News Stories
Bishop Libby and Will Hagger are delighted to announce that Julie Gardner will be joining the Diocese of Derby as Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP) with effect from 28 November 2023.
Julie qualified as a social worker in 1988 and has worked for over 30 years in the field of safeguarding, public protection and partnership working.
Previously the Associate Director of Safeguarding for Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Julie retired from her role earlier this year.
Throughout her career Julie has been committed to supporting children, young people, and adults to live their lives free from abuse and is excited to be able to bring the culmination of her years of experience in health and social care to support the work of the Diocese of Derby.
The Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel is the committee that advises the Bishop on whether, in its view, the diocese has clear and transparent safeguarding policies, working practices and training arrangements which are consistent with statutory requirements and House of Bishops’ policy and practice guidance.
It is made up of senior staff within both the Diocese and Derby Cathedral, alongside representatives from statutory and partner agencies who provide safeguarding services to Derby and Derbyshire.
This role will see Julie ensure that safeguarding provision within the Diocese is subject to robust and independent scrutiny.
The Chair acts as a critical friend, supporting and encouraging as appropriate, but also providing challenge where necessary.
On confirming the appointment, Will Hagger, Diocesan Secretary, said: “I am delighted to welcome Julie to the team. Both statutory responsibility and safe culture are key, and Julie brings expertise and experience to enable the diocese to ensure best practice in Safeguarding for children, young people and vulnerable adults in our churches.
"I am looking forward to working with her."
On accepting the role, Julie said: “I am very pleased to be offered the privilege of becoming the new Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel and look forward to building on the great work that is already happening to ensure that the people of the Diocese of Derby are kept safe.”
All Saints’ Church in Mackworth has started on the next phase of rebuilding, after the Chancellor of the Diocese of Derby gave permission for the work to go ahead.
The centuries-old church, just outside Derby, was severely damaged by fire following an arson attack in December 2020 and has not been able to be used since.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) was granted permission to rebuild the church by the Worshipful and Reverend Timothy Clarke, Chancellor of the Diocese of Derby, in September and a contractor has been procured to start the work which is expected to take around 30 months to complete and includes rebuilding the walls and roof.
Consultation has also started on the next phase of the rebuild, and Mackworth Parish residents will be consulted over the coming months about what the interior restoration should include.
After receiving permission for the work to go ahead, Don McLure, the Project Lead and PCC Treasurer, said: “It is great news for the congregation, local residents and the PCC that we can move forward with restoring the church.
It is a long and complicated process, but the PCC is aiming to make the exterior of the church look as near as possible to how it was before the fire.
The church had existed on the site at Lower Road for more than 700 years.
“We are extremely grateful to Ecclesiastical Insurance, who will fund both the building and interior work, and to the local community and supporters of the church for raising more than £40,000 towards any non-insurance works that may be carried out.”
The fire completely destroyed the interior, including the pipe organ and marble pulpit, and caused the entire roof to fall in and structural damage to the walls of the nave and chancel.
It is estimated that the entire rebuilding project could cost up to £13m.
The congregation of All Saints has continued enjoying Christian worship thanks to the hospitality of its sister church, St Michael's, Kirk Langley.
More about Mackworth All Saints
The church dates back the 14th Century, though it is known that the site has been a place of worship for around 1,000 years. The building was earlier restored and reopened by the Bishop of Lichfield in 1851.
The pulpit, installed in 1896, was made of Derbyshire alabaster and green Irish marble. The pipe organ was built by Lloyd and Dudgeon of Nottingham and dated back to 1870. Both were destroyed in the fire.
Since the fire, the building has undergone a large amount of work to clear the site and stabilise the remaining walls to make it safe and prevent further collapse.
Silverware and paperwork stored in a safe survived the fire, as did a 4ft silver cross and a statue of the Madonna and Child.
The chancellor of the diocese, as the independent judge of the consistory court, oversees legal issues across the diocese, especially those which relate to the use of and alterations to church buildings and land.
Around £10m each year directly or indirectly supports Church of England mission and ministry through parishes, churches and other worshipping contexts, our schools and partner agencies across the Diocese of Derby.
That’s a huge amount of money to raise each year, so we have a duty to manage and deploy it well.
Our new publication On the money sets out to explain how we do just that.
In addition to On the money, we have introduced a new page on our website - Our Finances.
Here you will find details about:
- On the money
- Common Fund
- Annual Budget
- Annual Report & Financial Statements
- Encouraging generous giving in your church
Why not take a look?
In 2023, Safeguarding Sunday is taking place on Sunday, 19 November 2023.
It is a safeguarding awareness raising campaign for churches run by the charity Thirtyone:eight.
Each year, thousands of churches from diverse backgrounds and traditions across the UK come together to reflect on their own safeguarding journey, and to highlight and celebrate all the good work that is being done by so many behind the scenes to protect vulnerable people.
On Sunday, 19 November, a service will be held in Derby Cathedral to give thanks and to celebrate the work of our Parish Safeguarding Officers and to recognise their work through an Act of Commissioning.
Hannah Hogg, Head of Safeguarding for the Diocese of Derby, said: “The Safeguarding Team are really looking forward to having the opportunity to recognise all the hard work our PSOs do across the diocese. We hope as many as possible will join us, both for the service and for a cup of tea afterwards”.
Resources for churches are available at: thirtyoneeight.org/get-involved/safeguarding-sunday
Lullington All Saints' Remembrance display this year will be memorable after villagers got together to knit and crochet 10,000 poppies
The poppies have now been assembled into a waterfall, cascading from the church building in the South Derbyshire village.
The idea was the brainchild of Jean Burgess. Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Jean said: "I put it on Facebook, and then another lady in the village said she'd put it on Facebook, another said 'I'll knit you some poppies' and it just escalated.
"We started the waterfall and we thought we'd need about 3,000 [poppies] - and my husband measured up and said 'no way!'
"I thought we'd never do it."
Jean, who knitted around 5,000 poppies herself, said that putting the appeal on social media and a websites in other villages got many more people involved.
Stretton Handley School writes:
On Tuesday, 3rd October, Stretton Handley Church of England VC Primary School had a very special visitor.
The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, kindly gave up her afternoon to join the children in a special Collective Worship service.
Staff, governors, parents / carers and members of St Mark's Church congregation were also in attendance.
The school's Church Council members led the service with prayers and the lighting of candles.
Bishop Libby gave an interactive talk to the children which included telling them what she did and what she wore.
She asked five pupils to come out to the front and allowed them to try on each part of her 'Episcopal vestments' and gave an explanation of what each part meant.
Also in attendance was Mr Ernest Fox, whose grandfather originally started the giving of a Bible to Year 2 pupils annually; he gave an explanation of how it all started.
His own father, Sam Fox, took over the tradition when the Sunday school ceased to run in 1960 and the Fox family have continued with the tradition, for which the school is extremely grateful.
On this particular occasion, pupils from Years 3 and 4 who had missed out before the Covid lockdown and unforseen circumstances also received a Bible.
Bishop Libby and Mr Fox presented the Bibles together.
In September 2021, St. Mark's Church started the tradition of giving out 'Special Bears', which came in a decorative bag with its own poem, to all the pupils attending the school.
This has now moved forward and each new starter receives their own "special bear" at the start of the new school year.
These have proved to be very popular and a source of comfort at times for the children.
This small gift confirms the link between the church community and school; let's hope it will continue to do so into the future.
Bishop Libby presented the new children with their own "special bear", but the biggest surprise of the afternoon was when the tables turned and Bishop Libby was presentedwith her own 'Special Bear' by one of the school church council members.
Knitted in purple wool, it came complete with it's own gold vestments showing the school badge.
Bishop Libby was very pleased to receive it and said she would treasure it.
A very pleasant afternoon was enjoyed by all in attendance with a wonderful atmosphere that was difficult to miss.
>> Derby Diocesan Board of Education website
The recent Storm Babet forced the vicar of St Alkmund's, Duffield, to move a wedding to a neighboring parish after river water innundated the church.
St Alkmund's, which is in the flood plain of the River Derwent, was one of many in the diocese affected by the storm.
This is the second time the church has flooded in the past four years and the third time the church hall has flooded.
The vicar, Revd James Hughes, said he had to move Saturday's wedding to nearby St Paul's Little Eaton: “By Friday, previous experience told me that flooding in the church was a distinct possibility.
"So I kept in close contact with the couple and we decided to delay the final decision until Saturday morning.
“With three inches of water in the church building on Saturday, it was a quick decision, not to mention the two feet of water in the church hall!
"When we did the wedding rehearsal on Wednesday, little did we know that things would not go according to plan, though the bride and groom were very understanding about the situation, even though it wasn’t quite what they had in mind.”
The clean-up operation is now underway, though it may be a week or two before services can resume in St Alkmund’s.
It is hoped that the local Church of England school can host the church’s services and there have been a number of offers of help with the clean-up.
Other parts of the village flooded too because the River Ecclesbourne also burst its banks, a scene that was repeated around Derbyshire and in Derby.
The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, said: “My prayers are with everyone affected by the flooding as once again so many lives and livelihoods have suffered.
"We give thanks for our local authority teams and emergency services who rose to the challenge of keeping us safe, and for the resilient partnerships across the city and county that facilitated such a coordinated and generous response to the crisis.
“The people of Derbyshire have an incredibly strong sense of community and I know that many neighbourhoods, businesses and individuals are rallying round to support those who need it most.”
More than 70 Bishop's Badge Awards have been presented to church and community volunteers in the Diocese of Derby this year.
The final presentations were made in a special Celebration of Lay Ministry, in Derby Cathedral on Sunday, 1 October.
The annual awards celebrate lay ministry and service in church and community, and recognise the distinguished service and dedication of many individuals contributing in Jesus’s name to the mission of the church.
Bishop Libby said: "It is always a pleasure to mark and celebrate the gifts of people across the Diocese of Derby and to thank those who offer so much to develop and sustain the life of the church and its work in the wider community.
"We give thanks for the often hidden, yet crucial and remarkable work of people who do not seek recognition, but whom we honour specially today."
>> See the photos from Sunday, 1 October
>> See the photos from Sunday 17 September
There were three Bishop's Badge Services this year.
The first was held to celebrate generosity and courage shown by school children towards others.
The other two services, held in September and October, recognised missional innovation and missional long service in parishes, churches and communities thoughout the diocese.
Recipients of the Bishop's Badge are nominated by clergy in the parishes of the diocese and the reasons for the nominations can be wide and varied.
On receiving his Bishop's Badge in September, John Sterland said: "My late father whilst being a member and former tower captain of St Andrew’s (Swanwick) received a badge a few years ago for his work supporting the major refurbishment of the clock and bells at St Martin’s Alfreton. I feel quite reflective and privileged at being recognised in a similar way."
And nominating Cara for a Bishop's Badge Schools Award, her head teacher said: "Cara goes above and beyond to show love and support to her peers; always noticing if someone is struggling or left out and offering friendship; showing what it means to build community by supporting and welcoming everyone. Her unquestioning support for others during tough times, even when she herself has been experiencing difficult situations, is transforming to those who she stands alongside and a model for others to follow."
Those presented with Bishop's Badges on Sunday, 1 October were:
Awards for Missional Innovation
- Helen Hodgson, Belper, St Peter
- Beryl Hill, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
- Ann Johnson, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
- Ann Jwala, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
- Sue McIntyre, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
- Anne Parkin, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
- Barbara Walford, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
- Margaret Bromby, Cotmanhay and Shipley, Christ Church
- Robert Henry Glassey, Elmton with Creswell and Whitwell with Steetley
- June Fawcett, Great Longstone, St Giles
- Su Woollen, Great Longstone, St Giles
- Hilary Maltby, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
- Sue Wells, Old Whittington, St Bartholomew
Awards for Missional Long Service
- Barrie Birkin, Ashford in the Water, Holy Trinity
- David Lee, Ashford in the Water, Holy Trinity
- Kathryn Naylor, Bakewell, All Saints
- Carol Wicksteed, Bakewell, All Saints
- Joy Layton, arlow, St Lawrence
- Alan Milner, Barlow, St Lawrence
- Roger Stubbins, Barlow, St Lawrence
- Geoff Walker, Barlow, St Lawrence
- Keith Wollerton. Belper, St Peter
- Robin Norman, Blackwell, St Werburgh
- Julie Barker, Boulton, St Mary
- Iris Armett, Buxton Team Parish
- Josephine Fry, Buxton Team Parish
- Alan Kirk, Buxton Team Parish
- Eric Thompson, Buxton Team Parish
- Pam Woodroffe, Buxton Team Parish
- Brian Moorhouse, Castleton, St Edmund
- Doris Gould, Chesterfield, Holy Trinity & Christ Church
- John Holmes, Chesterfield, Holy Trinity & Christ Church
- Audrey Musson, Chesterfield, Holy Trinity & Christ Church
- Julie Hart, Cotmanhay and Shipley, Christ Church
- Alwyn Tew, Cromford, St Mary
- Kim Hardy, Derby, St Anne
- Alison Haslam, Derby, St Anne
- Dennis Bull, Derby, St Barnabas
- Dorothy Ann Oliver, Derby, St Barnabas
- Valerie Dykes, Etwall, St Helen
- Jennifer Rowson, Great Longstone, St Giles
- Jennifer Rowson, Great Longstone, St Giles
- Peter Rowson, Great Longstone, St Giles
- Andrea Clarke, Hatton, All Saints Church
- Alison Mottram, Hatton, All Saints Church
- Frances Toye, Hatton, All Saints Church
- Michael Osborne, Holbrook, St Michael
- Susan Crabb, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
- Lindsay Steele, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
- Rachel Coupe, Melbourne,St Michael with St Mary
- Hazel Hole, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
- Margaret James, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
- David Wellens, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
- Pat Hassall, Sawley, All Saints and St Mary
- Anne Ball,Stanley and Stanley Common
- Janet Costall, Stanley and Stanley Common
- Sue Hartley, Sutton on the Hill, St Michael
- Janet Hopper, Swadlincote, Emmanuel
- David Hopper, Swadlincote, Emmanuel
- Maggie Fenby-Taylor, Ticknall, St George
- Jenny Stewart, Ticknall, St George
- Margaret Whyte, Ticknall, St George
- Paul Whitehall, Walbrook Epiphany
- Jean Parsons, West Hallam, St Wilfrid
- Ruth Bennett, Whitfield, St James
- Gillian Booth, Whitfield, St Luke
- Laurie Gill, Whitfield, St Luke
- Janet Magson, Wingerworth, All Saints
Those presented with Bishop's Badges on Sunday, 17 September were:
Awards for Missional Innovation
- John Bird, Littleover, St Peter & Blagreaves
- Jim Davison, West Hallam, St Wilfrid
- Gen Tarr, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
- Margaret Weightman, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
Awards for Missional Long Service
- Michèle Aspinall, Allestree, St Edmund
- Kate Bassford, Sawley, All Saints and St Mary
- Janet Bradshaw, Sutton-cum-Duckmanton
- Liz Broomhead, Hartington
- Christine Brown, Blackwell, St Werburgh
- Bryan Clarke, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
- Margaret Clarke, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
- Emson Maneya, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
- Ann Cooper, Youlgreave
- Averill Crisp, Swadlincote, Emmanuel
- Lynne Dawson, Old Brampton, St Peter & St Paul
- Christopher Dullage, Hartington
- John Entwistle, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
- Jane Entwistle, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
- Rob Groome, Risley, All Saints
- Brenda Harrop, Youlgreave
- Hannah Hawkins, Brimington, St Michael and All Angels
- Sylvia Homer, Stanton by Dale, St Michael and All Angels
- Zoe Leleux, Stanton by Dale, St Michael and All Angels
- Sue Marsh, Bakewell, All Saints
- Sally Renshaw, Tibshelf, St John the Baptist
- Patricia Rhodes, Tibshelf, St John the Baptist
- Cyril Roberts, Old Brampton, St Peter & St Paul
- Melanie Rose, Belper, St Peter
- Phil Sparrow, Chesterfield, SS Augustine
- John Sterland, Swanwick, St Andrew and Pentrich, St Matthew
- Mary Thompson, Smalley, St John the Baptist
- Mo Tolson, Risley, All Saints
- Alan Tolson, Risley, All Saints
Recipients and their families take the opportunity for a photographic memento with Bishop Libby
In 1927, the Diocese of Derby was founded and Bishop Edmund Courtenay Pearce, the first Bishop of Derby, arranged for a medal to be struck to celebrate this new beginning.
Copies of the medal were presented to prominent members of the diocese and to all those being confirmed in that year.
In recent years, the seventh Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern, arranged for a replica of this medal to be minted and mounted in the form of a badge.
As the eighth Bishop of Derby, Bishop Libby continues this tradition.
Each year these badges are awarded based upon recommendations made to the bishop, as a gesture from the diocese to acknowledge outstanding service to God's church.
Nicky Fenton has been collated and installed as Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales.
The service was held at Derby Cathedral on Saturday, 30 September, with Bishop Libby and Dean Peter.
Previously, Nicky was the Bishop of Derby’s chaplain, and a Residentiary Canon at Derby Cathedral. Prior to that, she was priest-in-charge of Hazelwood, Holbrook and Milford.
>> See the photos of the Collation and Installation Service
During her first sermon as archdeacon, Nicky spoke about the Archdeaconry of Derbyshire Peak and Dales and the whole diocese working as a team, and how each of us is called by God to use our individual talents to help each other and to further the work of the Church.
The choir of St John’s, Buxton, from the Archdeaconry of Derbyshire Peak and Dales, sang May the Love of Christ Enfold Us, and Derby Cathedral Junior Choir, the cathedral’s pre-chorister choir for children aged five to nine, sang Mother Mary Full of Mercy.
The Collation and Installation Service featured music from Derby Cathedral Junior Choir
Derby Cathedral is currently hosting one of a number of artworks created by local and national artists as part of Shedding Light on long Covid, a thought-provoking programme of events to engage local communities in the latest long Covid research.
The installation, outside the cathedral, invites visitors and passers-by to spend a few minutes sitting on a specially installed headset bench and listening to an audio track which they can download via a QR code.
The track, Breathturn, reflects on the moment of pause we collectively shared during the pandemic and how it affected those with Long COVID using their own words to describe their experience.
Shedding Light on Long Covid has been developed by Scientists and arts researchers at the University of Derby.
The Very Reverend Dr Peter Robinson, Dean of Derby, said: "Derby Cathedral is delighted to welcome S.H.E.D, once again.
"This is such an important opportunity being offered to people of all generations to delve deeply into our shared experiences of long Covid.
"We hope that many will come to the cathedral and enjoy the headset benches under the trees in our church yard and so form part of this precious, continued research."
In Derbyshire alone, there are approximately 10,000 patients living with long Covid, and this figure is rising weekly.
The virtual and interactive exhibition has been created by S.H.E.D – Social Higher Education Depot, a research and innovation space that engages the public with lifelong learning and teaching through creative industry and cultural practice.
The University has been at the forefront of research into causes and effects of long Covid since 2020.
The research has mostly been learning about the challenges of the condition and how this impacts the abilities of people to undertake their everyday tasks.
The research team hopes to use this learning to create pathways to support people with long Covid.
Bishop Libby has presented around 30 Bishop's Badges to those nominated for missional long service and missional innovation awards.
The special service, A Celebration of Lay Ministry, took place in Derby Cathedral.
The annual presentations celebrate ministry and service in church and community, and recognise the distinguished service and dedication of many individuals contributing in Jesus’s name to the mission of the church.
>> See photos from the Bishop's Badge service
Bishop Libby said: "It is always a pleasure to mark and celebrate the gifts of people across the Diocese of Derby and to thank those who offer so much to develop and sustain the life of the church and its work in the wider community.
"We give thanks for the often hidden, yet crucial and remarkable work of people who do not seek recognition, but whom we honour specially today."
The message of thanks was echoed by Bishop Malcolm in his reflection.
The service is one of three being held this year to present Bishop's Badges; the first was held to celebrate generosity and courage shown by school children towards others.
The final service will be held on Sunday, 1 October.
Those presented with Bishop's Badges on Sunday, 17 September were:
Awards for Missional Innovation
John Bird, Littleover, St Peter & Blagreaves
Jim Davison, West Hallam, St Wilfrid
Gen Tarr, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
Margaret Weightman, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
Awards for Missional Long Service
Michèle Aspinall, Allestree, St Edmund
Kate Bassford, Sawley, All Saints and St Mary
Janet Bradshaw, Sutton-cum-Duckmanton
Liz Broomhead, Hartington
Christine Brown, Blackwell, St Werburgh
Bryan Clarke, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
Margaret Clarke, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
Emson Maneya, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
Ann Cooper, Youlgreave
Averill Crisp, Swadlincote, Emmanuel
Lynne Dawson, Old Brampton, St Peter & St Paul
Christopher Dullage, Hartington
John Entwistle, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
Jane Entwistle, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
Rob Groome, Risley, All Saints
Brenda Harrop, Youlgreave
Hannah Hawkins, Brimington, St Michael and All Angels
Sylvia Homer, Stanton by Dale, St Michael and All Angels
Zoe Leleux, Stanton by Dale, St Michael and All Angels
Sue Marsh, Bakewell, All Saints
Sally Renshaw, Tibshelf, St John the Baptist
Patricia Rhodes, Tibshelf, St John the Baptist
Cyril Roberts, Old Brampton, St Peter & St Paul
Melanie Rose, Belper, St Peter
Phil Sparrow, Chesterfield, SS Augustine
John Sterland, Swanwick, St Andrew and Pentrich, St Matthew
Mary Thompson, Smalley, St John the Baptist
Mo Tolson, Risley, All Saints
Alan Tolson, Risley, All Saints
In 1927, the Diocese of Derby was founded and Bishop Edmund Courtenay Pearce, the first Bishop of Derby, arranged for a medal to be struck to celebrate this new beginning.
Copies of the medal were presented to prominent members of the diocese and to all those being confirmed in that year.
In recent years, the seventh Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern, arranged for a replica of this medal to be minted and mounted in the form of a badge.
As the eighth Bishop of Derby, Bishop Libby continues this tradition.
Each year these badges are awarded based upon recommendations made to the bishop, as a gesture from the diocese to acknowledge outstanding service to God's church.
Canon Carolyn Lewis, Diocesan Director of Education, writes:
It was a great joy to be able to welcome new headteachers from across the Diocese of Derby and to be hosted by the Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby.
We shared together in a commissioning service where Bishop Libby shared words of encouragement and affirmation to the new school leaders and they were each given a holding cross as a small gift to remind them of their belonging to the diocesan family.
The Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton, Bishop of Repton and Chair of the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE), prayed for the new headteachers and also encouraged them with words from the DBE’s vision:
"In the Diocese of Derby, we are committed to support our schools to be places of transformation, growth and where community is built, as we live out the values of generous faith, courageous hope and life-giving love.
"We do this through offering:
- life-giving, life-changing learning through excellent education, shaped by a distinctively Christ-like vision and ethos
- inclusive and inspirational collective worship, inviting all to grow in faith
- excellent religious education, enabling children and young people to reflect critically and explore faith, belief, and Christian responses to life’s big questions
- hospitality, hope and love to children, young people and households
- a sense of belonging to those of all faiths and none, building community near and far, local and global.
"As the headteacher of one of our church schools, you have a special responsibility to ensure everyone in your school is valued and recognised as a child of God, uniquely gifted by God.
"You are also responsible for ensuring the school is rooted in Christian values, principles and beliefs, and that worship and religious education are at the centre of the life and work of the school."
Finishing the afternoon with ‘afternoon tea’ new headteachers, the bishops and the DBE staff team were able to make connections and share a little of the joys and challenges of life in school.
>> Visit the Derby Diocesan Board of Education website
Pictured with Bishops Libby and Malcolm are (l-r): Helen Britten, Duffield, William Gilbert Endowed CE Primary; Louise Nicholson, Stretton Handley CE Primary; Katie Forster, Breadsall CE Primary; Emma-Jane Harry, Bakewell CE Infant; Mark Hibbert, Weston-on-Trent CE Primary; Francesca Mellor, co-head, Hartshorne CE Primary.
The DBE also welcomes: Liz Wooliscroft, Carsington & Hopton; Jayne Jackson, Castleton; Sarah Bellicoso, Dove Holes CE Primary; Suzanne Gardner, Langley Mill CofE (VC) Infant & Nursery; Jodie Daniels, Rosliston; Jakki Rogers, Whitfield, St Luke's.
We love all the creative and different ways churches are engaging with their parishes and beyond.
Our vision is The Kingdom of God, Good News for All and it's great to see how so many churches in the Diocese of Derby are sharing stories of their success in achieving transformed lives through growing church and building community.
Here are a few that have caught our eye recently:
- All
- Art
- Churchyards
- Heritagedays
- Towertours
Bishop Malcolm and his wife, Pam, visited Burundi in East Africa during July and spent time with the Diocese of Bujumbura, learning about ministry and mission in a very different context to the Diocese of Derby.
Bishop Malcolm writes:
Burundi is the poorest country in the world – the one thing it has in common with Derbyshire is a beautiful landscape of hills and valleys.
Life is very hard indeed for those who live in rural areas – the city is seen as a place of opportunity, which works for some, but even there the need for investment is always apparent.
The shadow of violent episodes in recent history remains, but people are hopeful about the future, and determined to work for peace and greater prosperity.
We found folks extremely hospitable, and rightly proud of their heritage and of their culture.
Travelling around the diocese you see just how precarious peoples’ livelihoods are.
This is especially so where steep slopes are vulnerable to flash floods in the rainy season, often causing devastating mudslides which destroying fields, homes, livelihoods, and endangering lives also.
One of the inspiring programmes the diocese is engaged with is helping local people get together in cooperatives to grow seedlings and plant trees, so that their roots will protect their fields and gardens from soil erosion.
>> The Bishop of Derby's Harvest Appeal - Trees for life Burundi
Eroded land is washed away by heavy rains
Empowering women and young people
As well as attending a glorious ordination service in the cathedral, and a wedding blessing in a village church, we had the opportunity to visit a range of innovative community projects.
The diocese is very involved in community development, the church working locally on initiatives that empower people living in poverty, especially women and young people.
Churches are full of young people – tiny, inquisitive, eager children everywhere, and older youths enjoying church as a forum for securing friendships and building community.
Whilst music and singing are lively and active, there is real depth and quality to the worship, and a sense that being Christian there is about the whole of life – home, family, livelihood – and the liturgy reflected this.
We just did two tourist things. We visited Lake Tanganyika one afternoon with Bishop Eraste - and given the immense size of the lake, it was like being at the seaside!
And we met the Royal Drummers of Burundi – which you can check out on YouTube – they were fantastic.
I look forward to opportunities to share more about the work of the Diocese of Bujumbura in the autumn, when this year’s harvest appeal will support tree planting projects there.
+Malcolm
Bishop Eraste Bigirimana at a Bujumbura tree planting event
Carpenter Steve, who lives in the parish of Boulton St Mary and regularly attends St Philip's Chaddesden, recently revived his carpentry skills and says Jesus guided him in making a cross for the church.
He joined a “men in sheds” group in Allenton and decided to use some of the wood meant for landfill to make a cross as a surprise for Philip's.
Whilst making the cross, Steve believes he had an encounter with Jesus.
He shared the encounter with the congregation in July and received an enthusiastic response.
He said: “I decided to make a cross as a surprise for the church.
"My background was in carpentry, but I haven’t used my skills for a while.
"When I started my arm got heavy and I couldn’t understand why.
"A short time later, I got the hammer and chisel and my hands felt hard and heavy. I thought this was unusual as I never normally feel like this when doing carpentry work!
"A voice came in my head and said 'we’ll make this together'.
"I was a taken aback as the voice was clear, and I found myself asking out aloud 'who are you?'."
Steve said: "The next thing I heard was 'I am Jesus, and we will make this together. It will be a special cross for your church'.”
Steve proudly presented the cross to Revd Sarah Watson, Enabling Minister at St Philip’s.
“Steve joined us with an interest in faith," said Revd Sarah. "He is a dearly loved member of our congregation and was recently confirmed.
"The recalling of his personal encounter with Jesus was emotional to hear and the cross will be seen and appreciated by all as Canon Julian Hollywell, Priest-in-charge of St Philip’s, has given his blessing for the cross to be placed permanently on our high altar.”
By Reggie D. Edmonds
Tideswell parishioner Sonia Rigg has been raising money for her local church through hang gliding.
And the feat is even more impressive given that Sonia is in her 85th year!
Sonia decided to support her local church, which is in dire need of re-wiring at a cost of around £200,000.
With the issues of ancient wiring and lighting, Sonia is hoping her church will really benefit from her endeavours.
She had been hoping to do the flight since April, but the weather wasn’t favourable. Now she is delighted to finally have had a huge success with this event.
Why hang gliding? Well, besides this just being an incredible idea, the inspiration came from her son, who has been hang gliding for 40 years.
Sonia said: “It was a really lovely experience. I could see all around and the views were super.
“Lying prone, you’re looking down and I had plenty of time to look.
“I wasn’t at all frightened.”
>> See the video of Sonia's hang gliding session [YouTube]
She achieved her goal with huge help from former world champion Judy Leden MBE and Ashbourne Hang Gliding Club.
Sonia is known for being active, and used to cycle and sail with her late husband.
She has no plans to stop taking part in charity events like this, hopefully having inspired many others to follow in her footsteps in doing awesome things to help out.
So far, Sonia has raised nearly £3,000 and donations are still coming in.
