Dr Alison Brown, acting director of education, writes:
At the end of April I asked all 111 of our church schools to send me anything that they considered to be a sign of faith hope and love.
I kept hearing snippets of news of the sorts of things schools were doing to support the children and families in their care.
I wanted to build a montage to give an overview of the wonderful work that is going on in our Church schools that is evidence of some aspect of faith, hope and love.
Those snippets of news changed to a large and deeply humbling, encouraging and inspiring catalogue of creative and compassionate ways of showing God’s love.
>> See pictures of the church schools' signs of faith, hope and love
On top of having to cope with new ways of living and working during the pandemic with all the added stress and demands, our school leaders and staff were finding ways of serving their school community so all could flourish.
They were tapping into their Christian vision and finding new ways to express it.
This has continued to the present time.
As lockdown measures lift and schools are able to welcome back more pupils into the building they are paying great attention to helping children feel safe, welcomed and secure.
This is evident from one of our infant schools using rainbows on the floor to make our social distancing.
The Head Teacher was concerned about the possibility of how sterile and scary school environments could become.
A member of staff came up with the idea of rainbow markings which of course are much more time consuming to mark out than the usual 2m stickers but “This is a familiar symbol to children and will help them to see that these markings are there because we love and care for one another…‘Follow the rainbow road’”.
So, thank you to all our school leaders and staff for being and showing signs of faith, hope and love.
Click the image below to follow the link:
Click the image below to follow the link:
Pippa, a Year 6 pupil at South Darley Church of England Primary School has become the first to receive a Bishop’s Badge award presented online.
The presentation was made at the school, with Pippa’s family and Bishop Libby joining via Zoom.
Pippa, who has been through a number of difficult times, was nominated by her school. Head Teacher Paul Wilde said that Pippa had held her head high, carried herself with dignity and remained positive throughout her challenging journey.
As he handed the award to Pippa on behalf of Bishop Libby, Mr Wilde said: “You value others, see the best in people and in life around you, and we are really proud of you.
“You are totally deserving of this award.”
He described her as “always kind to people, always smiling and always tries her best”.
Bishop Libby, who spoke to Pippa and her class on the video call, said: “We honour that Christian characteristic that you have embodied in your years at South Darley.
“We recognise the work of God in you and that you tell us something of Jesus.
“I hope that the badge and certificate will help remind you of just how well people regard you.”
Bishop’s Badge looks a little different this year because of the constraints of social distancing.
The schools awards for 2020 have been limited to pupils in Year 6 who are about to move on to senior school and the presentations are being made on line.
The Bishop’s Badge awards to adults will also take place virtually, later in the year, focussing on exceptional contributions to mission and ministry during the lockdown.
Bishop Libby looks on via Zoom as Pippa is presented with her Bishop's Badge and certificate
Welcome to IME2
"Flourish within God's call so that you may help others to do the same"
Meet the Team
Ordained Ministries Development Officer (IME2 Coordinator): Rev'd Dwayne Engh, e-mail
Dwayne has worked in the Diocese of Derby since 2021.
Before becoming the Ordained Ministries Development Officer, Dwayne served in the parish of St Mary Magdalen, Chapelfields in Coventry. Before being ordained, he was an educator and musician.
IME2 Administrator: Marietta Forman, e-mail
Marietta has worked for the diocese over many years.
Before becoming PA to the Director of DM&M and Ordained Ministries Development Officer, Marietta supported the former Bishop of Repton, Humphrey Southern, as his personal assistant.
Dates for Ordination 2025
Deacons: Sunday 29 June 2025 at 10.45am
Priests: Saturday 28 June 2023 at 4.00pm
Dates for Ordination 2026
Deacons: Sunday 21 June 2024 at 10.45am
Priests: Saturday 20 June 2024 at 4.00pm
Downloadable resources
Resources for CURATES:
For 2023, 2024 & 2025 Cohorts - NOT Applicable for 2022 cohort
- Formational Qualities - 'IME 2 Priest qualities and evidence (from autumn 2022)'
- Assessment of Curates in IME2
- 2025 - 2026 Assessment Checklist
- Curacy Handbook 2025
- Curacy Portfolio & Assessment Guidebook 2025
- IME2 CURACY Learning Plan - QUALITIES
Additional Lay Report Forms for 2023 Cohort:
- Year 1 Lay Report - QUALITIES
- Year 2 Lay Report - QUALITIES
- Year 3 Lay Report - QUALITIES
- Schools Report - QUALITIES
- Parish Safeguarding Officer Report - QUALITIES
- Annual Self-Evaluation
2022 cohort ONLY - NOT Applicable for 2023, 2024 & 2025 cohorts
- Formation Criteria
- 2023 - 2024 Assessment Checklist
- Curacy Handbook 2021
- Curacy Handbook 2022
- Curacy Portfolio & Assessment Guidebook 2021
- Curacy Portfolio & Assessment Guidebook 2022
- THE Learning Plan
- Year 1 of Curacy Training Programme 2025-2026
- Year 2 of Curacy Training Programme 2025-2026
- Year 3 of Curacy Training Programme 2025-2026
- Year 1 of Curacy Training Programme 2024-2025
- Year 2 of Curacy Training Programme 2024-2025
- Year 3 of Curacy Training Programme 2024-2025
Additional Lay Report Forms:
- Year 1 Lay Report
- Year 2 Lay Report
- Year 3 Lay Report
- Schools Report
- Parish Safeguarding Officer Report
- Annual Self Evaluation
General Template forms:
- Leading Worship Feedback Form
- Preaching Feedback Form
- Self-evaluation Leading Worship
- Self-evaluation Preaching (or similar)
- Supervision Preparation Form
- Record of Supervision Form
Resources for ALL TRAINING INCUMBENTS:
TI Assessment Reports for 2023 Cohort and onwards - NOT Applicable for 2021 and 2022 cohorts
- Formational Qualities - 'IME 2 Priest qualities and evidence (from autumn 2022)'
- Assessment of Curates in IME2
- Training Incumbent Report - Part 1 of 2
- Training Incumbent Report at the End of Deacon'sYear - Part 2 of 2
- Training Incumbent Report at the End of Curacy - Part 2 of 2
TI Assessment Reports for 2021 and 2022 cohorts - NOT Applicable for 2023 cohort onwards
- Training Incumbent Report at the End of Deacon's Year (Pre-Priesting) PART 1
- Training Incumbent Report at the End of Deacon's Year (Pre-Priesting) PART 2
- For those curates ordained 2021 or 2022: Training Incumbent Year 2 Report (Please use the same document as last year and fill in the 'Year 2' sections)
- For those curates ordained 2021 or 2022: Training Incumbent Report at End of Curacy PART 2
Why use A Church Near You?
A Church Near You is a fantastic, free resource available to all Church of England churches.
You A Church Near You entry will often appear at the top of Google / Bing searches for churches in your area.
Remember, that once people find your ACNY page, you will have about 7 seconds to grab them, so it's vital that your page has at least up-to-date contact details listed. Not doing so is effectively the same as turning people away at the door!
A Church Near You is also where the Find a Church links point to on this website.
But A Church Near You is so much more than a directory listing - you can save yourself a lot of money by using your ACNY pages as your church's main website! See how St Peter's Chellaston does this.
It doesn't matter if you already have a URL (web address) for your church, you can direct that straight to your ACNY page.
There is lots of online support available, as well as support from the diocesan Communications Team.
Being your ACNY editor also gives you access to a whole range of resources you can use in your church, on your website and on social media etc.
>> How to become an approved editor of a church’s site
Whilst many churches have been using social media to engage with congregations, the Benefice of Crich and South Wingfield has been reaching out using smart speakers!
CSW Digital Church is the brainchild of parishioner Jim Morton (pictured with Revd Ian Whitehead).
He feels called by God to ordained ministry within the Church of England and is currently studying on the Diocese of Derby Discipleship Training Programme.
Jim currently manages the benefice’s social media ministry on Facebook and A Church Near You.
He created CSW Digital Church, using his own time, resources, creativity, and skills. What started as a hobby by teaching himself new online skills, has turned into a successful ministry.
This is an exciting new ministry under the guidance of Revd Ian Whitehead. CSW Digital Church represents and is part of the Benefice of Crich and South Wingfield.
Following the closure of our churches in April 2020, Jim felt that God had set him a task.
That task was to take the Gospel to our existing church community, and beyond.
He felt it was important to make prayer available to everyone and he was inspired by the ministry of Jesus.
CSW Digital started out as a YouTube channel but soon grew into a three-times-a-day prayer podcast on Soundcloud.
He then ventured into special services on Sundays.
Jim wanted to make the message of Jesus as accessible as possible during these difficult times so he learnt the skills needed to create an Amazon Alexa app.
Since April 2020, CSW Digital Church has had more than 1,500 listeners from all corners of the globe.
Currently, Jim is working on a project to build a children’s ministry, called CSW for Kids.
If you have an Alexa, give CSW Digital Church a try now. Just say “Alexa, open Digital Church”.
Young People are key members of our churches and our local communities.
Their energies, opinions and their commitment to serve is an invaluable resource that many churches in our diocese are fortunate to enjoy.
Lots of churches are looking for new ways to engage with young people in their community and the Board of Education is here to provide help, training and advice.
101 Fun ideas for working with Young People – An excellent download resource from Bath & Wells: 101 fun ideas for working with young people
Dare2engage is a network of teachers and practitioners in 16-19 education who share a common aim to develop new and innovative resources for RE and spiritual development. They have an excellent website with lots of ideas and resources.
42 – Urban Saints A 42-day devotional from Urban Saints to encourage a deeper relationship with God, great for those at the start of their journey with Christ, or those who would like some time of refreshment: 42 – Urban Saints
Mimic – Urban Saints Do you want to learn to live like Jesus? Do you want to be a world changer? This is a great FREE discipleship course from Urban Saints, encouraging our young people to become who God wants them to be. Mimic
Light is Scripture Union’s range of resources to help you run fun, flexible and exciting Bible-based sessions for children and young people. Perfect for Sunday School and Junior Church settings, Light equips you with all you need to teach and disciple your groups in a way that works for you. What is Light?
Light-Live As well as print resources Scripture Union has tons of FREE downloadable items- all you need to do is register and Log-In. Live-Life
The Collective A new free Christian worship album which is absolutely fantastic. Worth the download. The Collective
In need of some faith stretch and challenge? Keen to take your disciple-making to the next level? Then download the FREE Live Life 1-2-3 app to get ‘tooled up’ with some practical disciple-making training and devotionals. Great for you and for teenagers or adults you want to encourage in faith. Live Life 1-2-3
Youth Group Games App – The Best Free Resource Ever?
Know when you’re desperately looking for a last minute game for your youth group, and your brain has shut down… Well, the Diocese of Drown and Dromore in Ireland, has produced a completely free app available on iOS, Android and Windows platforms, with more the 150 tried and tested games ideas. And there’s no catch Youth Games App
WW 1 Resources For use with schools, and church children’s and youth groups in the Diocese of Derby. This resource booklet [PDF] provides some pointers to where clergy and other leaders can access resources on WW1 and provides some links to web-based information on the topic of WW1.
UKYouth ha developed a free resource on mental health and well-being for use with young people. You can get a free downloadable copy via the link UK Youth-Mental Health Resource
The Children’s Society has released six youth group sessions from a faith perspective to help youth workers unpack key topics such as identity, sexting, mental health, healthy relationships, and life online, empowering your young people to support themselves and their peers.
It’s free, ready and waiting at:
www.childrenssociety.org.uk/youth
Each week, ROOTS offers ways for children and young people to get to know and think about one of the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary – and to explore how it relates to their everyday lives.
On 17 March 2016 at St John's School Of Mission in Bramcote, ten speakers delivered a session each on an essential concept in youth ministry.
The training event, for workers and volunteers was co-ordinated by Alistair Langton, from the Diocese of Derby, and Sally Nash from the Midlands Centre for Children, Youth and Mission (MCYM).
The event was partnered by Southwell & Nottingham Diocese, the Methodist Church and Youth for Christ.
The event also celebrated ten years of the Grove Youth series of booklets.
These sessions are available to view on YouTube and links to each are highlighted below.
Session 1 – Reflective Practice – Paul Nash
Session 2 – Core Principles – Alistair Langton
Session 3 – Anti-oppressive Practice – Nigel Pimlott
Session 4 – Lifestyle Development Theory – Elaine Jones
Session 5 – Facilitating Learning – Nigel Roberts
Session 6 – The Naomie Planning Tool – Linda Hopkins
Session 7 – Leadership – Liz Dumain
Session 8 – The Drama Triangle – Sarah Fregado
Safeguarding Training courses are advertised in the safeguarding training section.
