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..

Latest News

Deanery Day - we're getting excited about 10th October!

We've just added even more speakers to the programme for our Deanery Day on Saturday 10th October. Click here to see our latest plans. The venue is again St. John's, Colchester, and last year's caterers - Sainty Catering Solutions - are booked for morning pastries and buffet lunches, so it's going to be a good day from the moment we arrive! Right now, please make sure the Day is in your diary - and, importantly, tell everyone in Church so that nothing gets in the way of making this a really good day out for the Parish. It'll help if you display this poster too!

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

Bishop Guli will be visiting each Archdeaconry in the coming months, and will be with us on Thursday 4th March 2027 - 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. The attached extract from her July 2026 Pastoral Letter sets the visit in context.

Our Mustard Seed Team's latest Newsletter

The Diocese's 'Mustard Seed Team' of Youth & Children's Advisers have published their latest Newsletter, and it's chock full of typically topical articles and opportunities for young people and their Church leaders. Everything from football to the social media ban, with courses, links to powerful articles and training, with a plea for rest and recuperation as the summer break approaches. Catch it by clicking here.

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 starting 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.

Essex Churches ride again

How are your plans firming up for the Friends of Essex Churches Ride & Stride on  Saturday 12th September? Now's the time to galvanise neighbouring Churches, family & friends to make the most of this opportunity to raise funds for FOECT and your Church. Picnics, dog walks, bike rides, cake sales, coffee mornings, displays - anything to encourage people into the Church for an open day. you'll see all the information on this web page, and why not display this poster, to encourage people to get involved.

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. Yes, we know it's months away - but if you or someone in your Church are currently thinking and praying about how you can develop your 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 in due course - but perhaps now's the time to speak to someone and move things forward!

Organist/pianist sought by Stanway

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 email the Churchwarden to have a chat.

Forum for Green Spaces in Colchester

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 Rennie Chilvers - he'll be delighted to hear from you.

Colchester Area Mission Mailing

Just published is the Colchester Area Team's first Mission Mailing (download it from here), issued by our Archdeacons as progress is made towards submitting the Area's application to the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB). It also has more details of the Leading Your Church into Growth Conference. Feel free to share this with your congregations, as plans are formed and developed with the intention of helping our Parishes thrive.

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

Getting a grant from CCCT is so easy in comparison - Parishes can apply for up to 50% of the cost of a project to a maximum of £10,000 for repairs or development of each Church building (or your Church Hall) in any three year period. If you are planning a project and haven't applied, surf along to colchtrust.org.uk

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.

Contact us by email

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