Parish Personnel
St Edmund’s, Allestree & St Matthew’s, Darley Abbey are two parishes which share a Vicar & a Ministry Team.
We have been without a Vicar since The Reverend Peter Barham retired at the end of April 2023.
Clive Lemmon was first admitted as a Reader (in St Alban’s Diocese) in 1982, and has been licensed to St Matthew’s since 1987. He is PCC Treasurer and has, in the past, been churchwarden for two terms. He is a chartered civil engineer and his career (before retirement at 50) was spent with British Railways, latterly in the research department, which was what brought him to Derby. He is not without interests, but it is difficult to say precisely what they are!
Melonie Hambly has been a Reader since 2003. All of that time has been at St Matthew’s. She is a parent and grandparent and has been a foster parent. She is a committed caravaner. She has never yet written a blog.
Deborah Simpson became a Reader in 1982 – at the time the youngest Reader in the diocese – initially in the parish of All Saints’, Mickleover. She transferred to St Edmund’s following her marriage in the church in 1992 and has been here ever since! Aside from church activities Deborah is heavily involved in the local am-dram scene and is chairman of Quarndon Amateur Dramatic Society, loves horses and equestrian events and is also an avid reader – mostly of crime fiction.
Paul Smith is a Churchwarden at St Edmund's, Allestree. Living in Crich, he and his wife Kate have worshipped here since 1989 and both enjoy singing in the choir. Paul recently retired as editor of a national health and safety newsletter. He started his career as a trainee HM Inspector of Factories, became director of a risk consultancy, and more recently worked as Head of Safety, Health and Environment at E.ON's Engineering Academy in Nottingham. He's a keen recorder player and a member of several local consorts. A life-long biker, he's Secretary of the charity Derbyshire Blood Bikes.
We currently have a vacancy for a second Churchwarden at St Edmund's.
Peter Taylor is a Churchwarden at St Matthew's. Peter lived on Duffield Road in Darley Abbey from an early age. He attended the old village school, church, choir and scouts. His education continued at Herbert Strutt Grammar School in Belper. He married Dorothy at St Matthew’s. His career before retiring, was lecturing in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Wilmorton College.
David Brierley is a Churchwarden at St Matthews. He became warden just before Peter and Julie arrived in 2016. David and his wife Rita have lived in the parish for 30 years. He is heavily involved at Darley Abbey Cricket club and has a long connection with the scout group. David and Rita volunteer at the Derby Churches Winter Night -shelter. He still runs a few races and grows wonky veg!
Caroline Audley is the Church Administrator for St Edmund's and St Matthew's. She moved away from Derbyshire to go to university in Sheffield where she met her husband Dave. Caroline and Dave married in St Edmund's in 2013 and have now moved back to Derby, their children were Christened at St Edmund's. You can usually find her in the Church Office, which is next to St Edmund's Church Hall, at the top of King's Croft. If you face the main church hall doors, her office is round to the left.
Anna Oldknow is the Anglican Youth, Children's and Family Worker based at St Nick's, Allestree. St Edmund's supports this ministry.
