The Diocese of Derby
Clergy Conference 2026
12 - 13 October 2026
The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick
Worship booklets will be available to download in the Information Centre from the beginning of October.
We have eight fantastic workshops on offer this year with four taking place each day.
Please don't forget to book your place.
Workshops Booking Form for Clergy Conference 2026 – Fill in form
Workshops
Monday Workshops
Walking Workshop
Mike Firbank
1
Our annual conference walk offers opportunity to get some fresh air, enjoy the beauty of the local area, see something of its fascinating industrial history and spend time getting to know colleagues and reflect together on generous faith. Mike will bring the Haribo all you need is to bring a waterproof and suitable shoes! Meet at the front of the Conference Centre.
Generosity Embodied
Ali Dorey
2
A practical workshop exploring body prayer, chant and stillness to reconnect with ourselves, with other creatures and with our generous Creator...
We will use taught and improvised simple movements, songs and silence to tap into the generosity that is waiting for us. All body types and abilities and singing or non-singing voices welcome! Meet in the chapel. If the weather allows, we will move outside for the workshop.
Talking about faith is easy, right?
Jane Henderson
3
What is it that we can find challenging about sharing our faith? Why do we find it easy to talk about our holidays or favourite film but shy away from talking about Faith? This session will look at that question and start to explore ways we can share our faith positively using examples from Church Army's Faith Pictures resource.
Small Beginnings, Kingdom Possibilities
4
Rick Otto
A practical workshop exploring body prayer, chant and stillness to reconnect with ourselves, with other creatures and with our generous Creator... We will use taught and improvised simple movements, songs and silence to tap into the generosity that is waiting for us. All body types and abilities and singing or non-singing voices welcome! Meet in the chapel. If the weather allows, we will move outside for the workshop.
Tuesday Workshops
Praying Through Creativity
Karen Herrick
5
Generous faith rarely begins with abundance, and despite our feelings of inadequacy to give of the little we have, we are each given enough for the situations we find ourselves in. Karen will guide us into quiet reflection and encourage prayerful creativity through a variety of available art materials- pastels, paint, collage, fabric, stitch- to individually explore what God may want to say to each one of us. Come & creatively explore the themes of the conference through reflective, quiet, prayerful creativity
Ancient Texts, Living Word: Teaching & Preaching in the Old Testament
6
Olga Fabrikant-Burke
We often approach the Old Testament as nothing more than useful background information for the New, consigned to the past and not relevant as an enduring witness to God. In this workshop, we will explore how to teach and preach the Old Testament as a living resource for the life of the Church today.
The Power of Stories: Unlocking Bible Engagement in Local Communities
7
Dawn Lonsdale
Generous faith rarely begins with abundance, and despite our feelings of inadequacy to give of the little we have, we are each given enough for the situations we find ourselves in. Karen will guide us into quiet reflection and encourage prayerful creativity through a variety of available art materials- pastels, paint, collage, fabric, stitch- to individually explore what God may want to say to each one of us. Come & creatively explore the themes of the conference through reflective, quiet, prayerful creativity
What does generous faith look like when following Jesus comes at a great cost?
8
Dan, Church Relations Lead for Open Doors
Millions of Christians around the world share our faith but not our freedom. Dan, a Church Relations lead for Open Doors UK and Ireland will be sharing stories of courage, hope, and faith that challenge and deepen our own discipleship.