The Diocese of Derby has announced that Bishop Libby will be confirmed as the Bishop of Derby on the 11 February. This service of Confirmation of Election will take place at St Mary-le Bow, Cheapside.
The central London church is the traditional home of such occasions and the service confers the legal authority of the role. This is when Bishop Libby will become the Bishop of Derby. There are limited tickets available for this event. If you wish to attend, please contact Bishop's Lodge.
What does this mean for the Diocese of Chester?
In practical terms, this means that after the 11 February, Bishop Libby will no longer be the Bishop of Stockport and so will not be able to sign any legal documents. She will fulfil her Sunday commitments until 17 March, and handover her other diocesan responsibilities by then.
There will be an opportunity to bid her farewell at a special service of celebration at Chester Cathedral on 30 March. More details about this will be communicated to the wider diocese in due course.
She will continue to be based at Bishop’s Lodge in Dunham until she moves to Derby in April. Bishop Libby will be installed at Derby Cathedral after Easter.
Libby grew up in Glossop and was selected for ordination whilst working in Chesterfield. She describes Derbyshire as, “the place that holds my heart”.
Bishop Peter said of the appointment: “Libby has had a splendid ministry in the Diocese of Chester, and most notably over the past four years as Bishop of Stockport. We will miss her very much, but she will be an excellent Bishop of Derby as she takes her exceptional gifts to this wider ministry in the Church."