The Right Reverend Roger Morris
“It’s a real joy to serve the parishes, worshipping communities and people in the Colchester Episcopal Area which is a wonderfully varied part of Essex. As we Travel Well Together as a Diocese, I am grateful to work alongside marvellous colleagues in the Colchester Area Team who support our churches in their mission and sharing God’s love with their local communities.”
245
Church Buildings
80
Clergy in
parish
203
Parishes
68
LLM & Readers
73
Church of England Schools
700K
Population
Geographically, the Colchester Episcopal Area covers over half of Chelmsford Diocese, and is home to just over 20% of its people. The Area consists of nine deaneries covering the northern part of the diocese. From coastal communities and port towns like Clacton, Frinton and Harwich in the east and largely rural communities to the west, with the historic market town of Saffron Walden and the major settlements of Halstead and Great Dunmow. It also includes major towns such as Braintree and Harlow.
The Area is served by The Bishop of Colchester, The Right Reverend Roger Morris and two Archdeacons – The Archdeacon of Colchester, The Venerable Ruth Patten and the Archdeacon of Stansted, the Venerable Kate Peacock.
Our Bishops and Archdeacons work with an Area Team made up of Area Deans, Advisors and Voluntary Officers, details of whom can be found below.
Major locations include London Stansted Airport, Harwich seaport, the University of Essex and Colchester itself which became a city in 2022.
1 Fitzwalter Road, Lexden,
Colchester C03 3SS
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07840 329279
07710 291377
07305 595871
28 May 2026
The Debden Bee Corridor Project brings the local community together to create nectar-rich habitats for pollinators and boost biodiversity.
5 May 2026
The Rev’d Gary Fleming will be the next Area Dean of Saffron Walden and the Rev’d Sharon Guest will be the next Area Dean of St Osyth.
28 April 2026
After the race, which took place on Sunday 26 April, Rod said: "On the race itself, well brutal, doesn't cover…
16 April 2026
Around 300 guests gathered on Palm Sunday to celebrate the reopening of St Mary’s Church in Stebbing, marking the completion of a major restoration and reaffirming its place at the heart of the community.
26 March 2026
Pupils at Chrishall Primary School enjoyed a visit from the iSingPOP team in December 2025.
19 March 2026
Emma Cornwell was nominated at the BBC Essex Make a Difference Awards for her commitment to The Porch Pantry at St Peter & St Paul, West Mersea, a food Pantry which supports local families.
