News and Events
Our journey through Lent has a particular shape to it, one that is revealed to us through the Gospel reading that many of us heard read in our churches on the Sunday before Lent, the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration from St Matthew’s Gospel.
When the Transfiguration is read to us, we stand in our imaginations on the top of the mountain with Jesus and his disciples, recovering our breath from the steep climb. That was my experience in the Holy Land many years ago when with friends we decided not to take the local taxis but clambered up the never-ending, winding road, regretting out decision to walk!
So, it an inspired choice because a few days before Lent begins, we take in the view of the valley that stretches out below us, and we see a picture of the journey to come. Just as Jesus and his disciples would have looked toward Jerusalem from the mountain’s summit, so we look to what is to come. In the distance we can see three crosses standing outside the city walls of Jerusalem. In our mind’s eye we can see Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension and even beyond that the birthday of the church at Pentecost.
Before us we can see the winding path down into the valley which represent to us our journey through Lent, which is a spiritual pathway down the mountainside. The valley floor is Lent itself, the space the church creates for us through its promotion of personal discipline, fasting, bible reading, study and prayer for the next few weeks.
Spending dedicated time with God, wrapped around by activities that practise restraint, creates a deeper awareness of ourselves, our desires and our relationship with God. Lent is like entering a valley where the noise of the world decreases, where we become alert to the sounds of the countryside that we often fail otherwise to hear, and the stillness allows us to lift up hearts to God.
This is just one of the reasons why we read the story of the Transfiguration just before Lent begins, but there are deeper ones. Seeing God’s glory in Jesus represents the goal of our journey as followers of Jesus as we encounter face to face the one who is fully human and fully divine. We glimpse our ultimate destination as Christians on the mountain of Transfiguration, but as Peter became deeply aware, on this earth we cannot freeze the moment but need to continue our journey. Seeing Jesus in his glory impels us to engage with the realities of our lives, our communities and of this world.
Jesus with his disciples descended the mountain and entered back into ordinary everyday life, no doubt with a fresh vision of God, but more aware of path towards the suffering, agony and death of crucifixion and the hope of resurrection.
And the words of God the Father from the cloud that settled on the mountaintop can also guide us on our Lenten journey. ‘This is my Son, the beloved: with whom I am well pleased; listen to him’. Focus on the person of Jesus our Saviour and listen to God’s voice to us through all that we do during Lent. On behalf of the Bishop’s Leadership Team, I send my prayers for a profitable time in the valley of Lent, and as we anticipate our encounter with the crucified and risen one at Easter.
The Very Rev’d Peter Robinson
The Dean of Derby
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.
Infra-red Heating in Churches demonstration
Tuesday, 24 February 2024
St Mary the Virgin, Church Street, Denby Village Ripley, DE5 8PH
Due to high demand we have taken the decision to run two separate sessions:
Morning session from 10 am to 12.30 pm
Afternoon session from 2 pm to 4.30 pm
If you would like to attend, please contact netzero@derby.anglican.org
(If you have previously expressed an interest you will be contacted about which session to attend).
Are you looking for more efficient heating for your church building? Would you like to learn more about low carbon alternatives to oil or gas boilers?
Modern infra-red electrical heaters are a popular heating solution for churches. They are a ‘heat the people’ solution, rapidly providing heat where a congregation is gathered. With renewable electricity this means much lower greenhouse gas emissions when compared with a gas or oil boiler.
St Mary the Virgin in Denby have installed such a system to their grade one listed medieval church building. In the process they have gained much valuable knowledge and experience, which they are happy to share.
Come and see it in action on! Contact Gordon Sephton at netzero@derby.anglican.org for booking and further details.
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”.
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
The Dioceses of Derby, Leicester and Lincoln have come together to offer a Pilgrimage to Taizé for young adults aged 18-35, which will take place from 1 to 9 August this year.
Taizé is an ecumenical Christian community in Southern France which produces the beautiful contemplative worship music familiar to many. Its mission is to reach young people throughout the world (taize.fr).
If you are interested in spending a week camping with a global and monastic community, we will be making this pilgrimage together, travelling and camping as a group from across the East Midlands.
The trip will cost approximately £350, and priority is given to young adults aged 18-35.
For more information, contact Revd Dwayne Engh at vicar@ashbournechurch.org.uk.
To book your space on the pilgrimage follow this link to the Diocese of Lincoln website
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.
Christmas message from Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby
The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, has appointed the Revd Emma Sykes as the next Archdeacon of East Derbyshire.
Emma is currently serving in the Diocese of Birmingham, where she has lived for nearly 30 years. She began her working life in the charity sector working with young people facing homelessness and other challenging issues. As a youth minister at St Michael’s Church in Boldmere, she began to discern a call to ordained ministry. She trained at St John’s College, Nottingham and, in 2008, was ordained at Birmingham Cathedral.
She served her curacy at St Martin in the Bull Ring and became Associate Rector there three years later. In 2014, she took a break from full-time ministry and took a ‘portfolio’ approach, taking on a variety of different roles as a self-supporting minister including being an assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands and a Bishop’s Advisory Panel advisor. She also worked part time for CPAS as a Leadership Specialist with a focus on young vocations and facilitating training for Curates and Incumbents.
In May 2020, she followed God’s call back to fulltime parish ministry, into her current role as Vicar of St Barnabas Erdington and Oversight Minister for the Erdington Area. Emma has been a member of General Synod since June 2024.
Speaking on her appointment, Emma said: “I’m delighted, honoured and a little overwhelmed to be asked to be the next Archdeacon of East Derbyshire. I’m looking forward to getting to know the people in the archdeaconry and supporting them to flourish in mission and ministry.
“Whilst I’m excited, I also carry sadness at leaving Birmingham Diocese and especially the people of St Barnabas whose resilience, generosity and joy has helped shape me as I follow God’s call to step into this new role.”
Bishop Libby said: “I am delighted that Emma has accepted my invitation to serve as Archdeacon of East Derbyshire. Her varied experience, both in parish ministry and other ministry contexts, will be an asset as she takes up this role within our diocese. I am looking forward to working with her as we follow our shared vision of the Kingdom of God as Good News for all, and seeing that come to fruition for the congregations and communities of East Derbyshire and across the Diocese. Please join me in praying for Emma as she prepares to join us next year.”
Further details about Emma’s Installation as Archdeacon will come in the new year.
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.
A wonderful congregation gathered on a very cold night on Thursday, 20 November 2025, to celebrate two Baptisms and 11 Confirmations presided over by the Bishop of Repton, the Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton, together with the supporting priests who had been responsible for preparing and presenting the candidates.
In his address, Bishop Malcolm cited individual statements by the candidates in wishing to be confirmed and as an encouragement to all those present in our walk with God.
Nine-year-old Luke, the youngest candidate was well prepared for his confirmation. He attended the service supported by the Revd Nigel Rode from St Oswald’s Church, Ashbourne.
Luke was there with his Mum, Reina and Dad, Brian, and several supporters from Ashbourne who all felt close to this family who are much loved in the community. His confirmation clearly meant a great deal not only to him but in fact to them all.
Bishop Malcolm reflected, “It was a joy and privilege to be at St Mary’s Wirksworth for this special service. Confirmations are an invitation for people to renew their baptismal vows, receive prayer for a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit, and to profess their faith publicly, often with family and friends there to support”.
