project is the proposal that Duffield and Longford Deaneries should merge, with four parishes from Duffield Deanery transferring to the new City Deanery. (All three Deanery Synods have sanctioned this.) The two current Rural Deans have been “holding the fort” pending the appointment of a new Area Dean. However, the two Deaneries are already beginning to work together; to date there have been two Joint Deanery Synods, a Joint Chapter meeting (with another scheduled for Tuesday 9th May) and a meeting of the RDs and Lay Chairs. It is agreed that, when an appointment has been made, the two serving RDs will step down.

Duffield Deanery is made up of thirteen parishes (excluding the four transferring to the City Deanery) with two three-parish benefices, three two-parish benefices and one single parish benefice (with two daughter churches and which has a FT stipendiary curate). There are three FT stipendiary incumbent posts, a 1/3 post (three parishes) as well as Kirk Langley, Mackworth and Muggington (a 2/3 post). There is also a FT associate priest serving in one of the two-parish benefices. (One two-parish benefice has no licensed clergy post.) The deanery is predominantly rural, with the market town of Belper (formerly a mill town) providing much in the way of shopping and leisure amenities.

Longford Deanery currently comprises 19 parishes, divided into one benefice of eight churches, one of seven churches, one of two and two with a single church building. There are four stipendiary incumbents, a self-supporting priest-in-charge, a self-supporting associate priest and a self- supporting assistant curate due to complete training in the coming months. The geography and heritage of the Deanery is predominantly rural village (of varying sizes), but it also contains one of the largest housing developed ‘villages’ in South Derbyshire (pop. c. 10,000), as well as sizeable communities relating to local industry and secondary education. The clergy chapter meets weekly for prayer, mutual support and exchange of ideas.