Items filtered by date: April 2026
Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy are looking for a gifted and experienced administrator to support the team develop new and existing mission and ministry opportunities that engage with the agricultural and rural community in Derbyshire.
Salary: £30,000 (full time equivalent)
Hours: 30 hours per week (0.8)
Contract: 3 year fixed term contract
Location: Home working, plus working out of the Agricultural Business Centre in Bakewell once a month and occasional travel across Derbyshire.
Application pack can be downloaded from the DRC website www.derbyshireruralchaplaincy.org.uk
Closing date: Wednesday 8 April at 5pm
Interview date: Tuesday 21 April
Following a rewarding experience with a visiting preacher, Christ Church Holloway is actively thinking “outside of the box” – appreciating what they currently offer for those with disability needs and starting to consider what they could offer in the future.
Lynda Herbert, Reader, recently preached on the discrimination suffered in Jesus’s time, and gave an insight into the new disability symbols that were launched at Derby Diocesan Synod in June 2025.
The symbols are the work of the Disability Inclusion Action Group (DIAG) and help churches nationwide inform disabled people about what they can expect when they visit a church. They will soon be displayed on the Church Near You webpages, and this will help disabled people thoughtfully plan their visits.
Peter Kelsey, PCC Lay Chair and Treasurer, said, “We offer large print books, a hearing loop, disabled toilet facilities and ramps to allow wheelchairs to get up the steps into our church. What we don’t offer is significant, and it’s difficult to make the slope up to our church less steep, but we can and will do more, maybe a disabled parking space, maybe some other idea.
“I think we all learned a great deal from Lynda, and our thanks go out to her”.
Lynda Herbert said, “It was a privilege to be invited to preach at Christ Church Holloway for their Dedication Festival. It is a truly beautiful church, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The Disability Symbols Project includes a wide range of accessibility symbols that highlight what churches can offer and encourage them to be confident in their outreach.
More Information
>> View and download the Accessibility Symbols
>> Learn more about DIAG – the Disability Inclusion Action Group
Sunday 8 March is International Women’s Day. In line with one of our priorities of growing more diverse, the Parish Support Team, the Bishop’s Office and the DBE have recognised International Women’s Day (IWD) this year.
Since 1911, IWD has raised awareness on gender equality, celebrating women's achievements, and raising awareness about discrimination. This years’ give to gain campaign encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration. It recognises the power of reciprocity and support. Some Parish Support Team staff have been considering what this means for them:
“I am "giving to gain" by holding strong boundaries and prioritising family life over career advancement, sharing the responsibilities of running our home with my wife, and encouraging her to explore and develop her own career in a pressure-free environment”.
“I am ‘giving to gain’ by becoming a mentor in the NCI HR network, giving back to new female HR staff who want a career in the field”.
“Give to gain ... it is a privilege to continue to journey with women whom God is calling through vocational exploration, curacy training and in their ministry. I also delight in raising my young daughter to truly be the person God is calling her to be.”
“I celebrate women and the incredible gifts they bring. I try to model positive affirmation every day, recognising her hard work, telling her how lovely she looks, or simply cheering her on. The media is often full of negativity about women, so let’s change that narrative. Let’s celebrate each other. We are all wonderful, and the world becomes brighter when we lift one another up!”
“This International Women’s Day, I give thanks for the women who have shaped my faith, my ministry, and my life. From the strong female priests who guided my calling, to my wife and daughter who inspire me daily, I stand in gratitude and solidarity. May we continue building a Church and a society where every woman’s God‑given dignity, wisdom, and leadership are fully recognised and celebrated.”
“As a woman, don't feel that you have to emulate masculine qualities to reflect God, rather embrace your deep strength as a woman and know that you are reflecting a beautiful quality that is in our God. We all, male... female... and all colours and sizes have been created to reflect His beauty and strength.”
These vibrant, welcoming and inclusive rural parishes lie in the beautiful Peak District National Park. Offering strong support from the PCCs, congregations and retired clergy, the church members are looking for an enthusiastic, pastorally hearted, missional priest to work with them to:
We have an exciting opportunity for a skilled and experienced practitioner to join the Diocese of Derby’s People and Ministry team as Deputy Director of Studies. This is a part-time opportunity, offered initially on a zero-hours basis working approximately 240 hours flexibly throughout the year. The role offers an hourly salary of £18.55.
We are looking for someone who can make a key contribution to the development and delivery of our lay discipleship and ministry training programmes. Working closely with the Director of Studies and colleagues, the postholder will support teaching, marking and moderation, oversee modules within the Certificate of Theology in Mission and Ministry programme, and help ensure a high-quality learning experience for those training for recognised and licensed lay ministries. The role also includes deputising for the Director of Studies when required.
The role is based at Church House, Derby, and we welcome hybrid working as part of a blended pattern of office and home-based work.
Working pattern: 240 hours per year, worked flexibly
Closing date: Wednesday 25 March
Interview date: Wednesday 8 April
>> Download the job description here (PDF)
>> Download our guide to working for the Derby Diocesan Board of Finance here (PDF)
>> Download an application form here (Word)
>> Download the recruitment monitoring form (to be returned with your application form) (Word)
Revd Fiona Barber, Assistant Curate at Sinfin Moor, and her family moved into the Sinfin Moor estate and started to build links. She recognised the multicultural community and embraced the opportunity of getting to know people of different faiths and cultures.
“Food and Faith” is a time where everyone brings food from across the world, and everyone eats, prays, reads scripture and learn together. Most of all, they seek God in this place and where he is leading them.
Held monthly on a weekday evening around a dinner table, it's multi-generational and multicultural. Everyone benefits from the different insights from all traditions and ways of doing things.
Revd Fiona said, “We have no idea what this new worshipping community will look like as it flourishes and grows, but we do just seek God in that. We seek and pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us. We have no idea what's down the line, but at this point we're listening to the community around us”.
This truly explores what it means to grow church and build community. It is exciting to see what God will grow at Sinfin Moor.
Please enjoy this short video of Revd Fiona talking about “Food and Faith”:
Chellaston church leads the way in accessibility
Visit St Peter’s Church in Chellaston, and you will always feel a special welcome – especially if you have accessibility needs.
An early adopter of the accessibility symbols, devised by The Diocese of Derby Disability Inclusion Action Group (DIAG), they identified the most appropriate for their church and proudly display them on their welcome leaflet, the weekly notice sheet, on service notice screens and in relevant event publicity.
Congregation members with disabilities have appreciated this step forward and moved by the efforts made to make church life more accessible to them.
Revd Simon Drew, Vicar of St Peter's, said “The symbols are a great way of raising awareness in the wider congregation and making those with disabilities feel valued and welcomed in a practical way”.
Congregation members are more aware now of the needs of others, and the symbols provide additional support. Adaptations have been made, as appropriate, for existing members of the congregation.
The PCC is reviewing how the church provides for each of the symbols used and is including neurodivergent-friendly considerations in that. There are also plans to include the symbols on the church website.
Full details of the DIAG accessibility symbols, including download options, are available at https://accessiblechurch.net.
You can also learn more about DIAG and it’s work on the Diocese of Derby website.
The Church of England’s theme for Lent 2026 is Draw Near: Life-giving habits for Lent.
This year’s resources have at their heart the theme of a ‘rhythm of life’ – habits and patterns which help us grow as disciples of Christ day by day, especially as we prepare to celebrate the great mystery of God’s saving love at Easter.
During Lent, reflections are centred around a summary of the Christian Way from Common Worship, which identifies six activities essential to our calling as disciples.
Each week a different contributor explores a different aspect of Christian discipleship – worshipping together, praying, exploring the Bible, sharing communion, offering service and sharing the good news with others.
There is a parallel 40-day challenge for families and children exploring the life-giving habit of generosity in partnership with 40acts.
Throughout Lent, Bishop Libby and Bishop Malcolm will host a series of Lent Reflections with Bible Study and prayer. Each week will reflect on the Gospel for the following Sunday.
The reflections will be held online over five weeks, starting on Monday, 23 February 2026 / Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
The Monday reflections will start at 8 am, with the content repeated on Tuesdays at 8 pm.
All sessions will be live and not pre-recorded.
Please do join the sessions using the links below:
The sessions should last approx. 50 minutes.
