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.

The creative ways that people in our parishes have found to help people during the pandemic has been wide-ranging. Here's the story of how one parish has taken to YouTube to helpbuild community, grow church and transform lives.

Covid Island Discs was the brainchild of Revd Ian Webb, team vicar in Dronfield with Holmesfield Team Ministry, and he has been producing an episode of this popular feature for 12 weeks.

“Having only been licenced in November, I was thinking about how I could help people get something from worship using video,” said Ian.

“But it was also about building community connections and people getting to know one another.

“There was also an element of testimony in there too – how did I become a Christian and what is my role and purpose?”

As the title reveals, the idea is based on the popular BBC Radio 4 series of a similar name.

Ian has approached people of different genders and background to feature in his programmes and give something of themselves and their faith.

They include local curate Joel Bird, Archdeacon Carol, Bishop Libby and American country music and Christian music singer-songwriter Jenn Bostic (pictured) who, last year, performed at Dronfield parish church.

Guests have also included some who have recently come to faith.

Ian said: ” What I have done is to approach people and then send them some instructions.

They choose five pieces of music and send me a biography and we see how the conversation goes from there.

“I have a standard set of five questions I ask – including how they came to faith and how they have coped in these times of Covid – and, of course, they also get to tell me about any particular items they would not want to be without on Covid Island.

“And some of their answers have surprised me. One of the things I ask is ‘When did it feel great to be a Christian?’

"I had expected people to tell me about a particular single event, but mostly the guests have talked about being in the rhythm of Christianity and the sustenance that comes from that.

“But the answers are varied, as one guest talked about the time his granddaughter was seriously ill and, being away on holiday, all he could do was to pray.

"His granddaughter went on to make a remarkable recovery – and that was a significant moment in his Christian journey.”

“Music choices have been interesting too!

"For example, there was a big difference between Archdeacon Carol’s classical choices and some of Jenn’s choices which might have had you jumping around and going crazy!”

Ian says that the response has been fantastic and that he has had plenty of positive feedback, but that the current series will finish just before Lent: “I wanted to help people to worship – we are weakened as a church because we have not been able to sing together, and this series has hopefully helped and encouraged some to do that and to worship God.

“It is a time-consuming process – mainly because of the editing – but I would do it again if people wanted it.

"I think it has been of value and I believe it has helped people during lockdown.”
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Catch up on all the episodes of Covid Island Discs on YouTube.

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.”

Please find a link below to a short film produced by the Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board which provides some helpful information on how to identify the indicators of adult abuse.

It is very short so please take the time to watch it if you can.

Here also is a link to their newsletter which contains some additional information about various topics.

Please note the contact details in the video relate to Derbyshire.

The contact details for Derby City are:

During office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) - 01332 642855

Outside office hours - 01332 956606

If something needs to be done straight away to protect someone from abuse or harm, call 999 (24 hours).

Finally:

• If you have a concern about a child, young person or adult who may be at risk of harm please speak to one of the parish safeguarding coordinators or the priest within the parish.
• If you have concerns about a member of the clergy or an employee of the diocese please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser on 01332 388678 or one of the archdeacons.

If a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention, you must dial 999.

Please note that we will respond to all concerns reported in the strictest confidence.

Our office hours are Monday to Friday 9am until 4pm.

To report a concern or request advice regarding a safeguarding issue, please use this form, as it will alert the safeguarding team via our safeguarding email inbox.

We will respond to all contacts as a matter of priority, at the latest on the next working day.

If you are unable to complete this form, you can call 01332 388678 and ask to speak to a safeguarding advisor.

If your concern escalates and someone is in danger, call 999.

You can also report any concerns to the Police or Social Care.

Derby City
Children  01332 641172
Adults      01332 642855
or out of hours call Careline 01332 956606

Derbyshire (Adults and Children)
Call Derbyshire 01629 533190  
or out of hours 01629532600

The important thing is that your concerns are shared with someone in a position to help.

Derby Cathedral will revert to online-only worship from Sunday, 10th January.

The Very Revd Peter Robinson, Dean of Derby, made the announcement in a letter to the cathedral community.

He wrote:

Services will be led by a small group of clergy and laity and streamed through our social media channels.

It is heartening to know that the safety measures we already have in place mean that this group can involve the Lay Clerks of Derby Cathedral Choir, so that our services will include music. 

The cathedral will remain open for private individual prayer during the week, and we will be adding to our programme of activities and worship available online, making more resources of all kinds available to the cathedral community and the diocese.

>> Visit the Derby Cathedral website

These arrangements will be kept under review. We hope that in coming weeks or months we will see success in the measures everyone is taking against this pandemic and improvement in the public health situation locally.

For some of you this will be somewhat of a relief. For others it will be a cause of disappointment.

As I write, this is not the message that earlier in the week I had anticipated sending.

The new lockdown has not made it compulsory for places of worship to close their doors. Church leaders have been clear that this means decisions can be made locally about what the right response is to the situation we are in. 

You will be aware that the public health situation in Derby is very serious. Following government and Church of England guidance, and after consulting with public health authorities in Derby, we have decided that at present the right response is to limit as much as possible any physical gathering of people. 

Although I regret the need to take this decision, it is I believe the right one in current circumstances. To serve the common good we need to make this temporary and timely sacrifice, so that before too long we can all gather for worship again.

Please continue to join with the whole cathedral community in prayer for our nation’s key decision makers at this deeply challenging time.

Especially, let's pray for those who are struggling with a Covid-19 infection and remember those who have lost loved ones as a result.

We pray for all those in the NHS who are serving so valiantly against all the odds in the midst of so many challenges.

This comes with every blessing to you all, the prayers of the cathedral team and my very good wishes.

The end of 2020 saw the Venerable Dr Christopher Cunliffe bid farewell to the diocese after 14 years as the Archdeacon of Derby.

At a special Evensong at Derby Cathedral, he was joined by members of his family, colleagues and friends. The service was also streamed online.

In his sermon, Archdeacon Christopher said: "Fourteen years ago, standing in the pulpit here to preach the sermon at my installation service, I looked out over a sea of unfamiliar faces, broken by the occasional welcome outcrop of recognition. 

"Now, in rather different circumstances, I feel surrounded and upheld by friends and colleagues, even if the encouraging smiles are more difficult to determine [because of the need to wear face masks]. 

"Thank you for being here, whether in person or online and for the companionship and patience you, and the people you represent, have afforded me over the years."

He was presented with gifts from the diocese and the cathedral.

Peter Robinson, the Dean of Derby, thanks Archdeacon Christopher for his service and enlists the help of Christopher's grandchildren to present gifts from the cathedral

Bishop Libby thanked him for his "extraordinary and dedicated service" to the Diocese of Derby.

She also recorded one of a series of videos, made by colleagues past and present, in tribute to Christopher.

Recollecting his collation as Archdeacon of Derby in 2006, Christopher said: "It's the longest time I have been in a job. Most (within the Church) are fixed-term contracts - but it has given me the time to develop relationships which has been extremely important."

And using the words of Jonathan Bailey, a former Bishop of Derby, he described the diocese as a "diocese at ease with itself".

He said: "Being an archdeacon is very much a behind-the-scenes job. It is hard work but you are working with people who, if you take time with them, are incredibly amenable - they are intensely loyal to the parish church.

"The main part of our role is to help clergy be equipped for mission. In that respect, archdeacons aren't fathers or mothers like some senior clergy - instead we are the elder siblings."

Christopher began his ordained ministry in the Diocese of Derby. He was Assistant Curate at St Mary and All Saints Church in Chesterfield (the Crooked Spire) from 1983 to 1985.

Christopher at his installation as Archdeacon of Derby and with Helen outside Derby Cathedral

He worked alongside his wife, Helen, who was also a curate at the church in one of the first job-share arrangements in the Church of England.

In 1985 he became Chaplain and Research Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, until 1989, when he became Chaplain of the City University and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. 

In 1991 he took a post in the Church of England’s Advisory Board of Ministry, which involved co-ordinating vocation and selection conferences for people seeking ordination. 

From 1997-2003 he was Director of Ministry in the Diocese of London, and from 2004-2006 Chaplain to the Bishop of Bradwell in the Diocese of Chelmsford.

Christopher and Helen, a former archdeacon, have two grown-up sons, Edward and Jacob. 

The African Bug

Christopher is a keen historian, with a doctorate in the subject and a continuing interest in research and writing. 

He also has an interest in African history and culture, and until recently was Chair of MANNA (Mozambique and Angola Anglican Association). 

His association with Africa came about in the 1990s when Helen, then as chair of USPG, took a sabatical in Zambia - and they were both bitten by the African bug.

They also visited Uganda and, in 1991, Christopher went to Mozambique through the Diocese of London.

In 1998 he was invited to becom the Chair of MANNA.

Drawing a comparison between the way the Church works there and here, Christopher said: "Angola is a country of 24 million people, though only around 150,000 Anglicans. But in some repects they are way ahead of us.

"There, they try not to emulate the English model of a diocese - they try to do things differently.

"For example, I remember one parish wanting to rebuild its church and the presentation on behalf of the PCC was given by a 15-year-old - many church officers there are in their teens or their 20s or 30s.

"It certainly helps give a different perspective on things."

A young Christopher Cunliffe with and equally young Rowan Williams, later to become Archbishop of Canterbury

Christopher and Helen will live in Carmarthenshire, Wales, in the Diocese of St David's. Christopher said: "I don't speak Welsh even though we have had a house there for ten years. 

"We were also there when the first lockdown was announced earlier this year, so that is where we had to spend it."

In his retirement, Christopher aims to finish a book he started to write a while ago and plans to take up fly fishing, something he has "dabbled with" in the past.

He said: "There is much about Derbyshire and the Diocese of Derby I will miss - I have always felt at home at the churches I have visited.

"Whilst it is important to pay attention to the organisational and financial aspects, at a parish level life goes on and that is where the important work relating to communities and pastoral care etc, is done.

"This could actually be a time of significant change for the Diocese of Derby.

"The diocese knows what it is doing and is doing it well.

"Keep up the good work!"

Christopher with fellow archdeacon, Carol Coslett, the Archdeacon of Chesterfield, following his retirement service

Be part of our Diocesan Christmas Carol video

There’s nothing quite like singing carols together at Christmas.

Sadly, this year, we can’t hold our usual carol services – so we’re going to try to make a special version of O Come, All Ye Faithful to get us all singing as a diocese, in the spirit of hope and togetherness … and we’d love you to take part, by videoing yourself(selves) singing this most well-known of carols! 

How to take part [PDF] | Download the audio track [mp3] | Download the words [PDF]

Fri, 4 December 2020

The fire that gutted All Saints' Church in Mackworth last night fire has resulted in severe damage to the building's interior.

Speaking to the BBC, Clive Stanbrook, area manager for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue said: "The roof has now completely fallen in on itself and the internal damage is extensive."

He added that the spire and the external walls are intact and fire crews had continued to ensure there was no further damage to the building late into the evening.

The fire was discovered just after 4.30pm on Thursday.

Six fire engines were sent to the scene including two ladder platforms.

Firefighters were able to protect the tower to a large extent, but were unable to save the nave roof.

An investigation into the cause of the fire has begun.

Revd Jacqueline Stober, vicar of All Saints, said the fire had been deeply distressing for the churchwardens, congregation and the communities that had done so much for the church, but she was confident that worship would continue at the site in some form: "People have worshipped in this place for a thousand years and, somehow, worship will continue here for the next thousand years."

She also posted on Facebook: "As we stood on Lower Lane watching the roof burn, I was so struck by how much love there is out in the community for All Saints.

"I have had messages of condolence from across the country from people who have sent messages of prayer and support to us at this terrible time.

"The fire can’t touch our memories of Sunday school and youth group; the place we first heard that we were loved by God beyond measure; weddings; baptisms; funerals, summer fairs and Christmas tree festivals.

"All those life events brought to church to take place under the loving gaze of our Heavenly Father and in the company of those we love."

The Right Reverend Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, praised the fire crews for their efforts and asked for prayers for all those affected by the fire.

She is expected to visit Mackworth at the weekend and to participate in a special service being planned near the site for Sunday morning.

Fire crews have been fighting a serious fire at Mackworth All Saints church.

The alarm was raised just after 4.30pm on Thursday (3 December).

Six fire engines were sent to the scene including two ladder platforms.

Firefighters were able to protect the tower to a large extent, but were unable to save the nave roof.

>> See video on Twitter

Mackworth All Saints, dating from the 12th century, lies to the north of the A52 road at the bottom of Church Lane.

Speaking from the scene, the vicar, Revd Jacqueline Stober, said: "It's a terrible scene and we don't yet know the full extent of the damage.

"I got a call from a churchwarden to say there was a fire and as I drove to the church I could see smoke and a glow on the horizon so I knew is was bad.

"This is horrible for all the congregation and for those who have looked after this church for many years - some have put their heart and soul into it."

The Right Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, said: “With the congregations and community of Mackworth, I am shocked and deeply saddened by the fire at this beautiful building.

“This church has stood as a witness in this place to the Good News of Christ for centuries, and in the midst of our grief for this loss we remember that Jesus, who has been worshipped in that church for so long, is still with us even in the midst of this disaster.

“We are grateful for the courage of those who fought the fire and my thoughts and prayers are with them and all those affected.”

The present building was largely built in the 14th and 15th centuries, with additions in the 19th century and Derbyshire alabaster featuring prominently in the interior decoration.

The beauty of its setting has made it popular for weddings.