Consultations on the appointment of a new Bishop of Chelmsford are under way. Find out how to have your say...

A ‘Statement of Needs' has now been published and can be downloaded by following the above link.

The deadline for comments has been extended to 30 September.  Find out how to have your say...

Peter Judd became Provost of Chelmsford in 1997 and Dean in 2000. Since he has been with the Chelmsford Cathedral he has helped put in many improvements. He has helped to raise £1.25 million towards the cost of refurbishing the cathedral and every building connected with it.  Chelmsford Cathedral is now a ‘Fairtrade cathedral’ and it has recently been awarded the EcoCongregation award - the first cathedral in the UK to receive this.

The Lord Lieutenant’s duties as Her Majesty’s representative for the County include: upholding the dignity of the Crown; arranging visits from the Royal Family and assisting in presenting medals on behalf of The Queen; and assisting the Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve and Pre-Service Organisations. Deputy Lieutenants may be asked to assist in the performance of any public duty which is laid upon the Lord Lieutenant.

In the light of this letter and the advice from the Department of Health, we feel that the situation is now so serious that the Administration of the chalice should be suspended throughout the diocese for the duration of the current pandemic.

The advice stands that has already been sent out concerning hygiene at the preparation and distribution of Holy Communion and other practical points, and this additional guidance is based on recent developments and the spread of the virus.

Congregation members may need to be assured that receiving communion in one kind in no way diminishes the fullness of Christ’s presence in the sacrament of Holy Communion.

With sincere good wishes as we all work to support our congregations and parishes at this time.

+John Chelmsford

Dear Colleague,

It now seems right to offer guidance at a national level about how the Church of England’s worship might best take into account the interests of public health during the current phase of the swine flu pandemic.

The Department of Health have recently advised us that “in a pandemic it makes good sense to take precautions to limit the spread of disease by not sharing common vessels for food and drink”.  In the light of this advice, we recommend those presiding at Holy Communion suspend the administration of the chalice during this wave of pandemic flu. For those who still wish to offer in both kinds, we recommend the practice whereby the presiding minister, whose hands should have been washed with the appropriate alcohol based rub before handling the elements and the vessels, personally intincts all wafers before placing them in the hands of communicants. This is a practice widely observed in Anglican churches throughout Africa. Communicants receiving in this way need to be confident that the clergy and all assistant ministers follow the relevant guidance on hygiene.

The Bishop of Ripon & Leeds circulated substantial guidance, including a summary of the government’s advice, with his letter of 23 June.  Many of you have already issued local guidance based upon its content.  We regard it as important that those presiding at Holy Communion are aware of this advice and of that contained in this letter.  They should offer guidance to the congregation about appropriate precautions in receiving communion and exchanging the peace.

We shall keep this advice under review and will ensure that the detailed guidance provided on the Church of England website is kept up-to-date.  In the meantime, wish to express our gratitude to you and those who share your ministry for the pastoral care and service offered at this time of national concern.

+Rowan Cantuar:                                +Sentamu Ebor:

See also

• Swine Flu - Level 6 Alert information

The Bishop of Chelmsford has appointed six new non-residentiary Canons of Chelmsford Cathedral.

A Canon is an honour given to distinguished people who have made a significant contribution to the life of the Church across the Diocese and beyond.

Revd David Banting*

Vicar of St Peter, Harold Wood

Revd John Blore

Team Rector of the Halstead Area Team Ministry

Revd Stephen Burdett

Team Rector of the Southend Team Ministry and Assistant Area Dean of Southend

Revd Dr Jane Freeman

Team Vicar of St Bartholomew, East Ham

Revd Roger Gayler

Vicar of St Mark’s Marks Gate and Area Dean of Barking and Dagenham

Revd Philip Ritchie*

Lay Ministry Education Co-ordinator and Hon Assistant Priest at Great Leighs, Little Leighs and Little Waltham

They will be collated and installed on 16th August 2009 at Choral Evensong in Chelmsford Cathedral at 6.00pm.

* These canons designate are unable to be licensed and installed in the Cathedral on 16th August 2009.  They will be licensed by the Bishop in a private service and they will subsequently be installed by the Dean in Chelmsford Cathedral.

The Bishops of London and Chelmsford have welcomed the excellent first Inspection Report of St Mellitus College, a theological college created through a joint initiative between the two dioceses to offer innovative ways of training in theology and ministry for ordained and lay ministry.

St Mellitus College, which saw its first graduates become ordained as Deacons this summer, received a glowing report from the Ministry Council inspection team.  The report concluded that the college had an “excellent breadth of teaching and academic standard” and recognised “examples of outstanding teaching which related well to the student body.”

The Bishop of London, Rt Revd Richard Chartres, said:

“We have worked hard and prayed hard over the past two years to establish this college which serves the two dioceses of Chelmsford and London and the wider Church.

“It is an inspiring example of the sort of co-operation and holy imagination that I long to see driving forward our mission and ministry across London.”

The Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Revd John Gladwin, added:

"We are very encouraged by this excellent report and by the way St Mellitus has established itself.  It is becoming a vital institution in the mission and ministry of the diocese."

The Bishops congratulated the Dean of the college, Revd Dr Graham Tomlin, and his dedicated staff on the progress that has been made by St Mellitus. Staff have now begun to explore the recommendations which the report gives to improve the work of the college in training ordained and lay ministers.

The new term at St Mellitus will see over 90 ordinands and many more lay people studying at the college, committed to deepening their faith and being equipped for the work of ministry.

St Augustine of Canterbury appointed Mellitus to be a missionary Bishop to the East Saxons in 604. He was based in London, but covered the whole of the region now covered by the dioceses of Chelmsford and London.