Starting a new job as the headteacher of a prominent city school midway through a pandemic is not what most would choose – but that’s exactly how things have worked out for Jenny Brown, the new head at Derby Cathedral School.

Jenny, who has worked in education for 22 years, was appointed to the post just before the country went into lockdown, so her first weeks and months in post will be particularly challenging.

Jenny said: “Yes – I have certainly picked my moment, haven’t I! Navigating through Covid will clearly be one of my main challenges as I continue to get to know everyone, but I am determined the pandemic will not stop the school in its aspiration to put quality at the heart of everything we do.

"And that’s not just in terms of academic achievement, but also in life education to set students up for whatever they choose to do next.

“My ambition is for every member of the school community to be the best that they can be and to fully embrace our FAITH values (fellowship, aspiration, integrity, tenacity, humility).

“The challenge is to remain focused on that ambition as the school grows, for everyone to have a clear understanding of the vision of the school and for this to be ‘felt’ and visible to all.

Jenny grew up in Bedfordshire before doing a maths degree at the University of Nottingham and making the city her home.

And she brings with her plenty of experience: “I have worked in Nottingham schools for over twenty years and have had various roles with increasing leadership responsibility.

“I have always taught maths, which is a subject that I dearly love, but have also taught a great deal of PSHCE and led both subjects for a number of years.

“Once I moved into senior leadership, I was asked to move to a school in Special Measures to help support its improvement.

"This was a seminal time in my career and gave me a real thirst for school improvement and development. I truly saw the impact that a school has on its whole community.

“I then moved to take up the headship of a new free school in Nottingham.

“Starting a new school is such a privilege, challenge and a responsibility. Having thoroughly enjoyed this process, I am delighted to bring my experience to Derby Cathedral School.

"The school is a fantastic community that is centered on providing the best possible education for young people.

“My balance of high expectations with focused support will enable the school to continue to grow in this vein.

“As it continues to develop and looks forward to moving to a new, state-of-the-art building, it is an incredibly exciting time for the school, and I am so pleased to be part of it.”

This week (10-16 May) is Christian Aid Week and this year it will be somewhat different.

Churches across the diocese are being invited to stand in solidarity with the world’s most vulnerable people in new and innovative ways.

The coronavirus outbreak threatens the health of our neighbours near and far.

Together we must respond quickly to help the most vulnerable.

Coronavirus has shown us that our futures are bound more tightly together than ever before.

And now it is spreading across the world’s poorest countries, putting people living in poverty at great risk.  

These people are already facing a lack of water, food and healthcare.

Some are homeless. Some are living with underlying health issues such as HIV.

As coronavirus infection rates speed up, they will feel the impacts of the virus deeply. We must respond now.

Coronavirus impacts all of us. But love unites us all.

Giving 
Donations can be made via the website christianaid.org.uk or by telephone on 020 7523 2269.

Virtual prayer and reflections 
Daily until Saturday 16 May at 11am 
Live daily reflections from Christian Aid staff and partners overseas.

Christian Aid Community online 
Daily until Saturday 16 May at 7.30pm 
Daily fun quizzes for the whole family.

Quiztian Aid!  
Hosted by Revd Kate Bottley, Dr Rowan Williams and Giles Fraser. 
Put your thinking caps on for a pre-recorded quiz.

The Christian Aid Week website has a wealth of resources including:

• Order of service for virtual Christian Aid Week services
• Prayers in the time of coronavirus
• TV quiz
• Donation forms
• Children's activity sheet

Visit the Christian Aid Week website for more information, resources and to get involved.

The Rt Revd Libby Lane, the Bishop of Derby, has made her maiden speech in the House of Lords - and in doing so has become the first bishop to make their maiden speech virtually.

Bishop Libby spoke as part of a debate brought by the Most Revd John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, on the case for increasing income equality in the light of the recent health emergency (Covid-19).

In her allotted two minutes, Bishop Libby drew particular attention to the disproportionate and detrimental impact income inequality and lack of sustainability has on children and their households.

Bishop Libby said: "In this national time of emergency, we know there is much to be done to respond to every child, to keep all our children and young people safe, to support the mental health and well-being of our children, and to protect children and their families facing increased financial insecurity as a result of this crisis.

"The inequalities that affect the more than 4 million children in poverty in our country run deep and are systemic, so solutions need to be long-term and sustainable.

"When asked about the Kindom of God, Jesus brought among them and said 'Of such is the Kindom of Heaven'. 

"I thank your Noble Lords for your patience in hearing my plea that we put children at the heart of our work for a more just and equitable, sustainable society."

Yesterday, the Church of England and the Child Poverty Action Group released a joint report ‘No one knows what the future can hold’, calling for the suspension of the two child limit in Universal credit.

In her speech, Bishop Libby also made reference to the work of The Children's Society and praised diocesan staff, clergy and congregations for their work during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Derby Cathedral has announced The Venerable Peter Robinson as the next Dean of Derby.

Peter is currently the Archdeacon of Lindisfarne in the Diocese of Newcastle, a position he has held since 2008.

There, he holds responsibility as chair of the Newcastle Diocesan Board of Education, as lead for community engagement in Northumberland, and for rural delivery of the diocesan vision.

Peter worked in the oil industry before being ordained in 1995; he trained for ministry at Cranmer Hall in Durham and served his curacy in North Shields.

Following his curacy, he became priest in charge at St. Martin’s, Byker - where he was highly successful in bringing together a challenging inner-city community, designing a new church building and attracting a visit from the home secretary to showcase the community’s achievement. He has also been director of the Urban Ministry and Theology project in Newcastle before his current role.

Peter said: “I feel honoured to have been appointed Dean of Derby. I look forward to working with new colleagues and to engaging with the all Derby Cathedral’s stakeholders in the city, across Derbyshire, the whole diocese and beyond.

“I am only too aware that my arrival coincides with a time when we are having to imagine new ways of worshiping and relating to each other as Christian people.

“My hope and prayer is that we will be able to reimagine the life of our cathedral in the years to come, to deepen its local impact and to serve the communities and parishes of the diocese.”

He will take up his new position in the summer, as the coronavirus restrictions allow.

The Right Reverend Libby Lane, the Bishop of Derby, said: “I am delighted to welcome Peter as Dean of Derby. He is a man of inspiring faith, with a remarkable breadth of ministerial and professional experience. Peter is someone with a combination of deep love for people and place, and the capacity to think and act with strategic clarity. I look forward to working with him in the city and across the diocese.

“We are very blessed that God has called him to serve among us. I ask you to join me in praying for Peter and Sarah as they prepare to move, and for ourselves as we seek God’s Kingdom together.”

The news was also welcomed by the Bishop of Newcastle, The Right Revd Christine Hardman: “Peter Robinson has served the Diocese of Newcastle as Archdeacon of Lindisfarne with outstanding dedication, and I am delighted that the Church has discerned God’s call on him to be Dean of Derby, he will be a blessing to the Diocese of Derby. His contribution to the senior leadership team and to the life of the Diocese of Newcastle over the last twenty-five years has been significant, and deeply appreciated. Peter will be greatly missed, and he and Sarah leave us with our love and prayers as they move to Derby.”

Peter is married to Sarah, and they look forward to making the family home in Derby. They have two sons in their late 20s, Charles and Richard. In his spare time Peter will be found in the arts and cultural areas of Derby, or reading contemporary fiction, or listening to all types of music. Otherwise, you will see him on his mountain bike, at Derbyshire County Cricket Club, at Pride Park or even trying to improve his golf!

Peter joins Derby Cathedral at a time when the Cathedral's place at the heart of the community, responding to the present crisis, is more important than ever.

The Cathedral has developed new ways to reach and engage with people and is looking forward to continuing that and to being able to reopen as a gathering place and a focus of meaning for the people of Derby and Derbyshire.

In the building there are exciting plans for reshaping the interior as a place of worship and a community hub, for refurbishment of the Compton organ to further the Cathedral's role as a centre of excellence for music-making, and for using digital technology to help visitors discover the historical and spiritual riches of the Cathedral.

Derby Cathedral School will be starting its third year when the new dean arrives, and Peter will continue to build the relationship of both the cathedral and the school with the city.

There is much about the future that is hard to predict but Peter's role will be pivotal in the future of the cathedral and the city of Derby.

St Werburgh’s Church in Derby is launching an online course to help couples through this difficult lockdown period.

The free, seven-week course is designed to help couples strengthen their relationship.

We are all having to spend a lot more time with each other than we might normally do.

Couples are having to navigate the pressure of being with their partner day in day out, possibly home schooling, working from home or struggling financially through this season and this brings about obvious challenges.

Phil Mann, lead minister at St Werburgh’s said: “When the lockdown in Wuhan started to lift, the numbers of couples applying for divorce skyrocketed and St Werburgh’s hopes that this course will go some way to avoiding similar problems in Derby by helping couples across the city to invest in their relationships during this time.

“My wife and I have been married for 17 years and have done the marriage course twice now.

"It has really helped us; we have learnt so much and grown through it so we are offering this free of charge to anyone who feels like it might help them.”

The original Marriage Course was founded by the Revd Nicky and Sila Lee at Holy Trinity Brompton over 20 years ago and has helped more than 1 million people.

It is for anyone who is married or in a long-term relationship seeking practical support to strengthen their relationship, keep the spark alive and stay connected.

It has now been adapted for use online.

Over seven sessions, the course covers: Strengthening Connection, The Art of Communication, Resolving Conflict, The Power of Forgiveness, The Impact of Family, Good Sex and Love in Action.

A new episode is released each Monday evening.

The course is designed so that couples only have to talk to each other, so no one is going to ask them any personal questions. It is designed for everybody - it is not just for people who go to church, or for people whose relationships are in difficulties.

To sign up go to ​https://stwderby.org/marriagecourse

Jennie Gill, a teacher from South Darley VC Primary School, reflects on a group of teachers and students in Derbyshire Church Schools with a shared concern for a community of Kolkata slum schools.

If you saw the recent film ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood’, a biopic with Tom Hanks playing America’s much-loved children’s TV presenter Fred Rogers, then you may recognise this quote:

"When I was a boy and I would see something scary in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"

Our communities have come together in the last few weeks in ways that we have never seen before, with people running errands, making deliveries, chatting by telephone or even just smiling as we pass in the street so that no-one has to be alone in their isolation.

There are all those who are working in shops and factories to make sure that the rest of us have everything we need and the weekly applause for our healthcare workers to let them know that we see them and how much we appreciate them.

There is a particular group of teachers and students in Derbyshire Church Schools with a shared concern for a community of Kolkata slum schools.

As part of the Diocese of Derby’s long-term link with the Church of North India, a growing number of Derbyshire schools have been partnered with a Kolkata school, one of approximately 20 that are run and resourced by the Kolkata Cathedral Relief Service (CRS).  

For the last five years we have visited them, worked with them, come to know and love their teachers and children.

Now in the midst of the pandemic we worry for them, especially because we know that so many of the measures we have put into place to keep ourselves safer will be impossible for them.

You may have seen a social media post from an Indian doctor who points out that to practise social distancing or to wash your hands more often, with soap in clean water, means that you have privileges not enjoyed by a large proportion of the world’s population.

It is those who were the poorest to begin with who are most at risk from this illness.

But here too, there are helpers. The CRS staff, led by Rig David, are always inspiringly creative and completely relentless in their mission to support the communities around them.

Gradually news is filtering through to the Derbyshire teachers about deliveries of food parcels, even to the most remote of the CRS projects, supported by the local police who have given permission for the CRS staff to make those journeys during the lockdown.

Some messages have arrived from individual Kolkata teachers to let us know that they are safe.

Many of us, and our schools, have donated to the emergency appeal set up by the Friends of CRS and sent our own messages of encouragement.

And each time a little snippet of news arrives it is shared excitedly around the network of Derbyshire teachers.

As we cheer on Rig and his team and continue to pray for them, we could not be more proud to be part of this global community and the work that God is doing here with the people we love.

The scary things in the news are going to carry on for a while but we are thankful for so many opportunities, even in lockdown, to be part of the much more powerful story of hope being written by all of God’s helpers around the world.

Youth bell ringing at Old Brampton has been 'highly commended' by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).

The young ringers were nominated for the Sarah Beacham Youth Group Award, for youth groups who are successfully recruiting, retaining and developing young ringers, at an awards ceremony in March.

They were awarded a prize of £200 to be spent on benefitting youth ringing at Old Brampton.

The young ringers take part in local and national ringing events, as well as enjoying ringing at Old Brampton and at other towers in Derbyshire.

Tower Captain Sue Hall said: "I am so proud of the young ringers for this achievement.

"The judges were particularly impressed that the youngsters included ringing in their school projects and presentations, and that they continue to enjoy ringing at university and take part in ringing events across the country."

As well as being fun, ringing provides confidence and builds teamwork and leadership skills.

One ringer, Ruby, said: "It makes me feel happy, it's different from anything else I do, and I enjoy seeing my friends."

Whilst another, Rowan, added: "There are loads of opportunities to try different things in different places with your friends."

A flexible approach to attendance allows the young people to pursue other activities as well as ringing.

Ringers from Old Brampton who are now at university also enjoy the friendship and support of their university ringing societies.

The young ringers have been voting to decide how the award money should be spent to benefit youth ringing at Old Brampton.

Ringing at Old Brampton will resume in due course, including lessons for any young person or adult who wishes to give it a try.

For further information and contacts please visit facebook.com/BellRingingDerbyshire or bellringing.org

What the young ringers said:

Ruby: 'It makes me feel happy, it's different from anything else I do, and I enjoy seeing my friends.'
Rowan: 'There are loads of opportunities to try different things in different places with your friends.'
Joseph: 'It's like one big family.'
Tom: 'I enjoy ringing at church and in the wider ringing community.'
Lucy: 'I like learning new methods.'
Alice: 'I enjoy being part of a group and progressing my knowledge of ringing.'

Download the Diocese of Derby Zoom Guide for Attendees [PDF]

Information provided by EMSOU, the East Midlands Special Operations Unit of the five police forces in the East Midlands region.

When it comes to Video Conferencing, for many, the sudden adoption of remote working, social
distancing and self-isolation has created a demand for simple easy ways to stay in touch with
family, friends and co-workers.

The demand has popularised many apps and one of the most talked about in Cyber Security
circles is Zoom, a video chat platform, available in both free and paid for versions.

Unfortunately, Zoom has received quite a lot of adverse publicity because of a number of
important security flaws. Criticism has ranged from uninvited people joining your conversation
to deliver racist messages or pornographic images, to poor encryption methods that mean
private conversations are not always private.

The guidance below has been written for home and business users that may have adopted
zoom, for its ease of use, availability and in the absence of a paid for service.

WHAT CAN I DO?

For those of you using Zoom, make sure you have the latest version of their software. Click
your user icon and select 'Check for Updates'. Usually, updates fix known security flaws.
Running anti-virus software or a firewall on your computer and keeping software up-to-date
will improve your security.

If you are holding public meetings, where anyone can join the conversation, be sure to
configure screen-sharing settings.

Go to 'In Meeting (Basic)' and select 'host alone can share' or turn off screen sharing
entirely. This can also be controlled by the host during a meeting.

Finally, turn of 'Annotation', if you are worried about how people might annotate your shared
slide show.

Stop Uninvited Guests

Setting up a Zoom meeting creates a 9 digit ID. Anyone who has this ID can join the
conversation. Don’t advertise it publicly by posting it on your Social media.

If you use the 'Options Panel' when setting up a meeting, you can add an access password
too. Would-be trolls now need an ID and a password to gate crash your meeting.

Use the 'Advanced Options' to enable a 'Waiting Room'. This puts people in a holding area before you grant or deny them access to your conversation.
Organisers can lock the meeting once everyone who needs to has joined. Click Manage Participants >> More >> Lock Meeting.

Stay Private

The organiser of a meeting can record audio and video from the meeting. Also, anyone involved in a ‘private chat’ can save this as a log file.
Turn off video and mute yourself unless needed. This prevents video recording conversations in your home or exposing information inadvertently.

It is possible to encrypt your video calls in the settings panel, which will improve the confidentiality of your conversations. Be aware, however that there is no certainty as to whether this is end-to-end encryption.
Accessing Zoom through the browser is more secure than downloading the app. The feature is available on the log in screen when invited to a meeting, although hard to spot.

Always Be Aware

Your conversations may not be as private as you would like. Is Siri, Alexa or Google assistant in range? They will ALWAYS be listening and passing info back to their servers to maintain the connection and sampling purposes.

Final Thoughts

Whatever platform is chosen it is vital that all the security settings are reviewed and implemented as appropriate.

In circumstances where sensitive or confidential discussions are being held other providers, such as Google Duo, Skype, Face Time, WhatsApp and Webex might be alternatives.

Sally-Anne Beecham, Curate in Bakewell Benefice and SS Augustine Chesterfield, reflects on how the coronavirus outbreak has shaped her curacy.

Like all clergy, the Covid-19 outbreak turned my ministry on its head.  

However, when most churches were asked to close their doors, the one I’m working in had an exemption to stay very much open.  

Overnight, Gussie’s Kitchen, the food project being run from Ss Augustine in Chesterfield, became the main food distribution hub for the town.  

Yesterday we delivered to 200 vulnerable households using a fantastic team of volunteer drivers and packers.  

My job has been to give information and offer support over the phone in my role as Chaplain - an incredible opportunity to reach out into the community.  

I’ve had many significant conversations and I pray that relationships built during these days will bear fruit in the future.  

Despite the many challenges, the shift in focus has created opportunities to model faith that were not present before, and it’s exciting to dream about how these can be progressed.

Since my ordination last year, the months have flown by, learning what it means to be a Christian presence in a rural town.

Relationship building is crucial

My highlights before lockdown have been out in the community getting used to my collar.  

As well as the usual services, I had been raft-racing, dressed up in the carnival, led school assemblies, processed through the town on Remembrance Sunday and played Gabriel outside the pubs in the town nativity.  

I was also involved in the beginning of a new congregation aimed at young families.

Overall, I’ve had my eyes opened to the challenges of juggling multiple churches and been overwhelmed by the faithfulness of those keeping the show on the road.  

I’m also learning that Jesus’ model of relationship building is crucial and is what our communities are crying out for, so I’m excited to see what God has in store for us next.

See also:

>> Meet some curates

>> Vocations: what is God's plan for you?

>> Gussie's Kitchen on Facebook

‘They…fled from the tomb…and they said nothing to anyone for they were afraid’

These were brave, tenacious women.

These women had made a choice to follow Jesus and stuck with him when others turned away.

These women supported Jesus, the gospel writer Mark tells us, risking reputation, livelihood and status when others found the costs too high.

These women were watching at the cross: they remained with Jesus to the bitter end, when others had abandoned him.

These women set out to offer the final act of loving service that had been denied him, when others hid in fear of the authorities.

These were brave, tenacious women.

But the empty tomb and news that Jesus has been raised from the dead, undid them. Sometimes, when we are holding ourselves together in the face of risk and fear, of uncertainty and loss, it is goodness that undoes us.

Like these women, many of us will have spent these past days being brave and tenacious – finding depths of determination and perseverance we didn’t know we had. And, truth be told, hiding, even from ourselves perhaps, the extent of our individual and shared trauma.

And it may be goodness that breaks through our protective armour. So, good news may be harder to hear this Easter than most years. But here it is:

You are beloved: precious and honoured in God’s sight,

And nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Jesus, who was crucified has been raised – and wherever you are this morning, whatever you are facing today, whatever you have had to deal with in these past few weeks, whatever the future may hold for you – the risen Jesus is there to meet you.

Those brave, tenacious women were undone by that good news, and

‘They…fled from the tomb…and they said nothing to anyone for they were afraid’.

But fear did not, in the end, overcome love.

These woman took heart, literally ‘had courage’, and so the story continued.

Because of these women the story of God’s love continues – and through the centuries that good news has been carried and passed on, until we hear it afresh today:

“Do not be afraid; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here… he is going ahead of you”

So, my prayer, this Easter morning, is that we allow ourselves to be undone by love,

and, even in the midst of our fears, receive the good news of Jesus’ resurrection:

love has conquered death – Jesus is alive.

Alleluia.