“I am so looking forward to beginning my new ministry in Derbyshire” declares Revd Caroline Andrews as she prepares for her induction as minister of the North Derbyshire Resource Area. After an unexpected last minute change the service was held by Zoom on 26th February and you can watch it on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQH30m0QiI0

A service of celebration to mark the start of Caroline’s ministry will be held at 2.00pm on Sunday 20th March at St Andrew’s. This will be led by the Synod Moderator and will include the music Caroline has chosen. It will be followed by light refreshments in the church hall.

Caroline says she is excited about all the possibilities that lie ahead for the churches. Members of all six churches eagerly await her ministry. The North Derby Resource Area consists of Rose Hill URC Chesterfield, which is the Area Resource Church, St Andrew’s URC Chesterfield, Calow URC, Holymoorside URC, Buxton URC and Fountain Square Church (Methodist/URC) Tideswell. Caroline will be full time minister for the Pastorate along with 25% ministry from Revd Camilla Veitch, who is also minister of West Derbyshire URC and Synod Clerk. Caroline will be living in Chesterfield. She joins us after 6 years service at Saltaire United Reformed Church and the Saltaire World Heritage site.

Caroline writes ‘A little bit about me…..’

I was called to ministry from an early age. I became a lay preacher at seventeen. In my thirties, I felt called to ordained ministry, and I trained at Northern College in Manchester. I was ordained in September of 2008, and have served God in all kinds of ways since my ordination. I have a good number of hobbies, but I have a passion for singing, and I have sung in a good number of choirs over the years. I am an avid reader of all kinds of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

I feel deeply connected to God when I sing or listen to specific pieces of music; I also have a deep affection for the great outdoors; being close to nature is also an excellent way to connect on a deeper level with God.

My daughter Gemma is married to Kate, and my son Nathaniel is married to Gemma. I have a three-year-old granddaughter named Ivy.

I am so looking forward to beginning my new ministry in Derbyshire. I am excited about all the possibilities that lie ahead for the resource church and the area churches as God’s people in this part of the world.