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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
Revd Henry Heath, RIP
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. The venue will be announced shortly, and the Agenda will follow too. 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.
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!
LPW VAT Grant Scheme closes 31st March
It's definitely happening. The DCMS Grant Scheme whereby PCCs can recover VAT paid on building works on Listed Places of Worship comes to an end on 31st March, despite significant lobbying. So if you're in the middle of a building project, do remember to submit your last claim in good time! Then we await details of the Places of Worship Renewal Fund announced by the Government on 21st January.
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!
Lent Bible Course at St. Mary's, Wivenhoe
Every Tuesday in Lent, starting on Tuesday 24th February, St. Mary's Wivenhoe are running the Bible Society's Bible Course. There are eight weekly sessions, so it will continue into three Tuesdays in May. 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.
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?
The latest Newsletter from the Mustard Seed Team
Sign up for CYO's free Training Courses!
Schools Ministry 101 St. John's, Colchester, 28th February - all you need to know about schools and the educational context today, the what and why of school ministry, and best practice; and Chaplaincy, Mentoring & More - St. John's Colchester 21st March. The nuts and bolts of CYO's chaplaincy framework, key skills for mentoring, Playground Pastors, and ideas to keep things going. Booking is essential. Links to more details of the courses, dates, and locations are below: These Powerpoint slides will also 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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It
is with such a heavy heart that we announce the death of Revd Henry
Heath. Henry is loved and remembered as Priest-in-Charge of Wormingford,
Mount Bures & Little Horkesley until 2012, Rector of Stanway until 2002,
after ministry in Lexden, Halstead, Colne Engaine and West Mersea. His
funeral is to take place on Friday 27th February
at 12 noon in Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford, followed by a reception
in the Church. Please pray for his wife Linda and all the family - and
all the Church families - that are grieving so deeply right now.
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 
