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Welcome to the website of the Church of England Deanery of Colchester. The Deanery comprises 24 Parishes in and around the City of Colchester, Essex. Read our news items below, and click the menu to view our other pages.. |
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Latest News
The latest Newsletter from the Mustard Seed Team
New Priest-in-Charge for Shrub End and Stanway
We are delighted to announce the good news that The Revd Nikki Horsley has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of the Parishes of Stanway St. Albright and Shrub End All Saints with St. Cedd. Nikki has been Curate in Black Notley, Great Notley and Rayne since 2023. Our Parishes are looking forward to welcoming her; please pray for her, husband Clive and their two children as they prepare to make the move. Archdeacon Ruth's formal announcement can be read here.
LPW VAT Grant Scheme closed
We have heard that the DCMS Grant Scheme for VAT on Listed Places of Worship, due to end on 31st March, has now closed, as all awards within the £23million allotted to the Scheme have now been allocated to applicants. This is very bad news for those Parishes expecting to make a claim in the next month. All we can suggest is that, if your Parish hasn't applied to the Colchester Churches Charitable Trust in the last three years, it may help to contact them at colchtrust@gmail.com.
World Day of Prayer Service
The first Friday in March, this year Friday 6th March, is The World Day of Prayer and there is a service at St. Mary's Church, West Bergholt at 2pm on the day. It's preceded by a soup lunch at 1pm. This year's service has been written by the people of Nigeria, with the theme: 'I will give you rest - come'. Good advice - take a rest from the day and come along. It would be good to display this poster in our Churches to encourage others.
Revd Linda Peall retires on 31st March
It has been announced that Revd Linda Peall, Senior Chaplain at ESNEFT (including Colchester Hospitals) will be retiring on 31st March. We are most grateful for all Linda has done within and beyond the Chaplaincy, as well as for her time with us in Chapter. Her final Celebration Service will be in the Chapel at Ipswich Hospital at 10:15am on Tuesday 31st March, followed by a reception - see this invitation. We pray that Linda will enjoy a very happy and blessed retirement - which is likely to include ministry with Permission To Officiate. Succeeding her will be Revd Dr James Grenfell, currently Senior Chaplain at Whipps Cross Hospital in the Barts Group. He takes up his duties on 20th April.
Deanery Day - a new date for 2026
The date of Deanery Day 2026 has changed - it's now on Saturday 10th October. If you've already got the old date of 17th in your diary, we do apologise, but we were advised by the Diocese that we clashed with the LYCiG Conference (Leading Your Church into Growth) - and we know that a number of our Parishes wish to be represented at that much wider event. So even though we chose the date first, it's right that we change. If you'd like to see the PowerPoint presentations and other material delivered at the 2025 Deanery Day, visit our Deanery Day page for those that are available.
Our next Deanery Synod
The next meeting of Deanery Synod is on Wednesday 18th March at the usual time - 7:15pm for refreshments, with the meeting commencing at 7:45pm. It's at St. Mary's, Wivenhoe: because of the parking situation (there are not a lot of spaces) Synod members are asked to share lifts, take the train (8 minutes from Colchester Town and two minutes walk from the station to the church!) or a choice of buses. This is the final year of the current Triennium - we elect Synod members at our upcoming Annual Parochial Church Meetings. However, it will not be the last meeting of the current Synod - that will be on Wednesday 17th June, as those elected by Parishes become Synod members from July 1st.
Deanery Synod Report for your APCM
Amorous or Loving?
That's the intriguing title of a lecture at St. Andrew's Church, Marks Tey CO6 1LW on Wednesday 8th April at 7pm with Friends of Essex Churches Trust. Sir Rupert Gavin asks and answers the question: 'How did a marginal dialect spoken in the 9th Century become the world's language spoken by 1,600,000,00 people today?' It's 'the highly peculiar tale of English and the English'. Sir Rupert has been a central figure in the UK's cultural, historical, media and business worlds for more than 40 years. Don't miss this amazing event - book now on Ticketebo by clicking here.
Lent Bible Course at St. Mary's, Wivenhoe
Lent sees the start of the Bible Society's Bible Course at St. Mary's, Wivenhoe. It's in two parts over 8 sessions, and the dates are: Tuesdays 24th February, 3rd, 17th, 24th & 31st March (not 10th) for the Old Testament, and Tuesdays 5th, 12th & 19th May for the New. It will be led by the Acting Head of RE at St. Benedict's Catholic College, Colchester, Jonas Lammens (and yes, if you're wondering, he is the son of our Area Dean!). Just turn up; you'll be welcomed. Arrive at 7pm for refreshments, for the sessions to start at 7:30pm.
This year's Visitation Service
The annual Visitation Service, led by our Archdeacon which includes the swearing-in of Churchwardens, is to take place in the evening of Thursday 11th June at St. Stephen's Church, Canterbury Road Colchester CO2 7RY. The invitation will be out fairly soon, but we thought we'd tell you now that it's likely to be rather different this year, with more people invited. So keep looking out for the news!
St. John's are pleased to announce this seminar, with a meal and time of worship on Saturday 7th March starting at 4:30pm, sponsored by the national Church to encourage Churches to engage with young people and young adults - and it's also a great opportunity for us in Colchester to host an event with a nationally-known worship leader. Tickets are free, so book early - they may well be snapped up by people from further afield. You heard it here first! All details, including how to book, are in this document. Pass it on!
Bonhoeffer: This year's Lent Film in Wivenhoe
Churches Together in Wivenhoe are showing the film 'Bonhoeffer' as this year's Lent film. About the life of theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer who opposed the transportation and killing of the Jewish population in Nazi Germany, it's in English, is rated 12 and lasts 132 minutes. It will be in St. Mary's Church on Friday 13th March at 7:30pm. No ticket required; no money involved. Just turn up.
Handel's Messiah at St. Botolph's
Colchester Choral Society are presenting Handel's Messiah at St. Botolph's Church CO2 7EE on the evening of Saturday 21st March at 7:30pm. The eve of Passion Sunday is an ideal time to experience the power of scripture and this timeless music. Tickets can be bought from the Choral Society's own website here.
Lord, teach us to pray
On Sunday 8th March at 6.30pm, Bishop Roger, Bishop of Colchester, will be at Christ Church Colchester CO3 3AT to teach on “Prayer” within an evening worship. All are invited to come along and will be warmly welcomed; and we're encouraged to bring our friends.
CYO Celebration - we're all invited!
Christian Youth Outreach invite us all to celebrate God's inspiring work through CYO in schools and in partnership with Churches on Saturday 14th March from 10am to 12 noon in St. Anne's Church, Compton Road, Colchester CO4 0BQ. Yes, all are invited including children - activities will be provided. Book in through Eventbrite by clicking here, and publicise the event using this invitation.
Patrick Regan's new book
Can your Church support Korban?
Sign up for CYO's free Training Courses!
These Powerpoint slides will introduce the courses to your congregations. Sign up now - see you there.
Colchester Churches Charitable Trust - grants for Church building work
SHAPE - an excellent nurture course
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The Church of England Deanery of Colchester is part of the Colchester Episcopal Area of the Diocese of Chelmsford. The Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance is a registered Charity, no. 249505 We are committed to Safeguarding children and young people and vulnerable adults. As a Diocese, we have adopted the Church of England’s policies and best practice on safeguarding which may be found on the Church of England’s website: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/safeguarding. Diocesan guidance is available at https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/safeguarding
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Patrick
Regan, who was such a hit at our Deanery Day, has written a new book:
'Small Steps for Big Change - a guide to overwhelm', and it launches in
Mental Health Awareness Week, 11th - 17th May.
Publishers Ebury Vine (part of Penguin) expect it to be a best-seller,
and Patrick is doing a promotional tour before then. He invites Churches
to book him to speak at a service or event in April or May, or host a
book launch in (say) a coffee shop. If you'd like to explore this,
contact him through 
