The seventh Bishop of Derby, announced today by Downing Street, will be the Rt Rev'd Dr Alastair Redfern. He will succeed the Rt Rev'd Jonathan Bailey, the current Bishop, who retires in May this year.

News of a change of bishop is significant for Derbyshire. Primarily, the Bishop of Derby leads the Church of England across the whole of the county and therefore it is the most senior appointment in the Diocese. A bishop will also be required to advise and consult with key people or organisations involved with the wellbeing of communities in Derbyshire, and is likely to have national responsibilities too.

Bishop Alastair, 56, who comes to Derbyshire from the Diocese of Lincoln where he is the Bishop of Grantham, will take up his new office later this year, probably in the autumn.

As the Suffragan (or 'number two') Bishop in the Lincoln Diocese, Bishop Alastair already has eight years' experience of bishop's duties and he has an impressive resumé of expertise and knowledge in the areas of theology, church history, social justice, training clergy and developing the spiritual life and faith of lay Christians. As well as having a broad range of experience in these and other areas of Church leadership, Bishop Alastair is also an accomplished lecturer, teacher, speaker and writer of books and papers on a variety of Christian themes, including the recently republished 'Being Anglican', (ISBN: 0232526133).

In wider community circles he has volunteered for several roles throughout his ordained ministry, including work in night shelters for the homeless, working with Oxfam and Christian Aid, being a member of a steering group for regeneration in Lincolnshire communities and contributing to local radio, to name but a few.

He said: "I was amazed when I received the invitation to become Bishop of Derby. I was not proactively looking for a move, and the thought of stepping into Bishop Jonathan's shoes seemed daunting, as I hold him in very high regard. However, when I considered the needs of the Diocese which were presented to me, I became very excited. There seemed to be an affinity between what the Diocese was looking for and what I hope I can offer.

"In this day and age the Church recognises that it is important to be open to different ways of reaching out into the heart of community life, responding to human need at many levels. I have considered Derby's quite radical but realistic strategy for that mission and ministry in this part of the country, and this provides an excellent foundation on which to build. I am looking forward to following through with this work, while listening and learning at the same time. I am committed to a partnership style of working, so I am keen to come together with colleagues, fellow Christians and a whole host of people who want to make positive changes in Derbyshire."

With 10 years' experience of working in a Cathedral, Bishop Alastair also understands the challenges facing Martin Kitchen, the new Dean of Derby. "I am excited about working with Martin and as the two 'newcomers' we can support each other in our learning process, " he said.

Bishop Alastair is a widower with two children, Elizabeth, 26, and Zoe, 24. He has some Derbyshire connections already - his father-in-law was from Ilkeston and was a keen Derby County FC supporter. After listening to reports of their changing success over 30 years, Bishop Alistair feels he knows the team well already. Also, his daughter Zoe works for Rolls-Royce in Bristol, but comes to Derby for training, so he has visited Derby city before too. He enjoys walking and reading to relax.

The Rt Rev'd David Hawtin, Bishop of Repton, will lead the Church in between the time Bishop Jonathan leaves and Bishop Alastair takes up his post. He said: "I am thrilled with the news of this appointment. Bishop Alastair is already a colleague through our East Midlands network of bishops. I offer him a warm welcome and look forward to working with him."

The Rt Rev'd Jonathan Bailey said the candidate was well chosen: "I am delighted to learn that the Bishop of Grantham is to be my successor. Alistair Redfern and I have found ourselves working together in various ways over the years. I have always valued him as a colleague and a friend. I shall be very happy to leave the leadership of the Diocese in such capable hands," he said.

Bishop Alastair will be enthroned at Derby Cathedral, which will mark the beginning of his official duties. No date for the enthronement, which is expected to be later in the year, has been decided yet.

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Notes to editors:

• Details of the role of a Diocesan Bishop are attached for your reference.
• The Bishop's Church leadership responsibilities cover the county of Derbyshire, and overlap small parts of neighbouring counties.

For further information, please contact:

Ruth Green
Bishop's Press Officer/Communications Officer
CofE Diocese of Derby
01332 388680

MEDIA INFORMATION

THE ROLE OF A DIOCESAN BISHOP

At the ordination of bishops, the questions asked by the Archbishop are prefaced by the following statement, which describes the ministry to which a bishop is ordained:

• A bishop is called to lead in serving and caring for the people of God and to work with them in the oversight of the Church.
• As a chief pastor he shares with his fellow bishops a special responsibility to maintain and further the unity of the Church, to uphold its discipline, and to guard its faith.
• He is to promote its mission throughout the world.
• It is his duty to watch over and pray for all those committed to his charge, and to teach and govern them after the example of the Apostles, speaking in the name of God and interpreting the gospel of Christ.
• He is to know his people and be known by them.
• He is to ordain and to send new ministers, guiding those who serve with him and enabling them to fulfil their ministry.
• He is to baptise and confirm, to preside at the Holy Communion, and to lead the offering of prayer and praise.
• He is to be merciful, but with firmness, and to minister discipline, but with mercy.
• He is to have a special care for the outcast and needy; and to those who turn to God he is to declare the forgiveness of sins.

All diocesan bishops are members of the House of Bishops of the General Synod (the Church's 'Parliament') and therefore share in responsibility for the leadership of the Church of England nationally and for relationships between the Church of England and the Church in other countries.

Beyond their formal Synodical role, diocesan bishops tend to be the public face of the Church in the eyes of the media and therefore perform an important communications role. Most diocesan bishops carry particular national responsibilities, chairing committees or boards within the National Church Institutions, ecumenically (i.e. with other Christian denominations), or in connection with religious charities.

Bishops may also be invited to contribute their experience or expertise to the deliberations of national government or regional bodies on particular issues. Senior diocesan bishops sit in the House of Lords. Sooner or later all diocesan bishops are called to play a leading part in national life and to represent not just their dioceses but also their regions at the national level.

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