News and Events
St Helen’s, Etwall, was awash with colour and vibrancy when they held their Well Dressing and Flower Festival weekend.
All the hard work of the community organisers, flower arrangers, clergy and volunteers paid off as the church was full of much fellowship and laughter.
It was st Helen’s first attempt at the Well dressing board, which, with a strong steer, turned out brilliantly with thanks to experienced dressers!
This was a true example of a community working together – for the community to embrace and enjoy!
Congratulations, St Helen’s, on your wonderful achievement and for bringing such colour and warmth to the church and local community.
>> More photos on the St Helen's Etwall Facebook site
‘God has called you by name and made you his own’
These are the words that are used at a confirmation service, and it was a great delight to be confirming four people at St John the Baptist Tideswell on Sunday evening.
It is always encouraging to see people taking the next steps on their journey of faith. The testimonies of these four people, of varying ages at different stages of life and faith, speak of this being the right time to declare their ‘yes’ to God, publicly.
If you are thinking about being confirmed, please have a conversation with your vicar or priest in charge at your church. They will be able to liaise with the Bishop’s Office at Derby Church House about finding a suitable place and time.
It will also be my privilege to ordain the new deacons and priests this month. These too are people who know they have been called by name and are being called to serve in the parishes and communities of our diocese. Do please support them in prayer.
Archbishop Michael Curry, former presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, once said ‘if you are breathing, God is calling’. The breath of life itself is a gift from God, serving as a constant reminder that God is present and continually calling us to love, serve, and connect with the world around us.
Occasions like these are reminders for all of us that God knows and loves each one of us, that we are all called by name. For some it might be to take the next step in your journey of faith – such as baptism or confirmation. It may simply be that you're being called to pray for people, or it may be that God is doing something new in your life and calling you to step out of the boat.
I encourage you, please be open to what the Lord is saying to you. Perhaps this is something that you can pray about with someone you trust? Or, if you haven’t yet taken the first steps in your journey of faith, you might consider coming to church this Sunday.
You can find a church near you on the diocesan website or at achurchnearyou.com.
You would be most welcome!
Bishop Jackie
Can you believe that we’re already halfway through 2026? In many ways, the first half of the year has been characterised by movement. By the time you read this Bishop Malcolm will have retired, Archdeacon Emma will have started, other clergy and laity will both come and go, and the stories of our lives (in most spheres of life) will rarely be “static”.
In the midst of constantly changing times, building our lives on the rock that is Jesus offers us stability—a rootedness—that many of us crave. Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with that picture: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).
Discipleship is not an optional extra for a few keen Christians; it is the steady work of becoming people whose lives are held firm by Christ, whatever shifts around us.
I entered 2026 with a prayerful sense that the Lord was saying to me, “Your power comes through prayer”, and with a sense of being invited into deeper dependence on Jesus as life threw some significant challenges my way. It reminded me that we are not formed by good intentions alone, but by encounter—by repeatedly placing ourselves where Jesus has promised to meet us.
That is where “making new disciples” begins: not with techniques, but with being made new ourselves. St Athanasius famously wrote, “He became what we are that He might make us what He is.” If that is true, our calling is to be shaped into the likeness of Jesus—so that, in our words, patience, courage, and compassion, others might catch a glimpse of him.
This matters because the Church is not sustained primarily by activity, but by holiness—by lives quietly remade. St Irenaeus wrote, “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.” We become “fully alive” as Christ’s life takes root in ours, and we begin to radiate out what we have received. Paul says it with breathtaking simplicity: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). People do not only need our programmes; they need our presence in communities across the diocese—Christ’s presence shining through ordinary disciples.
How are we formed? By grace, yes—and also by habits that keep us close to the Lord. The Christian tradition has always known that we are shaped by what we repeatedly attend to, love, and practise. Not as a way of earning God’s favour, but as a way of becoming available to God’s transforming work.
Worship re-centres us in God’s story and trains our hearts to love Christ. Week by week, we are gathered, forgiven, fed by word and sacrament, and sent back out into our communities. Over time, the liturgy sinks beneath the surface and becomes reflex: gratitude rather than grumbling; forgiveness rather than resentment. “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19) is not simply recollection; it is, and becomes a way of life. We remember Jesus until, slowly, our lives begin to resemble him.
Prayer is not merely asking for help; it is communion. As St Augustine wrote, “our heart is restless until it rests in you.” In prayer, our hearts are reordered—where anxiety becomes intercession, anger becomes radical honesty, and weariness becomes healthy dependence. Jesus often “withdrew… and prayed” (Luke 5:16); if the Son of God sought the Father’s company, how much more do we? Prayer also builds courage: it teaches us to see the world truthfully and to love it without being consumed by it. “Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). Waiting is not passivity but practised dependence—resilience for leadership, parenting, friendship, service, and grief.
Bible reading is not information-gathering but meeting, and dwelling in, the living Word: “All Scripture is breathed out by God…” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). We come with our questions and let the Spirit comfort, confront, and form us. Meditation helps the Word sink in—slowly letting Christ’s words dwell in us (Colossians 3:16). Nature, especially the beauty of Derbyshire, can restore wonder and patience as we remember “the earth is the LORD’s” (Psalm 24:1). And study is loving God with our minds (Mark 12:30), so we can “give a reason for the hope” within us (1 Peter 3:15).
None of these practices are about spiritual heroics or instant ‘wins’. They are about attention. They are ways of turning towards Jesus so that Jesus can turn us outward again. They are also wonderfully adaptable. A busy parent might pray in ten-minute fragments. A carer might read a Psalm each day. A student might find Christ in study and service. A retiree might offer the gift of time and intercession. The point is not the quantity; it is the orientation: “Abide in me… for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5).
As we are being formed in this way, evangelism becomes less about pressure and more about overflow. New disciples are rarely argued into existence; they are often drawn to a life that radiates Jesus—steadiness in chaos, hope in sorrow, kindness under strain. Peter says, “Always be prepared to make a defence… yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). Gentleness and respect are not add-ons; they are evidence that Christ is at work in us.
So, as this year continues to move and change, let’s choose the steady places of encounter. Let’s build on the Rock. Let’s make room for worship, prayer, Scripture, meditation, nature, and study—not as tasks, but as meeting places. And as we seek to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did, may our neighbours—through our ordinary, grace-shaped lives—come to know the extraordinary love of Christ.
The Ven. Matthew Trick
Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire
St Bartholomew’s Church in Osmaston, Derby, continues to thrive and welcome parishioners old and new. This is how it has been since it first opened its doors.
2026 marks 100 magnificent years in Osmaston, Derby.
A truly special service and event was held to mark this milestone and reflect on the life of this church and the wide-ranging community that it serves.
The service was led by Rev Fr Alasdair Kay and the Ven. Matthew Trick, Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire, preached. Special guests Derby South MP Baggy Shanker and Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council, joined the service and celebrations.
The church was built to serve the Osmaston area, as people had moved to the area to work at the developing Rolls-Royce factory in Nightingale Road, and the church survived a bombing during the war
Since its consecration, St Bartholomew’s has welcomed thousands of people through its doors to worship.
Later in the year, the celebrations will continue with the planting of an oak tree in an area of wildflowers in the church grounds created by Fr Alasdair.
He said: "Osmaston is a very multicultural place, and we wanted to celebrate that with the planting of the oak tree, of which there are more than 100 different species”.
"I am a Franciscan friar, and so wildlife and nature are very important. The church is a thriving example of having green space and grounds despite being in an urban environment.
"Its links with the Rolls-Royce factory have been very strong over the years, and we have volunteers from the company come to the church grounds and help to keep our green space flourishing."
Fr Kay said, "I have been here for 10 months, and our congregation is building once again. It has been part of a proactive project to revitalise churches around the city and represents an investment by the diocese into the future of the churches, and we, along with some others, are bucking the trend in church attendance."
St Bartholomew’s is a brick-built structure in the Arts and Crafts style, designed by Derby architect Percy Heylin Currey and completed in 1927. It was largely funded by a £1,000 request from local man Colonel George Newdigate. It was extended in 1968 and can seat approx 200 people.
The Venerable Emma Sykes has been formally welcomed, collated and installed as Archdeacon of East Derbyshire this week, at a special Evensong service at Derby Cathedral.
Emma shares a little about her story up until this point. She writes…
“I have lived in Birmingham for nearly 30 years and began my working life in the charity
sector working with young people facing homelessness and other challenging issues. From there I became a youth minister for a short time at St Michael's Church in Boldmere which became a significant part of discerning a call to ordained ministry.
“I trained a t St John's College, Nottingham and in 2008, was ordained at Birmingham Cathedral. I served my curacy at St Martin in the Bull Ring and became Associate Rector there three years later. In 2014, I 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 DDO and a BAP advisor.
“I 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, I followed God's call back to full-time parish ministry, as Vicar of St Barnabas Erdington and Oversight Minister for the Erdington Area and became a member of General Synod in June 2024.
“I am married to Andrew (also known as Mac) and have two adult sons. In my spare time I enjoy running, walking and being on adventures with Mac in our campervan. I am delighted to be joining the Diocese of Derby and especially getting to know the people and churches in the East Derbyshire Archdeaconry as we share together the Kingdom of God being good news for all.”
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The National Church of England is seeking feedback on the design of a proposed new safeguarding organisation. The consultation is now open and will run until 11pm on 17th May 2026.
At the heart of these reforms is the creation of a new national safeguarding organisation that will operate independently of Church hierarchy, governed by a majority-independent Board. This consultation seeks your views on the detailed design of this organisation, referred to in the consultation as the “Authority”.
Whether you are a survivor, a parish volunteer, a safeguarding professional, a Church officer, or a member of the wider public, your perspective will help us refine these proposals. Your feedback and viewpoints are essential and will help ensure the proposals are robust, sustainable, and fit for purpose.
This June Deborah Lee, a trustee for Mother's Union for the York province of the Church of England, is raising money for the charity by cycling from York Minster to the 150th anniversary service at St Paul's Cathedral, visiting MU branches in ten dioceses on the way.
As she cycles through the Diocese of Derby, she will be joined by our Diocesan MU Chaplain, Canon Michael Futers, and by the Very Revd Geoffrey Marshall.
Mick and Geoff will join Deb at Sheffield Cathedral on the afternoon of Wednesday 3 June; they will then cycle to Chesterfield for the night. On Thursday they will cycle nearly 60 miles out of our diocese into the Diocese of Nottingham & Southwell and back into Derby – riding from Chesterfield via Wingerworth, Mansfield Woodhouse, Hucknall and Sandiacre to Derby. On Friday 4 June they will cycle from Derby into the Diocese of Leicester, leaving Deborah at Coalville.
Deborah said on her JustGiving page: "Mothers' Union has been supporting families for 150 years. This cycle ride is part of the lighting the way for generations to come. We need this unique movement to continue for another 150 years as its work in Britain, Ireland and across the world improves lives.
"Our work focuses on reducing violence, poverty and injustice. Our literacy campaign has empowered women, transforming communities, we support parenting and those whose lives have met with adversity, offering holidays for those that need them and supporting prisoners and their families. I will be visiting tendioceses on my travels and hope you can come and visit one with me!"
You can find out more about the team's efforts on their JustGiving page here.
The Dean and Chapter of Derby Cathedral, together with the Acting Bishop of Derby, invite you to the Cathedral Church on Sunday, 17 May 2026 at 5.15 pm, to celebrate as Emma begins her new ministry as Archdeacon of East Derbyshire.
In this joyful service, The Dean will collate Emma to her new role, and place her in her stall within the Cathedral, marking this significant moment in Emma’s ministry.
We very much hope you will be able to be part of this special occasion, and invite you to hold Emma and the Archdeaconry in your prayers.
It is a privilege to be returning to the Diocese of Derby to serve as Acting Bishop while Bishop Libby is signed off work by her GP. We continue to hold her in our prayers as she recovers.
With Bishop Malcolm retiring on 30 April, the Archbishop of Canterbury has asked me to take on the responsibilities of the Diocesan Bishop for this time.
Some of you may know that I served as Vicar of Littleover from 2003 to 2012. Those years shaped me deeply, and it is a joy to reconnect with this diocese. Since then, I have served in Gloucester and Exeter, most recently as Bishop of Crediton and Acting Bishop of Exeter.
I am married to David, we have grown up children, and we have recently become grandparents, a gift that brings us great joy.
I will be working part time, and we will be working collegially as a senior team to ensure continuity and support across the diocese.
God is faithful, and the work of the Kingdom continues in every part of the diocese.
I look forward to meeting many of you in the coming weeks and will be glad of your prayers.
Please continue to pray for Bishop Libby, for Bishop Malcolm in his retirement, and for all who serve in ministry and mission in this diocese.
Dear friends across the Diocese of Derby,
I would like to express my deep gratitude for your kindness and generosity as I retire today from ministry as Bishop of Repton. Your many good wishes and your lovely gifts are hugely appreciated. The cheque will go a long way in helping us equip our new home in Gloucester. And the Evensong farewell service on 19 April was beautiful and unforgettable - a big thank you also to the Dean, the Choir, and all the Derby Cathedral team.
It has been a joy and a privilege to share with you and with Bishop Libby all over this beautiful county. The warmth of your welcome has been a great encouragement, and it has been so good to journey in ministry together.
Pam and I move to Gloucester the first week in May, and as many of you will know we plan to set off on pilgrimage, cycling from Lands End to John o Groats at the end of the month. As we go you will all be in our prayers. I’d like to thank Bishop Libby in particular for her kindness, care, and inspiration as we have worked together, and all of you for your prayers at this time.
With every blessing, and my prayers always.
Bishop Malcolm
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All photos from the Evensong service held on Sunday 19 April can be found here on our Flikr page
The Bishop of Derby, Rt Rev Libby Lane, has invited Rev Peter Dale to lead a new chapter in the life of St Philip Church, Chaddesden, as part of a wider revitalisation of the parish.
St Philip serves a community of around 16,500 people across Chaddesden, areas with significant social need and a long history of under‑investment. The Bishop’s invitation reflects a desire to strengthen the Church of England’s presence in this part of the city and to support local people with renewed energy, care, and hope.
Peter, who is completing his curacy at St Francis’ Mackworth, brings experience in revitalisation and a deep personal connection to the area. His wife grew up locally, their family roots are in Derby, and both feel a strong call to serve the communities of Chaddesden.
Speaking about the appointment, Peter said: “I am so grateful for and humbled by Bishop Libby’s invitation and I can’t wait to be in Chaddesden to listen, learn, serve and lead as together we seek to share the good news of God’s grace with the people of Chaddesden. I am excited for all that is to come and to working with both the existing congregation at St Philip and the team from the Werb’s Network. We have seen God do remarkable things through this revitalisation model across the city and we are praying for more lives, families and indeed a whole community to be transformed.”
The Rt Rev Malcolm Macnaughton, currently acting as Bishop of Derby said: “It has been wonderful to see parishes like those of St Philip flourish as a result of revitalisation efforts such as this one, enabled by the Derby Resource Church. This is an exciting moment, and one that we pray will see the Kingdom of God move and grow in Chaddesen.”
The revitalisation is supported by the Resource Church at St Werburgh’s Derby, whose partnership with the diocese began nearly nine years ago. This next step continues that story while being shaped by the needs and hopes of the local community.
A fuller launch of the revitalised worshipping community is planned for September, with opportunities for local residents to get involved.
Youth Pilgrimage to Taizé 2026
**Time to Book!** Join young adults from across the East Midlands and beyond for a weeklong pilgrimage to Taizé, near Cluny, France. Young adults aged 18 - 35 are very welcome. There will be a limited number of spaces for those who are over 35 and would like to join us.
Participating in a pilgrimage to Taizé is time set aside to search for communion with God through community, prayer, song, silence, personal reflection and sharing. A stay in Taizé can help to step back from daily life, to meet a wide variety of people and consider our commitment in the Church and in society. During a visit, all participants join in the community life of Taizé and the daily programme.
Save the Date
A group of young adults from across Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and County Durham will be journeying to Taizé between Saturday 1st and Sunday 9th August 2026. Travelling by coach, the pilgrimage is aimed at young adults aged between 18-35 at the time of travel, and in possession of a current passport.
Interested?
Register your interest in joining the pilgrimage by submitting your details. This is not a commitment at this stage, and a place is only secured through making your deposit. Register on the website. We will be holding a number of zoom conversations in preparation for the pilgrimage where we will answer whatever questions you might have.
Zoom meetups at 7pm:
Wednesday May 6
Thursday June 4
Monday July 13
Costs
The cost of the pilgrimage is £350 per person for those under 35, and £450 for those over 35, which is excellent value for money and includes:
- Coach Travel from Lincolnshire to Taizé - Return
- Ferry Crossings
- Hospitality and activities at Taizé
- Meals whilst at Taizé, with vegetarian and dairy free options available.
- Campsite charges, washing facilities
We are hoping to find additional financial support for 18 - 35 year olds for whom the cost is prohibitive. We would encourage home churches to be creative in fundraising for any pilgrims who may be joining us. Grant details on request to: collegeofsthugh@lincoln.anglican.org
Unable to attend but would like to take part? Please consider sponsoring a pilgrim! A gift of £25 sponsorship could make a huge difference to a young adult.
A non-refundable deposit of £100 is required in order to secure a place. For those who are over 35, please do contact us first, as it may not be possible to guarantee a place on the coach. For visiting groups, the Taizé community ask that we maintain a 1 in 5 ratio of those over 35 to those younger adults within our group.
More information and book your place
For more information, contact Revd Dwayne Engh at vicar@ashbournechurch.org.uk.
>> Book your place on the pilgrimage (via Diocese of Lincoln website)
>> Download promotional leaflet
The Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Libby Lane, is currently on sick leave. Our prayers and best wishes are with her at this time for a full recovery. Bishop Libby’s episcopal responsibilities are delegated at the moment to the Bishop of Repton, the Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton.
Bishop Malcolm retires from ministry on Thursday 30 April, after which episcopal responsibilities in the Diocese of Derby will be delegated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, to the Rt Revd Jackie Searle, Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Coventry, former Bishop of Crediton and previously acting Bishop of Exeter. Bishop Jackie has a connection with our diocese, having been vicar of Littleover from 2003 to 2012.
Speaking on this appointment, Bishop Jackie said:
“I have been asked to be the Acting Bishop of Derby for this period and will be returning to a diocese that has a very special place in my heart.
“I will be pleased to support the diocese through this time. Meanwhile my prayers and best wishes are with Bishop Libby, and with Bishop Malcolm on his retirement.”
Bishop Jackie will be part-time in this role, and will be working closely with the senior team. Throughout this period enquiries should continue to go through the Bishop of Derby’s office as normal.
On Saturday 18 April 2026, nine people will be admitted to the office of Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) at a special service at Derby Cathedral.
Licensed Lay Ministers are volunteers who are called and theologically trained to teach, lead, and equip the church for mission. They are people from a variety of backgrounds, occupations, and contexts who have heard God's call. They work collaboratively with clergy as fellow ministers with complementary gifts and callings.
Those being licensed are:
Craig Cowdroy
Amanda Foulkes
Anne Musson
James Neve
Ruth Neve
Alison Waltho
Chris Ward
Lynda Warner
Si Belcher
You can read more about each of them on our Instagram page
Let’s not be April fools.
At school I was taught that the French say ‘Cocorico’ instead of ‘April Fool’. I have believed this for years - but it turns out to be fake. I may be the last credulous victim of a long running prank. The French equivalent of ‘April Fool’ is not ‘Cocorico’ but Poisson d’Avril!’ or ‘April Fish’. All a bit fishy, anyway.
Nonetheless, ‘cocorico’, or ‘cockadoodledoo’ can be a bit of a tease too. There’s history here. In Edmond Rostand’s 1910 play Le Chantecler the rooster’s self-important delusion is that it is his duty to announce the day – that if he fails to do his duty the sun cannot rise and day will not begin.
And in the gospels, Jesus tells Peter that by the time the cockerel crows he will deny knowing Jesus three times. When this happens, Peter weeps bitterly. The truth about ourselves is sometimes hard to swallow.
Cockadoodledoo is a mocking signal of untruths told and loyalties lost. Of moments missed, and opportunities wasted. Wake up! Wake up! Wake up to what is going on around you! Don’t sleepwalk into disaster. The events of the first Easter, and the events that lead up to it, are remote from our 21st century world, but they are real. And they are relevant as ever.
They are real because of the places they happened, still there today. A so called ‘Holy Land’ brutalised by violence, hatred, and division. Jerusalem, towards which Jesus set his face, to the city and the confrontation that would inevitably happen there. To the upper room, where he would break bread and share wine with them. Where their weary, dusty feet were washed by the one who would next day give his life for the world. To the place also where Jesus, three days later, would suddenly appear, behind locked doors, and startle them all with his greeting, ‘Peace!’
Not dead at all, but alive, with them: a new beginning, and a whole new world.
This is the city where Jesus gave himself in love. ‘Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.’ Whilst they could be a comment on current events, these words were Jesus’ prayer for his torturers and executioners, and for all who colluded with the scandal of an innocent man condemned to die. God is with us the suffering and death of Jesus. God is with us in the joy of resurrection, and in the new creation that springs from the love of God in Jesus.
How we long for Easter peace this year! How we pray for the peoples of the Holy Land, and for real, just, and lasting peace! We think especially of the people of the Anglican churches across the Middle East at this time. We don’t know how or when this prayer will be answered. Though, as the writer to the Hebrews says, ‘but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.’ Hebrews 2.9
The Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton
Bishop of Repton
If in addition to praying for peace in the middle east you would like to give, please join Bishop Libby and me in contributing to the Good Friday appeal for the work of the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza, serving the sick and injured of that community at this time? Donations can be sent directly via this link: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/24585
