Amber Valley Borough Council, who have been responsible for the maintenance of the ‘closed churchyard’ since the early 90s, have promised that the whole churchyard will be cut within the next few weeks. A churchyard is termed ‘closed’ because there is no more space for burials available. Burials now take place in the adjacent burial ground, below the churchyard. Crich Parish council are responsible for the maintenance of the burial ground.

St Mary’s PCC are excited to be in the planning stages of a sustainable maintenance plan, which will be carried out in cooperation with AVBC. The PCC hope the new plan for this special place can encourage biodiversity and the enjoyment and safety of all churchyard users.

We would love to know the views of those in our community who visit the churchyard and would like to invite you to come and talk to us during the afternoon session of the work day between 2-4pm.

The work party day – open to all comers with their garden tools – will be held on the morning of Satuday 30 October from 9.00 am and an afternoon session from 2.00 pm.  As it is Half Term on that day, children (supervised by their adults) are very welcome to join in!

If you follow Crich Community Facebook chatter, then you will know that there has been quite a lot of comment on whether or not the grass is too long in St Mary’s churchyard. 

St Mary’s PCC are talking to Amber Valley Council about the matter of who is responsible for managing the churchyard. 

Meanwhile, there will be a work party day – open to all comers with their garden tools – on the morning of Satuday 30 October from 9.00 am and an afternoon session from 2.00 pm.  As it is Half Term on that day, children (supervised by their adults) are very welcome to join in!

THANK YOU to all those who have topped up the Crich Community Pantry over the past weeks, it has sorely been needed by families and individuals.

With the glut of Harvest from our gardens coming in we are also receiving Runner Beans, Cucumbers, Potatoes, and Courgettes. I am sometimes asked for cooking instructions or hints!

One family told me; "This [the pantry] makes a difference to us, especially while the kids are on holiday. It pads out our meals meaning we can just about get by."

If you can't give anything like tins, packets or fresh produced but want to help just pop some money in through the Vicarage door marked pantry. It'll make a difference.

Rev Ian Whitehead

An exhibition of the Royal Family Tree designed and complied by Grange Genealogy will be held at All Saints Church Hall, Holm Lane, South Wingfield, DE55 7NY on

Saturday 18th September from 10am – 4pm

Sunday 19th September from 12 noon – 4pm.

The exhibition will include the family tree, showing all the family connected to Queen Elizabeth II and Price Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, going back to Queen Victoria. The chart shows all descendants and stretches to just over 8 meters in length. 

There is an accompanying guide book which includes indexes to everyone listed and gives some further details of each person and their immediate family. There will be copies for sale on the day and an opportunity to find out more about exploring your own family tree.

Admission £3 on the door.

All admission fees will be donated to All Saints Church.

Go to: https://www.grangegenealogy.co.uk/all-saints-exhibition/ for more information

• Download the Royal Family Tree Exhibition Leaflet

Fritchley Church is open again!

Following on from the successful refurbishments of the Village Hall during lockdown, we’re planning some redecorations to the Church later this year, which are planned to be completed in time for the December Christmas Celebrations and Carol Service

Why not join us? – we meet on the first Sunday of every Month from 2.30pm for about an hour.

Our current schedule is:

Sunday September 5th

Sunday October 3rd

Sunday November 7th

Sunday December 5th

Christmas Carol Service date TBA

You will find our Church to be full of life, fun and laughter.

We are a family friendly and even dog friendly church (why not bring your dogs along to the Service during your walk – muddy boots welcome!), there’s no ‘in crowd’ here, we welcome new people each week so why not try Church and come along to one of our Sunday gatherings.

Finally please remember we can host weddings, funerals and baptisms and you are all welcome for the December Christmas Celebrations and Carol Service.

Contact us at:

Rev Stella Wallace-Tween wallacesew@aol.com

Ian Chinn ichinn@tiscali.co.uk ”