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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
Have you booked in to Deanery Day?
Saturday 10th October will soon be here! Our plans are all set for an inspiring day at St. John's Church, with 12 excellent speakers covering topics to enthuse everyone, whatever our age, interest or background - the Day is for you, all Church members and our families. Click here to see our latest plans and for lots of publicity material. With coffee and Danish pastries on arrival at 9:30am and a hearty lunch, with worship and seminars to feed the soul, it's a Day not to be missed. There should be a signing-on sheet in your Church, so do encourage everyone to come along and have a great time together.
Practising The Way - Course in Christ Church
Here's an invitation to slow down and draw near to God - at Christ Church, Ireton Road CO3 3AT this autumn. Some books stay with you: John Mark Comer's 'Practising The Way' is one of those reads - honest, practical and quietly life-changing for anyone wanting to follow Jesus in the busyness of everyday life. Explore it together in eight evening sessions, which began on Monday 28th September. Come as you are. Bring your questions, hopes & doubts. Sign up at https://ccstb.churchsuite.com/events/aalqqcia and encourage others with this poster.
Taizé with Cantus Firmus Trust
Friends of Essex Churches Autumn Study Day
Octavia Choir sing in Great Horkesley
The much-acclaimed Octavia Choir will be in concert at St. John's Church, Great Horkesley, Elstar Lane, CO6 4FE at 3:30pm on Sunday 11th October. The Choir sing a capella in close harmony with a wide range of songs and styles. They're well worth hearing - and by coming along you'll be helping All Saints Alive - the Parish's building project to develop All Saints' Church. The concert is free - book your place with Geoffrey Baker on 07909 995880, or to geoffreybak@btinternet.com. The Parish would be pleased if you could encourage others to attend by displaying this poster.
Leading Your Church into Growth: 2026 Conference
This year's LYCiG Conference for the Colchester Area is to be held on Saturday 17th October. LYCiG is a good way for Churches to develop a vision for mission, and get practical ideas too. The venue is the Salvation Army Chelmsford Citadel, 70 Baddow Road, Chelmsford CM2 0DD. Click here to see more information on the Diocese's web page, where it's already possible to book.
Church Building Support Conversation
Choral Evensong at St. James the Great
Support In Loss
Vocations Day 2026
The Colchester Area Vocations Day this year will be on Saturday 7th November, and it will be at Great Notley Church, CM77 7GN. If you or someone in your Church is currently thinking and praying about how you can develop in faith and service, it will be good to put the date into the diary so that prayer is even more focused. There'll be more details published soon - but perhaps now's the time to speak to someone and move things forward!
Revd Hannah Cooper is appointed Vicar of St. Luke's
Revd Sue Howlett to become Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral
We can also announce the good news that Revd Sue Howlett is to become Revd Canon Sue Howlett - Sue has been preferred Non-Residentiary Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral. We are delighted that this honorary title is being conferred, but equally so that Sue continues as Vicar of Greenstead, leading the ministries of St. Andrew's, St. Matthew's and St. Anne's.
Revd Emma Smith Licensed
Revd Emma Smith, who has been ministering in the Parishes of Christ Church and St. Botolph's, has now been licensed as Associate Priest of the Parishes in a service in St. Botolph's Church. Whilst this would appear to be a continuation of her role, it is now more formal, with Emma having declared her allegiance to the King and Bishops and affirmed her willingness to undertake this new position with the Lord's help. We add our prayers to that!
Could you volunteer at Beacon House?
Beacon House do wonderful work in Colchester City Centre, bringing hope to homeless people, those in insecure accommodation and those at high risk of homelessness. Could you give one day a week to join the team, and change lives? There are several volunteer roles available, including in the kitchen, laundry and shower rooms, as well as admin support, wellbeing support and prayer support. No experience needed - just bring compassion, reliability and a willingness to help. Contact office@beaconhouseministries.org.uk - and every Church can help by displaying this poster.
Revd Emma Barr moves on
Bishop Roger is delighted to announce that Revd Emma Barr, Curate in the King's Ridge Parishes, has now completed her curacy. Emma, who has served for many years in the Church and the local community as Lay person, Churchwarden and priest, hears a call from the Lord to step out in faith - and her final service with the King's Ridge Parishes was on Sunday 19th July. We pray that, after a time of rest and reset the Lord will guide her into another effective and joyous ministry.
Safeguarding Conversation with Bishop Guli
Organist/pianist sought by Stanway
Forum for Green Spaces in Colchester
Colchester Area Mission Mailing
Places of Worship Renewal Fund
The replacement for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has now been announced. Historic England, who will be managing the scheme, say that it is 'designed to support the repair of England's treasured places of worship and targeted at places of most need.' There is £23m available each year, which will set the bar high. But the Fund is already open - see how to apply on HE's website here.
Colchester Churches Charitable Trust - grants for Church building work
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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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Cantus
Firmus Trust are an accomplished choir and musicians who have
led services and concerts in our Deanery over a number of years
- and on Sunday 4th October they
will feature at a Taizé service at Orchard Baptist Church, 23
Blackheath, Colchester CO2 0AE. The service starts at 6:30pm;
there'll be light refreshments at 6pm, and a retiring collection
will be invited. The conductor will be Norman Eastbrook MBE, and
the service will be led by Howard Gardner. More information from
Each autumn, the charity
Friends of Essex Churches hold a Study Day, when we are all invited to
visit a series of interesting Church buildings in our Diocese to learn
about them and their local ministry. The Churches are often mediaeval
ones in our area - but this year, they're 20th Century ones in Harlow,
Great Warley and Becontree! They're remarkable buildings, and well worth
a visit. It's on Wednesday 7th October, and
You
don't have to go through grief alone - 'Support In Loss' is a
relaxed and supportive morning of coffee, cake and conversation
at Christ Church, Ireton Road Colchester CO3 3AT on the 4th
Friday of each month from 11am to 12:30pm - so the next one is
on Friday 23rd October. Whether
your loss was recent or some time ago, you're equally welcome.
More information from 07825 222780. If this would help people in
your Church, download and display
It
has been announced that Revd Hannah Cooper, our Assistant Area
Dean and Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of St. Luke's
Colchester, is now appointed as Vicar of the Parish. We pray
that this new affirmation of the role will encourage all who
serve in St. Luke's, St. Mark's and the Oak Tree Cafe - amongst
other ministries by the Parish!
Bishop
Guli will be visiting each Archdeaconry in the coming months, and will
be with us in March 2027 - on a date and at
a venue to be advised. The purpose is to have a wider conversation about
the culture of safeguarding around the Diocese. She will be joined in
the meeting by Bishop Roger, Archdeacon Ruth and Amanda Knight, the
Diocese's Director of Safeguarding. The invitation is to all Clergy, LLMs and Churchwardens. Please could you ask those in your Parish to
reserve the date in their diaries.
Praying
hands for playing hands, please! The Organist at St. Albright's
Stanway retires this month after forty years in post, and the
Parish are seeking a successor - either an organist or pianist,
or both! Stanway has enjoyed a strong musical tradition, but the
congregation are open to a wide range of music in worship and
are very welcoming. If those could be your hands - or you know
someone who would like to consider the role - please
Colchester
Civic Society want to set up a local forum of people who look after
green spaces in our area (parks, meadows, Churchyards, woodlands etc)
and would like to meet up with people who are already involved in
tidying and managing them, to share projects, best practice & sources of
funding. If you would like to take part, contact our Town Crier
Just
published is the Colchester Area Team's first Mission Mailing (
