Diocese of Chelmsford


The Diocese of Chelmsford is a Church of England diocese, part of the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers Essex and the five East London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest, and is co-terminous with the boundaries of the Catholic Diocese of Brentwood. It is divided into three episcopal areas, each with its own area bishop. The Diocese covers a region of around and has a population of more than 3 million; it has 463 parishes and a total of 588 churches; it is the second largest Anglican diocese in England.
The Diocese was created on 23 January 1914, covering the entire county of Essex and that part of Kent north of the River Thames, which had previously been part of the Diocese of St Albans.
The Diocese of Chelmsford is Europe's premier region for regeneration. The Thames Gateway, the M11 corridor and Stansted airport, Harwich seaport and the main site for the London 2012 Olympics are all located within the Diocese.

Organisation

The diocese of Chelmsford is overseen by the Bishop of Chelmsford. Since the area scheme was created in 1983 and inaugurated in January 1984, the diocese has been divided into three episcopal areas which are overseen by an area bishop. The diocese is divided further into archdeaconries, each divided into a number of deaneries.
The suffragan See of Colchester was created in 1882, Barking in 1901, and Bradwell in 1968.
Episcopal areasArchdeaconriesDeaneries
Barking Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of HarlowDeanery of Epping Forest and Ongar
Barking Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of HarlowDeanery of Harlow
Barking Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of West HamDeanery of Newham
Barking Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of West HamDeanery of Redbridge
Barking Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of West HamDeanery of Waltham Forest
Barking Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of BarkingDeanery of Barking and Dagenham
Barking Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of BarkingDeanery of Havering
Bradwell Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of ChelmsfordDeanery of Brentwood
Bradwell Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of ChelmsfordDeanery of Chelmsford North
Bradwell Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of ChelmsfordDeanery of Chelmsford South
Bradwell Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of ChelmsfordDeanery of Maldon and Dengie
Bradwell Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of SouthendDeanery of Basildon
Bradwell Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of SouthendDeanery of Hadleigh
Bradwell Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of SouthendDeanery of Rochford
Bradwell Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of SouthendDeanery of Southend on Sea
Bradwell Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of SouthendDeanery of Thurrock
Colchester Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of ColchesterDeanery of Colchester
Colchester Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of ColchesterDeanery of Harwich
Colchester Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of ColchesterDeanery of St Osyth
Colchester Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of ColchesterDeanery of Witham
Colchester Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of StanstedDeanery of Braintree
Colchester Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of StanstedDeanery of Dunmow and Stansted
Colchester Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of StanstedDeanery of Hinckford
Colchester Episcopal Area
Archdeaconry of StanstedDeanery of Saffron Walden

Bishops

Alongside the diocesan Bishop of Chelmsford, the Diocese has three area bishops: Peter Hill, area Bishop of Barking ; Roger Morris, area Bishop of Colchester; and John Perumbalath, area Bishop of Bradwell.
There are also some retired bishops living in the diocese who are licensed as honorary assistant bishops: a retired area Bishop of Bradwell, Derek Bond, has lived in Saffron Walden since 2007 and Trevor Mwamba, Team Rector of Barking and former Bishop of Botswana was licensed as an honorary assistant bishop at diocesan synod on 9 November 2013.
Alternative episcopal oversight is provided by the provincial episcopal visitor, Norman Banks, Bishop suffragan of Richborough, who is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese in order to facilitate his work there.