Mission Partners
Will & Anna Eley, Lola, Barnabas & Phoebe
Planting Curate, St Giles, Normanton, Derby.
Anna grew up at St Mary’s and Will was an apprentice here. Will is a curate at St Giles in Normanton, Derby, where Neil Barber is the vicar. The church has been prayerfully planning to plant a new congregation in the neighbouring area of Blagreaves through
the Church of England structures. In December 2022 it was announced that through this mechanism the
door appears to have closed. This is a disappointing outcome
although at the same time provides clarity after much effort and energy. For the next few years, Derby Diocese have agreed to
license and pay for Will & Anna to remain at St Giles' as an Associate Minister where they hope to be able to continue to do plentiful gospel work at St
Giles' and our neighbours St Stephen. It is hoped that this time will be helpful for St Giles'
to navigate the challenges faced to us by wider movements of the Church of
England and discern what the future may hold.
Pray: For the St Giles leadership & congregation as they come to terms with this news and seek direction for future gospel outreach in the area: Give thanks for open doors for gospel & opportunities in the community and in local schools. Give thanks for God’s sustaining grace; for wisdom and godliness in parenting Lola, Barnabas and Phoebe; us all to grow in our knowledge and love of God; us to joyfully depend on Him for all our strength and needs in these challenging times.