The Diocese of Chelmsford is a Church of England diocese, part of the Province of Canterbury. It was created on 23 January 1914 from part of the Diocese of St Albans. It covers Essex and part of East London. Since 1984 it is divided into three episcopal areas, each with its own area bishop. The diocese covers around with a population of more than 3 million. It has 463 parishes and 588 churches.
History The diocese was created on 23 January 1914, as part of the provisions of the Bishoprics of Sheffield, Chelmsford and the County of Suffolk Act 1913. It covered the entire county of Essex and that part of Kent north of the River Thames (North Woolwich). The area had since 4 May 1877 been part of the Diocese of St Albans.London Gazette. 23 January 1914. Before 1 January 1846 the area was part of the Diocese of London and then the Diocese of Rochester.
Geographic area The diocese covers a region of around and has a population of more than 3 million. It covers Essex and five East London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest. The diocese has seen one of the strongest regenerations in Europe, which continues. The Thames Gateway, the M11 corridor, Stansted and Southend airports, Harwich, Tilbury, London Gateway, Purfleet ports and most of the housing built in connection with the London 2012 Olympics are in the diocese. It is co-terminous with the boundaries of the Catholic Diocese of Brentwood.
Organisation The diocese of Chelmsford is overseen by the Bishop of Chelmsford. Since the area scheme was created in 1983 and inaugurated in January 1984, the diocese has been divided into three episcopal areas which are overseen by an area bishop. The diocese is divided further into archdeaconries, each divided into a number of deaneries.Diocese of Chelmsford – Episcopal areas map (Accessed 12 February 2015)
The suffragan See of Colchester was created in 1882, for the Diocese of St Albans until 1914. Barking in 1901 also for St Albans, and Bradwell in 1968.
Episcopal areas Archdeaconries Deaneries Barking Episcopal Area(overseen by the area Bishop of Barking) Archdeaconry of West Ham Deanery of Newham Deanery of Redbridge Deanery of Waltham Forest Archdeaconry of Barking Deanery of Barking and Dagenham Deanery of Havering Bradwell Episcopal Area(overseen by the area Bishop of Bradwell) Archdeaconry of Chelmsford Deanery of Brentwood Deanery of Chelmsford North Deanery of Chelmsford South Deanery of Maldon and Dengie Deanery of Epping Forest and Ongar Archdeaconry of Southend Deanery of Basildon Deanery of Hadleigh Deanery of Rochford Deanery of Southend-on-Sea Deanery of Thurrock Colchester Episcopal Area(overseen by the area Bishop of Colchester) Archdeaconry of Colchester Deanery of Colchester Deanery of Harwich Deanery of St Osyth Deanery of Witham Archdeaconry of Stansted Deanery of Braintree Deanery of Dunmow and Stansted Deanery of Hinckford Deanery of Saffron Walden Deanery of Harlow
Bishops
Alongside the diocesan Bishop of Chelmsford (Guli Francis-Dehqani), the Diocese has three area (suffragan) bishops: Roger Morris, area Bishop of Colchester; Lynne Cullens, area Bishop of Barking; and Adam Atkinson, area Bishop of Bradwell.
Alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese which reject the ministry of priests who are women) is provided by the provincial episcopal visitor, Norman Banks, Bishop suffragan of Richborough, who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there.
Churches The diocese has 463 parishes and a total of 588 churches. DeaneryClergyChurchFounded (building)Epping Forest & OngarS. Brazier-GibbsSt Laurence, BlackmoreMedievalSS Peter & Paul, Stondon MasseyI. FarleySt John the Baptist, Buckhurst Hill1837H. AuckenSt Martin, Chipping OngarMedievalSt Peter, ShelleyMedieval (1888)St Andrew, Greensted-juxta-OngarAnglo-SaxonSt Margaret of Antioch, Stanford RiversMedievalJ. FrySt John the Baptist, EppingMedieval (1889)All Saints, Epping UplandMedievalSt Alban the Martyr, Coopersale1852St Andrew, North Weald BassettMedievalC. HawkinsSt Germain, BobbingworthMedievalSt Mary the Virgin, MoretonMedievalSt Nicholas, FyfieldMedievalSt Christopher, WillingaleMedievalJ. PicklesAll Saints, High LaverMedievalSt Mary the Virgin, Little LaverMedievalSt Mary Magdalen, Magdalen LaverMedievalSt Mary, MatchingMedievalC. DaviesSt John the Baptist, Loughton1846St Nicholas, LoughtonMedieval (early C20th)M. Macdonald M. WhiteSt Mary the Virgin, Loughton1871L. PetittSt Michael & All Angels, Loughton1937S. GibbsSt Mary the Virgin, High OngarSt James, Marden AshAll Saints, Norton MandevilleVacantSt Mary the Virgin, Stapleford TawneySt Mary the Virgin, Theydon BoisAll Saints, Theydon GarnonSt Michael, Theydon MountC. Kosla P. PrestonSt Mary, ChigwellAll Saints, Chigwell RowSt Winifred, ChigwellSt Mary & All Saints, LambourneSt Mary the Virgin, Stapleford AbbottsP. Smith V. YeadonHoly Cross & St Lawrence, WalthamHoly Innocents, High BeachSt Lawrence, NinefieldsSt Thomas, Upshire
References
Sources Church of England Statistics 2002
External links
Churches in the Diocese of Chelmsford (A Church Near You) Chelmsford Cathedral