Dr Alastair Redfern

Bishop Alastair was appointed Bishop of Derby in 2005, having previously been Bishop of Grantham in the Diocese of Lincoln. He has worked at Bristol Cathedral, in parishes, a theological college and as a university lecturer.

The Bishop has written nine books including: ‘Thomas Hobbes and the Limits of Democracy’, ‘Public Space and Private Faith: A Challenge to the Churches’, ‘Community and Conflict: A Christian Contribution’, and in 2013 ‘Discipleship: a Call and a Commission.’

He serves as Vice-President of the Derbyshire Community Foundation, a Trustee on the Board of Christian Aid, and Chair of the Churches’ Legislation Advisory Service. He is also Chair of the Multi-Faith Centre in Derby, and from 2010-2013 was Co-Chair of the Inter-Faith Network for the UK.

Bishop Alastair has been a member of the House of Lords since 2010. He is spokesperson for the Church of England on International Development and the Voluntary Sector. He speaks frequently about human trafficking, sexual exploitation, tax justice and young people. He was a member of the joint parliamentary committee which scrutinised the draft modern slavery bill, which was launched in April 2014.

In 2012 Bishop Alastair set up the Redfern Commission to invite Derby citizens to work together to address the needs and development opportunities in the community, especially at a time of cuts in public service and the reshaping of the understanding of welfare and the role of the state.