Archdeacons in the Diocese of Chelmsford

The Archdeacons in the Diocese of Chelmsford are senior ecclesiastical officers in the Church of England in Essex and East London. They currently include: the Archdeacon of West Ham, the Archdeacon of Colchester and the archdeacons of Chelmsford, of Barking, of Stansted and of Southend. Each one has responsibility over a geographical area within the diocese.

A window on the south side of Chelmsford Cathedral, showing the seals of the four pre-2013 archdeaconries.

History

When the diocese was created, it consisted of the ancient archdeaconries of Essex and Colchester. The first changes to the diocese's archdeaconries occurred on 17 March 1922 when the Archdeaconry of Southend was created from the old Essex archdeaconry and that old archdeaconry renamed to West Ham: at its erection, the 1922 Southend archdeaconry consisted of the Deaneries of Barstable/Brentwood, of Canewdon and Southend, of Chelmsford, of Chigwell, of Dengie, of Harlow, of Maldon, of Ongar, of Roding, and of Wickford.^[1] West Ham archdeaconry was further split in 1993^[2] to create the Archdeaconry of Harlow following a 1989 decision of the Diocesan Synod.^[3]

As part of Stephen Cottrell's vision for the diocese's long-term future, consultations occurred on proposals to create three new archdeaconries.^[4] On 1 February 2013, by Pastoral Order of the Bishop of Chelmsford, the three archdeaconries were created: the new Archdeaconry of Stansted from Colchester archdeaconry, a new Archdeaconry of Barking from West Ham archdeaconry and a new Archdeaconry of Southend created from Southend archdeaconry after it had been renamed the Archdeaconry of Chelmsford.^[5] Initially, the Archdeacons of Colchester, of West Ham, and of Chelmsford were also Acting Archdeacons of Stansted, of Barking, and of Southend respectively.

In April 2024, it was announced that Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford, would dissolve the vacant Harlow archdeaconry, dividing its territory: Harlow deanery joining Stansted archdeaconry and the Deanery of Epping Forest and Ongar joining Chelmsford archdeaconry.^[6] The Bishop's Pastoral Order effecting the changes was sealed on 15 April 2024 and took effect immediately.^[7]

List of archdeacons

Archdeacons of Essex and of West Ham Further information: Archdeacon of West Ham 2007–present: Elwin Cockett Archdeacons of Colchester Further information: Archdeacon of Colchester 2010–present: Ruth Patten Archdeacons of Southend (before 2013) and of Chelmsford Archdeacons of Southend 1922–1937 (ret.): Percy Bayne (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) 1938–1953 (ret.): Ellis Gowing (afterwards archdeacon emeritus) 1953–1972 (ret.): Neville Welch (also Bishop suffragan of Bradwell from 1968) 1972–1977 (res.): Peter Bridges 1977–1982 (res.): John Moses[8] 1982–1992 (res.): Jonathan Bailey[9] 1992–2000 (res.): David Jennings[10] 2001 – 1 February 2013 (renamed): David Lowman[11][12] Archdeacons of Chelmsford 1 February 2013 – 31 January 2016 (ret.): David Lowman[13] 13 March 2016 – October 2022 (ret): Elizabeth Snowden[14] (retired on or after 2 October 2022)[15] 4 November 2023 – present: Jonathan Croucher[16]

Archdeacons of Harlow 1993–1996 (res.): Michael Fox[17] 1996–2009 (ret.): Peter Taylor[18] 2009 – 31 March 2017 (ret.):[19] Martin Webster[20] 24 September 2017 – 31 March 2023 (retired): Vanessa Herrick[21][22] The Archdeaconry of Harlow was dissolved on 15 April 2024.[7] Archdeacons of Barking 1 February – 15 September 2013: Elwin Cockett, Archdeacon of West Ham (Acting) 15 September 2013 – 3 July 2018: John Perumbalath[23] (became area Bishop of Bradwell) 12 May 2019 – present: Chris Burke[24][25] Archdeacons of Stansted 1 February – 15 September 2013: Annette Cooper, Archdeacon of Colchester (Acting) 15 September 2013 – 30 September 2023: Robin King[23][26] 4 November 2023 – present: Kate Peacock[16] Archdeacons of Southend (since 2013) 1 February – 15 September 2013: David Lowman, Archdeacon of Chelmsford (Acting) 15 September 2013 – 31 December 2016 (ret.):[27] Mina Smallman[23] 19 March 2017 – November 2021 (ret.):[28] Mike Lodge (Acting since 1 August 2016)[29] 26 June 2022 – 5 October 2024: Mike Power[30] (Acting since November 2021;[28] collated Archdeacon of West Ham, 5 October 2024)[31]

References

1. "No. 32642". The London Gazette. 17 March 1922. pp. 2229–2230.
2. See window image.
3. Diocese of Chelmsford – Transforming Leadership^{[permanent dead link‍]}
4. Stephen Cottrell – Proposals to create new Archdeaconries in the Diocese of Chelmsford (accessed 28 December 2012)
5. Diocese of Chelmsford – Archdeaconries in the Diocese of Chelmsford Archived January 30, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 6 February 2013)
6. "Decision regarding the Archdeaconry of Harlow". Diocese of Chelmsford. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
7. "Diocesan Synod papers, 15 June 2024" (PDF). Diocese of Chelmsford. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
8. "Anglia Ruskin". Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
9. Church Times
10. Church Times
11. Chelmsford Diocese Archived April 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
12. "The Ven the Archdeacon of Southend's Biography". Debretts. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
13. "Gazette". Church Times. No. 7962. 23 October 2015. p. 33. ISSN 0009-658X.
14. Diocese of Chelmsford — New Archdeacon of Chelmsford appointed (Accessed 6 December 2015)
15. "The Archdeacon of Chelmsford, Elizabeth Snowden, announces her retirement". Diocese of Chelmsford. 18 July 2022. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
16. "Chelmsford Diocese welcomes Bishop Adam, Archdeacon Kate and Archdeacon Jonathan". Diocese of Chelmsford. 4 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
17. "Fox, Michael John". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 26 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
18. "Taylor, Peter Flint". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 26 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
19. "Appointments". Church Times. No. 8026. 13 January 2017. p. 30. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
20. "Webster, Martin Duncan". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 26 May 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
21. Diocese of Chelmsford — New Archdeacon of Harlow appointed (Accessed 15 May 2017)
22. "Resignations and retirements". Church Times. 17 February 2023. ISSN 0009-658X.
23. Diocese of Chelmsford – Three new Archdeacons appointed (Accessed 12 May 2013)
24. "New Archdeacon of Barking appointed | Chelmsford Diocese".
25. "New Archdeacon of Colchester appointed | Chelmsford Diocese".
26. "The Archdeacon of Stansted, Robin King announces his retirement". Diocese of Chelmsford. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
27. Diocese of Chelmsford — Archdeacon of Southend to retire at the end of 2016 (Accessed 22 December 2016)
28. "The Archdeacon of Southend, the Venerable Mike Lodge, announces his retirement from full time ministry". Diocese of Chelmsford. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
29. Parish of Rayleigh — Meet the Rayleigh Team (Accessed 4 January 2017)
30. "Power appointed as the new Archdeacon of Southend". Diocese of Chelmsford. 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
31. @chelmsdio (5 October 2024). "Today we welcomed the Venerable Mike Power as Archdeacon of West Ham..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024 – via Twitter.