Key facts about Chelmsford Diocese

  • Church of England
  • Church region of 1,500 square miles.
  • Essex and the five East London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
  • Thames Gateway, M11 corridor and Stansted airport, Harwich seaport, main site for the London 2012 Olympic games are all inside this region.
  • Population of 2,708,000.
  • 68% of the population (or 1,833,000 persons) are Christian (2001 Census).
  • The second largest Church region in England (after London).
  • 500 parishes .
  • 618 churches.
  • 139 church schools.
UK diocese map
  • Bishop of Chelmsford (serves in the House of Lords).
  • 3 area bishops
  • 4 archdeacons 
    • Harlow
    • West Ham
    • Southend
    • Colchester
  • 26 area or rural deans.
  • 417 paid clergy.
  • 103 self-financing clergy.
  • 287 lay readers.
  • 27 chaplains in the health, industry, prisons and education sectors.
  • More than 50,000 people on church electoral rolls.

Did you know?

Read articles by Canon Don Cardy, Chair of the Budget Sub-Committee, previously published in The Month, the Chelmsford diocesan newspaper.

See also key facts from the Church of England.

Page last edited: 04/09/2009
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