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.
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. West Ham archdeaconry was further split in 1993See window image. to create the Archdeaconry of Harlow following a 1989 decision of the Diocesan Synod.Diocese of Chelmsford – Transforming Leadership
As part of Stephen Cottrell's vision for the diocese's long-term future, consultations occurred on proposals to create three new archdeaconries.Stephen Cottrell – Proposals to create new Archdeaconries in the Diocese of Chelmsford (accessed 28 December 2012) 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.Diocese of Chelmsford – Archdeaconries in the Diocese of Chelmsford (Accessed 6 February 2013) 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. The Bishop's Pastoral Order effecting the changes was sealed on 15 April 2024 and took effect immediately.
List of archdeacons
Archdeacons of Essex and of West Ham
2007–present: Elwin Cockett
Archdeacons 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 1982–1992 (res.): Jonathan BaileyChurch Times 1992–2000 (res.): David JenningsChurch Times 20011 February 2013 (renamed): David LowmanChelmsford Diocese
Archdeacons of Chelmsford 1 February 201331 January 2016 (ret.): David Lowman 13 March 2016October 2022 (ret): Elizabeth SnowdenDiocese of Chelmsford — New Archdeacon of Chelmsford appointed (Accessed 6 December 2015) (retired on or after 2 October 2022) 4 November 2023present: Jonathan Croucher
Archdeacons of Harlow 1993–1996 (res.): Michael Fox 1996–2009 (ret.): Peter Taylor 200931 March 2017 (ret.): Martin Webster 24 September 201731 March 2023 (retired): Vanessa HerrickDiocese of Chelmsford — New Archdeacon of Harlow appointed (Accessed 15 May 2017) The Archdeaconry of Harlow was dissolved on 15 April 2024.
Archdeacons of Barking 1 February15 September 2013: Elwin Cockett, Archdeacon of West Ham (Acting) 15 September 20133 July 2018: John PerumbalathDiocese of Chelmsford – Three new Archdeacons appointed (Accessed 12 May 2013) (became area Bishop of Bradwell) 12 May 2019present: Chris Burke
Archdeacons of Stansted 1 February15 September 2013: Annette Cooper, Archdeacon of Colchester (Acting) 15 September 201330 September 2023: Robin King 4 November 2023present: Kate Peacock
Archdeacons of Southend (since 2013) 1 February15 September 2013: David Lowman, Archdeacon of Chelmsford (Acting) 15 September 201331 December 2016 (ret.):Diocese of Chelmsford — Archdeacon of Southend to retire at the end of 2016 (Accessed 22 December 2016) Mina Smallman 19 March 2017November 2021 (ret.): Mike Lodge (Acting since 1 August 2016)Parish of Rayleigh — Meet the Rayleigh Team (Accessed 4 January 2017) 26 June 20225 October 2024: Mike Power (Acting since November 2021; collated Archdeacon of West Ham, 5 October 2024) 16 February 2025present: Sue Lucas
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