Derby Cathedral will host a public interfaith vigil for Ukraine on Sunday, 3rd April.

Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Jewish, and Quaker representatives are scheduled to speak at the vigil which starts at 3pm, and everyone in attendance will have the opportunity to light a candle, reflect in silence and sign the Book of Solidarity.

The vigil has been organised with the support of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Derby branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain,, and co-ordinated by Derby's Multi-Faith Centre.

Peter Robinson, the Dean of Derby said: "What people in Ukraine have experienced is beyond comprehension.

"This vigil is a way for people of all faiths and none to show their support for all those affected by this crisis. It is an opportunity for everyone to offer their prayers to God that all those affected should find comfort, that there will be an immediate end to bloodshed and a speedy and peaceful resolution.

"The fact that this demonstration of support is coming from different faith traditions is, I think, especially powerful and an opportunity for faiths to both pray and work together for the common good."

According to research carried out by the International Organisation for Migration between 9 and 16 March, the United Nations refugee agency estimates ten million people have now fled their homes in Ukraine because of the Russian invasion. As well as the 3.6 million who have left for neighbouring countries, another estimated 6.5 million people are thought to be displaced inside the war-torn country itself.

Peter Robinson, Dean of Derby Cathedral comments: "What people in Ukraine have experienced is beyond comprehension. This vigil is a way for people of all faiths and none to show their support for all those affected by this crisis. It is an opportunity for everyone to offer their prayers to God that all those affected should find comfort, that there will be an immediate end to bloodshed and a speedy and peaceful resolution. The fact that this demonstration of support is coming from different faith traditions is, I think, especially powerful and an opportunity for faiths to both pray and work together for the common good".

Around ten faiths will be represented at the vigil, a hugely significant moment for both cathedral and city.

Dr Vivekanand Sharma, Temple Priest at Hindu Temple Geeta Bhawan in Derby, said: “The suffering and pain of the Ukrainian people is felt by the Hindu Community and we sincerely pray that a lasting solution to the current crisis is found very soon and life returns to as normal as could be under the circumstances. On behalf of the Hindu Temple and Membership, we pray for peace and tolerance in Ukraine”.

Chief Imam, Mufti Hafiz Fazal Ahmed Qadri from Derby Jamia Mosque, said: "We believe there's power in prayer. We're not going to change the course of events, but we can certainly express our pain and our commiseration with the people of Ukraine.

"We stand united with all those affected by war and conflict in Ukraine, Kashmir, Afghanistan and many other places around the world."

A series of reflections for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day.

Palm Sunday

What do we look for in a leader amidst the violence, anguish and confusion of our world today?

Physical strength, smooth talking, intelligence or the common touch?

Or would we welcome anyone who might make things a little better?

Perhaps this is how it was for the crowds of Jewish pilgrims who travelled the difficult desert road up from Jericho to Jerusalem, shortly before Passover so many years ago.

From the top of the Mount of Olives, they would have gained their first glimpse of the ‘City of Peace’.

Thankfulness and awe would have welled up from deep in their hearts as they began to sing the great pilgrim psalms of praise and victory.

Then suddenly a man appeared amongst them on the road.

Some said he was a wise teacher from Galilee in the north, a miracle-worker and healer; some said he was the Messiah, a long-awaited liberator who would drive out the Romans and make Israel great again.

Others claimed he was a peace-maker, riding a young donkey in fulfilment of ancient prophecies.

Some said he was Jesus, the one who saves.

Crowds hacked palm branches from the trees, waving and crying out in welcome.

Some spread their cloaks on the road for him to ride over. Excitement mounted. What was going to happen?

Hopes were soon dashed. This was no glorious liberation or victory.

Apparently the man was just another trouble-maker with no respect for Law or Temple.

A quick arrest and trial; another miserable cross on Golgotha…

End of story - or was it?

Who was this Jesus? Many today are still asking the same question, drawn by his compelling journey to the cross - and beyond.

Perhaps here is a leader we can follow?

April McIntyre
Derby Cathedral Café Writers’ Group
St. Michael’s Church, Breaston

Maundy Thursday

As Christians, on Maundy Thursday we remember Jesus ‘new commandment’ to love one another as he has loved us, and we commemorate the institution of the Lord's supper.

Additionally in some churches on Maundy Thursday, in memory of Christ’s action at the Last Supper, foot washing takes place.

I’ve been reflecting on John’s recounting of Peter’s reaction to Jesus approaching him to wash his feet, what it says about him, and the example he presents to us.

Because I sometimes wonder if Peter gets a bad press – often he’s thought of as someone who speaks hastily, without really thinking about what he is saying.

But I often reflect that even in those moments of speaking hastily he reveals a heart that, though it may not always have understood, revered and deeply loved Jesus.

And the same is true in this instance.

Foot washing was the job of the lowliest person in the room.

So naturally for Peter the idea of Jesus undertaking this role would be unthinkable - Jesus was his Lord, not his servant. So he argues.

But when Jesus replies that the alternative is for Peter to have no share with him, Peter immediately wants to be completely washed by Jesus - not just his feet.

His love and strength of desire for relationship with Christ shine through his reply.

Though he perhaps didn’t realise it at the time, Peter desired what was accomplished on the cross. A complete washing away of his sin.

Foot washing is an intimate action.

It is possible to feel quite vulnerable when someone washes your feet.

And I wonder what my reaction would be if Christ had approached me as he approached Peter that day.

I hope that it would resemble the strength of honour and love that Peter showed:  ‘Lord, not my feet only…’

Charlotte Wallington
Curate
Benefice of Hathersage, Bamford with Derwent, and Grindleford

Good Friday

What do we do when our prayers have gone unanswered, our hopes have been left hanging and our dreams are dry and withering?

Jesus’ disciples had to face this very challenge on the day that they saw their saviour hanging on a cross dying.

He was supposed to save them.

He was supposed to set them free.

He was supposed to fulfill the promise long waited for.

They had given up everything to follow him because they believed that he was the one.

He had healed, spoken and loved like no man they had ever seen.

And hadn’t they seen him stand alongside Elijah and Moses? Robed in white as though heaven was touching earth?

How could they have fallen so far in such a short space of time?

How could things have gone so wrong?

The thing is… they couldn’t have known the hope that was embedded in the cross.

They couldn’t have known the healing that this one action would release.

They had no clue that this moment of incredible loss would lead to freedom for all creation.

They just needed to look beyond their moment to see that God had a larger salvation than they could have possibly imagined.

They needed to see past their own lives to see that their land, their people weren’t the only ones that needed to be set free.

They needed to extend their vision to see that promises are always fulfilled… in God’s time.

But it is hard, and we are tired.

When our prayers go unanswered, we can become so transfixed in this moment that we forget to remember that God is eternal. We can hang all our hopes on such fragile things, forgetting that God holds the whole universe in his hands, and we can trust him to hold our lives there too.

And, when our dreams die, as they sometimes do. We forget to ask God to give us new dreams. Dreams bigger than this moment, bigger than our own land our own ‘world’. Dreams that will go beyond our time and reach into eternity.

Good Friday is good because it isn’t the end.

Let us hold on to the hope that wherever we are in this moment, it isn’t the end but the beginning.

Debbie Patrick
Reader - Swadlincote and Hartshorne
Gresley and Newhall

Easter Day

The experience of the past two years of Covid, and now of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, causing terrible suffering there and repercussions for people across the globe, have changed the atmosphere of our lives and of our time.

It is harder for people to be optimistic.

People are tired, anxious, and fearful.

On the positive side, there is much kindness and sympathy for those at the sharp end.

Offers of hospitality to refugees, donations given and sent – all this follows hard on the heels of the dedication of so many key workers, so much appreciated in the thick of the pandemic.

If we are to win through in these times, it will be because of love.

In 1930 Russian communist leader Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin, one of the most feared and powerful men of his time, travelled from Moscow to Kyiv to promote the atheist teaching of his party.

Speaking to a large crowd he heaped as many insults as he could upon the Church and the Christian faith.

He appealed to the people of Kyiv to reject Christ, and embrace atheism.

At the end of the meeting the local parish priest stood and calmly dismissed the crowd with the usual Orthodox easter greeting - Christ is Risen!

The crowd thundered back in response – ‘He is risen indeed – Alleluia!’

Russian Orthodox have looked to Kyiv as the origin of their faith, since in 988AD Vladimir the Great, whose sculpture stands outside the Kremlin, was baptised there, leading to the majority of the Russian and Slavic peoples turning to Christ.

Jesus wept for Jerusalem.

I am sure he has wept for Kyiv.

At this new turning point, perhaps, in world history, we must look to Jesus who by the cross faced down the powers of darkness, violence and evil, suffering apparent defeat, before rising to victory, ‘disarming the principalities and powers’. (Colossians 2.15)

How did he do this?

By faithfulness to God, by humble service, by costly self sacrifice, by love.

Our thoughts this Easter must be with those traumatised by violence and evil, and our faith, hope, and love turned into prayer and action that can change the world.

Remember, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us.

Love wins.

Malcolm Macnaughton
Bishop of Repton

The Avenue Church of England Primary School Application Approved!

Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT) is delighted to announce that the Department for Education has approved an application to establish a new Church of England primary school at The Avenue development site, near to Wingerworth.

The new school will be developed as part of the Government’s Free School programme.

It will create much needed nursery and primary school places for families as the number of residential dwellings on The Avenue site increases alongside other developments in the local area.

The proposed Church of England primary school and nursery will be inclusive and open to pupils from families of all backgrounds and faiths (including no faith) where every child will be welcomed, respected and nurtured.

The school will offer a family-friendly approach with breakfast club and after-school provision offering a wide range of enrichment activities, operating as a community hub and supporting community cohesion.

DDAT is a multi-academy trust of 28 schools situated across Derby and Derbyshire and has a successful track-record of working with schools (including in the Chesterfield area) to improve provision.

In September 2018, DDAT successfully opened the first Church of England secondary school within the Diocese of Derby when Derby Cathedral School opened its doors to its first cohort of students.

DDAT has the experience of both rapidly improving schools and supporting established high-performing schools. DDAT is excited to create this new provision and will ensure the new primary school at the Avenue is a success from day 1.

Chief Executive Officer of DDAT, Mark Mallender, said: “I am thrilled that the Department for Education has approved our application for a new primary school and nursery serving the Wingerworth and Clay Cross areas of Chesterfield.

"We now have the opportunity to work with parents and the community to develop a highly effective school that will ensure our pupils make exceptional progress and leave fully prepared for their secondary education.

"The DDAT team are ready and excited to begin detailed work on developing this school and will ensure that plans are shared with the community as part of future consultations.”

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Young People, Councillor Alex Dale, said: “We’ve worked with Derby Diocesan Academy Trust on planning for this school and I’m sure that they will do an excellent job in getting it built and ready for the students who will attend.

“It’s great to see the government supporting the council in investing in first-class educational facilities to help give children and young people in Derbyshire the best possible start in life.”

The Trust will start planning its pre-opening programme, including consultations and events in the local area, leading up to the opening of the school.

The Trust will share its programme as soon as it is developed and agreed with its strategic partners including the Department for Education and Derbyshire County Council.

Family Fit is a series of videos specially made for the Diocese of Derby as part of the Bishop's Harvest Appeal 2020 and the commitment to supporting mental wellbeing in Derbyshire.

This series of five 20-minute, fun-themed family workouts, led by Kay Skinner, a Church of England sports minister, includes Magnificent Mondays, Talented Tuesdays, Wild Wednesdays, Thankful Thursdays, Fabulous Fridays.

They will premier each morning during the October half term break at 9 a.m. - so make sure you join in!

There is no special equipment needed - just make sure you have ample space for your family to move around while you follow Kay's classes.

This is a great way to get your family active, keep fit, do something together and, most importantly, help to look after your physical and mental wellbeing.

So please share this page with your family, friends, colleagues and schoolmates and let's all get Family Fit!

St Augustine's Church, in the parish of Walbrook Epiphany, has presented three Derby schools with a range of Christian books.

Revd Karen Bradley, vicar of Holy Trinity, Shirebrook, has  praised a group of Year 11 students’ handiwork after they built and installed a brand-new noticeboard outside the church door to keep her parishioners in the know.

She said that the noticeboard, which was made and installed by students at Shirebrook Academy, is a “thing of beauty”.

The students took on the task as part of their practical foundation studies, assisted by design technology teachers Simon Dosanjh and Simon Langrick, who guided them through the process from building the noticeboard out of wood and then sanding and staining it to give it the finished look.

They then visited the church to fix it into position.

Karen Bradley said: “We had a noticeboard installed previously, but it had certainly passed its sell-by date and a bit of an eyesore, but the new noticeboard is a thing of beauty and hopefully it will be used more than the previous one was.

“I want to thank the students for all their hard work, it was such a wonderful thing for them to do for us, a real blessing, and it’s brilliant to see the students discovering how the things they learn at school apply to the community.”

Student Thomas, 15, said: “I really enjoyed doing something different for the community and helping people out, but it was also cold installing the noticeboard and getting it level was a challenge.”

Claire Armstrong, head of design technology at Shirebrook Academy, said: “It was really nice as a department to do something practical and contribute to the community.

"We’re in the midst of really uncertain times, because social distancing rules means we can’t do as much practical work as usual, but this project was able to go ahead and allowed us to give something back to the parish after they generously donated some bibles to the school’s Philosophy and Ethics department.”

On 1 March 2025, Belper Town Football Club welcomed their new Chaplain Revd Rachel Burdett. Revd Rachel was joined by Bishop Libby who presented the man of the match. 

It turns out that Bishop Libby and Revd Rachel were lucky mascots on the day as Belper Town FC won 2-0 v Garforth Town FC.

Photo L-R: Revd Rachel, Bishop Libby, Ian Woodward (BTFC Chairman) and Lee Attenborough (BTFC Manager)

Revd Rachel said: It was exciting to watch my first Nailers’ game, especially as they won! I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and adding my support to the team. It is an important part of life in Belper and it is an honour to be the new chaplain.

Ian said we welcome Revd Rachel as our new Chaplain. We look forward to working with her as she continues to build on the existing relationship with Christ Church Belper and we look forward to welcoming her to support “The Nailers!”.

Photo Credit to Tim Harrison (BTFC)

Church buildings are not currently required to close and there is currently no obligation for churches to re-open in the event of a royal death. It will remain at the discretion of individual PCCs.

Private prayer should not be discouraged for those who feel the need to do this in a church building, but social distancing MUST be maintained for as long as the government restrictions dictate.

Having received one or more doses of the vaccine does not exclude anyone from adhering to the rules.

People should not be allowed to gather in groups.

Any church that wishes to consider re-opening MUST submit a risk assessment and have it approved by their archdeacon prior to opening.

Churches that are already open for private prayer etc may experience an increase in numbers and in some cases it may be necessary for them to re-assess their arrangements to allow for the increase. This may necessitate additional marshalling in and around the building.

Condolence books 

An online condolence book is now open for individuals and communities to record messages. Government guidance under the current Covid-19 precautions is that physical books should not be offered.

Flags

Flags should be flown at half-mast during the mourning period(the correct procedure is to lower flags completely and then raise them to half-mast).

Flower Tributes 

Visitors should not be allowed to leave flowers inside church buildings as this maybe a route for infection.  Flower tributes outside should also be discouraged.

Bells 

Guidance on how and when bells should be tolled will come from the cabinet office in due course, and we will share this information to you as soon as we are ableon this page.

When it comes to getting married, not every bride can tie the knot in their first choice of church. One lucky bride who did is Kelly Hewitt.