Ten clergy from across our diocese have recently completed the Launchpad course, giving them skills and tools to begin youth work programmes in their churches.

Launchpad, developed by Youthscapes, is a five-week course designed for clergy with emerging or no current youth ministry, to encourage, equip and embolden them with new ideas, knowledge and confidence around working with young people. The programme was developed and piloted with churches in the Church of England in the Dioceses of London, St Alban’s and Blackburn, and is now running across over 20 Dioceses.

Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, and Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton, Bishop of Repton, presented the clergy with certificates as they celebrated their developing visions, strategies and commitment to youth ministry.

Bishop Libby shared her story of being a young person in a church youth group, and how the simple act of someone remembering her name had impacted her and helped her to feel a sense of belonging.

Alice Smith from Youthscape spoke about the importance of youthwork and shared pieces of art created by young people in response to Bible verses. These reflected how profoundly young people can think about complex and deep topics, and that they should not be underestimated.

As well as sharing in a time of prayer for the young people in our communities, the cohort talked about the impact that the course had on them and how motivated they are to keep youth ministry at the forefront of their prayers and plans moving forward.

You can read more about the resources the Diocese of Derby has available for working with young people on the Growing Younger pages of our website.

On 28 January 2026, The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, undertook an important role as a King’s Commissioner during the Archbishop of Canterbury's Confirmation of Election at St Paul’s Cathedral.

The Election is a formal legal ceremony where the King's Commissioners confirm the election by the College of Canons, officially making the Archbishop-elect the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Archbishop Dame Sarah Mullally paid homage to the King (as Supreme Governor) and received the restoration of temporality (rights of office) before her installation at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026.

After this confirmation, Dame Sarah officially became the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Bishop Libby said, “It is an honour to have been invited to undertake this role as part of the Confirmation of Election. I am delighted to support Archbishop Sarah as she takes up her new ministry. It has been a privilege and pleasure to work with her over many years, and to serve with her now as Archbishop. Please join me in praying for Sarah, and her family, as she begins her new role, leading the Diocese of Canterbury, Church of England and the Anglican Communion”.

>> Selection of photos taken during the service

>> Statement from Archbishop of Canterbury website

This Holocaust Memorial Day we are reminded that the responsibility of remembrance doesn't end with the survivors - it lives on: through their children, their grandchildren and through all of us. The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2026, 'Bridging Generations', is a call-to-action.

We are challenged to engage actively with the past - to listen, to learn and to carry those lessons forward. By doing so, we build a bridge between memory and action, between history and hope for the future.

Services and events will be held to mark the day, including a Stone Setting Service and a Service of Remembrance, Commemoration and Hope at Derby Cathedral, and QUAD will host a Multicultural Holocaust Memorial event in the evening.

The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, said, “It is imperative that the lived experience of the Holocaust continues to shape our understanding and behaviour. I echo the national theme of the importance of ‘bridging generations’, which will ensure we never forget. On this day, especially in light of recent terrible events of violence against them, our prayers remain with the Jewish community”.

Learn More

>> Holocaust Memorial Day Trust

>> Derby Cathedral

Alterations to enable the conversion of the former bank/office-premises on the corner of King Street and Milford Road in Duffield into a new daytime café and evening event space have now been approved by Amber Valley Borough Council.

Planning permission has now been granted for a new accessible entrance, which will enable the conversion of the former bank building into a café over the next few months.

The Duffield Bank Café will provide an attractive and welcoming space to people in Duffield during the daytime on Tuesdays to Saturdays.

After it has closed for the day, the café space and other areas in the premises will be available for a wide range of activities during the evenings, with the building equipped for flexible use as an event-space.

The new café will create two full-time jobs (a Chef and a Manager).

There will also be various volunteer opportunities to support the running of the café, both in the kitchen and with front-of-house; working alongside the full-time staff.

The project is being implemented and financed by members of the congregation of St Alkmund’s Parish Church in Duffield.

Revd Dr James Hughes, Vicar of St Alkmund’s said: “Our vision as a church is to have a presence in the village where we can reach out to, and make connections with, our friends and neighbours in the village, and provide a base for both our church ministries and for other activities. We’re really looking forward to developing this exciting project over the next few months and welcoming people to the café in the near future”.

image provided by James Boon Architects.

>> Parochial Fees Table 2026 [PDF]

>> Parochial Fees Guidance 2026 [PDF]

>> PF26 Form PDF format [PDF]

>> PF26 Form Excel format [.xlsx]

At Christmas services, our doors will be open to many people within our communities who may need some additional support or reassurance.

With the support of the Diocese’s Disability Inclusion Action Group (DIAG), a 2-sided checklist has been devised with some easy-to-implement ways to make every church open and inviting this special season.

>> Download the accessible Christmas guide [PDF]

The Christmas guide comes at the end of a very special and successful year for DIAG.

Over the summer, they launched a series of accessible symbols for churches to freely download and use in their publicity. These can be used to highlight the accessibility provisions available so that our churches can become welcome spaces. A website was designed especially for the symbols so that they are available to freely download.

The disability arm of our national church was so supportive during the consultation phase and championed the end result by making them available to all parishes across the Church of England earlier than anticipated.

This was followed by a seminar in November where Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton, the Bishop of Repton, Carl Veal (DIAG Chair) and Lynda Herbert (DIAG representative) presented on the subject of “Enhancing accessibility in parish churches”. A recording of the webinar is available here.

A difference has truly been made in 2025, and we can look forward to what comes next from DIAG in 2026.

Thank you to all who give their time freely to champion this work.

The Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton, Bishop of Repton, has announced his retirement.

Bishop Malcolm’s final day in post will be Thursday, 30 April 2026.

Bishop Malcolm was installed as the Suffragan Bishop of Repton on Sunday, 18 April 2021, following his consecration as bishop at Lambeth Palace on Wednesday, 14 April 2021. He was formerly Chief of Staff to Archbishop John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, and was educated at Queen’s College, Cambridge.

On making the announcement, Bishop Malcolm said,

“It remains a joy and a privilege to me to serve as Suffragan Bishop here in the Diocese of Derby, and I look forward to continuing to share in ministry with Bishop Libby and all my colleagues across the diocese until I retire at the end of April.

I am going then in the hope that I shall have energy for a new pace and focus of life and ministry in Gloucester in retirement, where Pam and I will be moving in May. In the meantime, there is plenty to do, especially in this season of Advent, which reminds me always to look to the future with hope, in lively expectation of Jesus’ coming”.

The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, said,

“I thank God for Bishop Malcolm and all he has brought to our Diocese. He is a generous, gentle and gracious colleague whose servant leadership has been transformative for me in my ministry and for our common life.

So many have benefited from his encouragement and care across our parishes, in the Parish Support Team and in the Board of Education. We have been richly blessed that he responded faithfully to the call to serve his episcopal ministry among us.

Malcolm’s ministry spans decades, the breadth of the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion: we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

We shall enjoy the next few months of continuing ministry and shared life with him, and I ask you to join me in prayer for him and Pam as they prepare for their move and all that God has in store for the future”.

Details are under way for Bishop Malcolm’s farewell service, and this will be announced in early 2026.

23 December 2025 

The Revd Philip (Phil) Michell will be licensed for his role as Lead Agricultural Chaplain to Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy, Diocese of Derby, on Monday, 19 January 2026 at 10 am in the Conference Room at Bakewell Livestock Market by the Bishop of Derby.

18 December 2025 

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Emma Sykes, Vicar of St Barnabas Erdington and Oversight Minister for the Erdington Oversight Area, Diocese of Birmingham, has been appointed Archdeacon of East Derbyshire, Diocese of Derby, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.
The full public statement is available at New Archdeacon announced for East Derbyshire.

11 December 2025 

The Revd Gillian (Gill) Ball will be licensed as Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of the benefice of Old Brampton and Great Barlow and of the benefice of Loundsley Green, The Ascension LEP, Diocese of Derby, on Tuesday, 6 January 2026 at 7 pm at the Church of the Ascension, Loundsley Green by the Bishop of Repton, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.

The Bishop of Derby is delighted to announce that the Revd Fiona Barber, Assistant Curate in the benefice of Sinfin Moor, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Associate Minister (Assistant Curate) of the same benefice, subject to all legal and safeguarding requirements being fulfilled.

4 December 2025 

The Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton, Bishop of Repton, Diocese of Derby, has announced his retirement. Malcolm’s last day in post will be 30 April 2026, with his retirement taking effect from 1 May 2026. The full public statement is available at www.derby.anglican.org.

3 December 2025 

The Revd Adele Barker, Chaplain to the Bishop of Derby, Diocese of Derby, has announced her resignation. Adele’s last day in post will be 28 February 2026. Bishop Libby is very grateful for the ministry she has shared with Adele and her commitment to the role in the coming months before she steps away.