Items filtered by date: May 2025
Dr Alison Brown explains how church schools came about and what they are.
Have you thought about becoming a churchwarden? This video tells five things you need to know in 30 seconds.
More learning for churchwardens
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10 October is Safeguarding Sunday. It is a great opportunity to highlight that protecting vulnerable people is at the heart of the Christian message and to explore what safer places look like.
Bishop Jonathan Gibbs, the Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop said recently:
"Whether churches can give just a few minutes or dedicate their whole service, Safeguarding Sunday is a really helpful and important way of focusing on all the work that goes on 365 days a year in our churches to make them safe places."
"From our children’s and young people’s activities to clubs for the elderly and foodbanks, our churches are involved in every community. Protecting vulnerable people is at the heart of the Christian message."
"Safeguarding Sunday is all about creating an opportunity for churches to show their communities that they take this responsibility seriously"
If you are interested in taking part, please visit the thirtyone:eight website where you can download free resources, including prayers and videos:
The latest Safeguarding Newsletter has just been sent to all Parish Safeguarding Officers. If you do not receive a copy and would like to read more about the work happening in Safeguarding in the Diocese and a little more about one of the safeguarding team you can download the newsletter here.
The 10th of September every year, this year Friday, is World Suicide Prevention Day. This is hosted by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). The theme for WSPD 2021-23 is ‘Creating Hope Through Action’ and is a reminder there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us; that our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to those who are struggling.
The Samaritans latest newsletter which is avaialble here to download and read has information about some of the work they have engaged in across the UK to prevent suicide, and study the impact of of COVID-19 on suicide thoughts and attempts. Next time you see someone who may be struggling, what could you say to them? There is a great line and logo in the newletter - read on and see: Samaritans Advice Service Newletter
For the last two weeks our screens have been showing harrowing scenes from a country halfway around the world, where a nation is in turmoil and many people are fearful about the future and struggling to know what to do next. What we are seeing in Afghanistan is an unfolding humanitarian crisis, with people leaving through evacuation flights as well attempting to cross borders into neighbouring countries. Please hold the situation and people of Afghanistan in your prayers
Around seventy people in family groups have now arrived in Derby and are in temporary hotel accommodation which will be their home until they can be resettled in different parts of the UK. These are families who have arrived through the Government’s ARAP scheme, having worked for the British Government in Kabul or as interpreters in Helmand.
Already refugee support organisations in Derby, churches and the national “Welcome Churches” are working together to ensure people are welcomed and helped.
How can you help?
- Upbeat Communities (one of the refugee charities in Derby) have launched a Just Giving page. By receiving financial donations they are able to be flexible in providing immediate support and make plans for support in the coming weeks. For details go to https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/UpbeatCommunitiesAfghanAppeal
- A list of urgently needed items will be published as soon as possible. DRS (Derbyshire Refugee Solidarity) are always happy to receive donations for their work with refugees including those from Afghanistan. For further information go to www.derbyshirerefugeesolidarity.org.
- Meanwhile we are invited to contact our MP to ensure the Government commits to its promise to resettle more Afghan refugees along with those currently here in the UK who are not part of the resettlement scheme and some of whom may be being held in detention centres
A Prayer for Afghanistan (Christian Aid)
O God of mercy and peace,
We hold before you the peoples of Afghanistan.
Be living bread to those who are hungry each day
Be healing and wholeness to those who have no access to health care amid the ravages of the pandemic.
Be their true home to all who have been displaced
Be open arms of loving acceptance to those who fear because of their gender, ethnicity, religious or political views
Be peace to those engaged in armed conflict and those who live within its shadow.
Turn our hearts and minds to your gentle ways of just and gentle peace,
Open our eyes to see you in all acts of compassionate care
Strengthen our hearts to step out in solidarity with your suffering people and
Hold us all in your unfailing love.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself of all but love in order to bring life in all its fullness.
Amen
This prayer was written by Ramani Leathard, Christian Aid’s Head of Region for South East Asia and Afghanistan.
For more points for prayer go to www.christianaid.org.uk and click on Prayer for Afghanistan
Maureen Priddin
Derby Cathedral and Derby City of Sanctuary network
“proud to welcome and support those seeking sanctuary in Derby and Derbyshire"
Diocesan Synod is the largest and most representative governing body in a diocese and operates at the highest level of overview.
Effectively, it is the governing body of the Diocese of Derby.
It contributes to setting direction by acting as a sounding board and forum for debate and giving higher level approval.
The Diocesan Synod brings together elected clergy and lay representatives from our parishes within the diocese's eight deaneries.
The new Diocesan Synod is formed from 1 August 2024, and ends on 31 July 2027.
Downloads
>> Diocesan Synod Members Guide 2024 [PDF]
>> Diocesan Synod Members for the Triennium 2024-2027.5[PDF]
Appendices
>> Appendix 1) Derby Diocesan Synod Standing Orders
>> Appendix 2) DDBF Memorandum and Articles of Association
Diocesan Synod overview reports
>> March 2025
General Synod report, following the disoolution of the General Synod on 12 July 2021.
The Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek, has created a collaborative team to support her in her role as Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons in England and Wales.
Bishop Rachel is tasked with supporting the network of 300 Anglican Prison Chaplains who share in the front-line care of prisoners, as well as developing relationships and being involved with people and issues across the breadth of the Criminal Justice System.
This includes probation and community services, as well as many different charities and organisations.
In all of this, Bishop Rachel seeks to use her role as a Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords, not least working for a change to systems and sentencing for the most vulnerable people in our communities, whilst not losing sight of appropriate justice for victims of crime.
Bishop Libby will support Bishop Rachel in work with young offenders, which will be a natural extension to her work as vice-chair of The Children's Society.
Bishop Libby said, “I am delighted to be joining this team and look forward to working with Bishop Rachel and Bishop Michael with other partners working across the criminal justice system. I have a particular passion to see restorative justice leading to transformed lives with meaningful integration and contribution to community. Sharing with this team complements the work I currently engage with through The Children’s Society in our shared commitment to the most vulnerable, and at risk, children and young people in our land.”
The Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, will support with the male estate and bring his experience of being in a diocese with a number of prisons.
The Team will work closely with the Revd Helen Dearnley, HMPPS Anglican Chaplaincy Advisor.
Bishop Rachel said, “I will be involved across the breadth of the prison estate, but I am hoping that this collaborative approach will enable more prisons to be visited and will provide deeper insight and shared learning. We will of course be working in close liaison with bishops in every diocese where prisons are situated and who remain responsible for the licensing and everyday pastoral care of their Anglican prison chaplains.”
The new episcopal prison team marked the beginning of their work together on Thursday 29 July 2021 with a joint visit to the Diocese of Lichfield where each visited separate prisons.
Bishop Rachel visited HMP Featherstone and HMP Oakwood; Bishop Michael visited HMP Brinsford and Bishop Libby visited HMP Werrington.
Over the last few years Bishop Rachel was Bishop for Women’s Prisons and has undertaken a huge amount in campaigning for prison reform and community rehabilitation for women in the criminal justice system, or at risk of offending. She now wants to develop that collaborative way of working.
