The Nottingham and Derby District is based around the two cities from which it gets its name, and not the counties in which most of it lies. It stretches from the Derbyshire dales in the west to the borders of Lincolnshire in the east and also takes in small parts of Staffordshire and Leicestershire. The major centres of population are in the cities of Nottingham and Derby, but also there are the significant towns of Mansfield, Newark, Grantham and Burton on Trent.

A large proportion of the people of this area live in former coalfield areas, which have experienced considerable decline since the 1980s. New industries such as the car firm Toyota have come into the area, but even so this has not given the level of employment previously provided by coal mining, engineering and textiles. The District also has rural areas which support farming and dormer villages.

One of the great advantages of so many changes in recent decades is the rich variety of people and cultures that are to be found here. You can bump into people who either themselves or their forebears come from different parts of the country mostly because work or family has brought them here; and there is a growing number of people from other countries too who have made this part of the east Midlands their home.

Alomay know that it soon looked dated and tired, but here we have that which I believe to be a great tool for the people of Nottingham and Derby and also for anyone who wishes to browse away.

Our Nottingham and Derby District is a great place to be - though you would expect me to say that. However I back it up with many facts. Within our boundary there exists a great variety of people; geography; counties and theology. We are based around the two major cities of Nottingham and Derby - and not the two counties which make up most of our District. We also encompass parts of Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire - right from Derbyshire Dales in the north to Ashby de la Zouch in the south; Grantham in the east and Uttoxeter in the west - a rich variety of former coalfield areas; rural communities; cities and towns.

We benefit from having an influx of people from other parts of the country and the world through the years who have made this District their home.This not only gives a variety of experience upon which to draw, but also a variety of cultures and faiths from which we learn and (hopefully) listen.

Although statistics change as soon as they are published, our District has approximately 12,000 members and a community role of over 40,000. There are 256 churches in 24 circuits, with 78 presbyters and 6deacons in active service, and we benfit from the 79 supernumerary ministers and deacons amongst us.

Our mission statement says that we are here to 'respond to God's love....' . I understand this as being that we who believe that the love of God is stronger than anything are here to express that in all sorts of ways. Of course we do this in Christian worship and through our methodist organisation - but not exclusively. Because we beleive that God's love is for all, we are here to stand alongside all others where we are and to prove by that presence and consequebt actuion that this love is real and can be seen, albeit imperfecyly in people. The examples of this throughout the District are many - ranging from night shelters for the homeless to street pastors to open houses and open churches to conversations with those of other faiths and no faith to telephone service for the lonely ..... and on and on. Some initiatives are innovative, others are as old as the hills , but all are vital in showing and proving God's love and - as our mission statement also says  '... live out our discipleship in mission and service.'

Mission has become a word that we are really emphasising; for that is what we are about. Sometimes an emphasis can become so often stated that it looses its impact. However we are people who are committed to serving our present circumstances. this presents us with a few problems and many more challenges, but we are facing them all.

Whatever your reason for entering our website - you are most welcome. If you are just curious, I hope that you will look further and see what is happening here. If you need information, I hope that you will find the website useful.

May your search be fruitful.

Ever yours
Wes Blakey