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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
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 suggest to them that going to the Vocations Day will be an opportunity learn more, and to listen to what the Lord may be saying. Here's a link to the Diocesan web page with more information and how to book.
Flourishing Together: the new Garden Community
Revd Emma Barr to be licensed on 7th December
We are delighted that Revd Emma Barr is to be licensed as Associate Priest in the Parishes of Marks Tey, Aldham, Great Tey, Little Tey, Wakes Colne and Chappel The service of Licensing, led by Bishop Roger, Archdeacon Ruth and Archdeacon Kate, will take place in the Church of St. Barnabas, Great Tey CO6 1JS on Monday 7th December at 7:30pm. This is a significant step for Revd Emma, and equally so for the six Church congregations, and we look forward to celebrating with them on 7th December.
Bookings are open for the Course in Christian Studies
This excellent course, studying the Bible, Church traditions and doctrine, has deepened the faith of over 3,000 people since its inception 40 years ago. It is a two-year course with weekly sessions held locally in term-time; year 1 studies Foundations in Theology and year 2 Foundations In Ministry. The course is particularly successful in widening our understanding of the range of Christian ministries, and can help us discern how God may be calling us to serve Him in Churches, communities, schools, workplaces.... Find out more here. And could you suggest to someone that it might be good for them to consider the course?
What a Day!
Well done to all who came along to our Deanery Day on 10th October. There were 135 of us sharing worship, hearing 12 presentations on a wide variety of mission-related topics - and sharing a fantastic buffet too! Give us just a little time and there should be some PowerPoint presentations on our website to remind you of they key points you heard and those you missed! May the Lord bless your mission in an even stronger way.
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.
Support In Loss
Taizé in Wivenhoe
There will be service of Taizé worship in St. Mary's Church, Wivenhoe, High Street, CO7 9BJ at 6pm on Sunday 25th October. It will be a peaceful service of 45 minutes with chants, prayer, meditation and silence. A wonderful way to end a Sunday - or any day. Why not encourage others to come along with you? Here's a poster to display.
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.
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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A
new community is taking shape on our doorstep - the Tendring and
Colchester Borders Garden Community. There's an exciting meeting
planned, where we can discover more about what's happening, imagine how
Christian presence and worshipping communities may develop, and connect
with other Churches. The meeting is from 7:30pm to 9pm (refreshments
from 7pm) on Monday 23rd November in St.
Andrew's Church, Alresford CO7 8BL. it's for Clergy, PCC members, Lay
leaders, mission teams and congregations from all local Churches; Bishop
Roger, Archdeacon Ruth and others will help us look forward with vision
and expectation. Please encourage people to come along -
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
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 (
