Church service taking place Church service taking place

Colchester Area Team

Bishop Roger preaching in the Cathedral

Welcome from the Bishop of Colchester

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.”

Icon for Church building

245

Church Buildings

Icon for Clergy

86

Clergy in
parish

A challice

203

Parishes

Icon for Licensed Lay Ministers & Readers

65

LLM & Readers

Icon of books

145

Church of England Schools

Icon of people

700K

Population

About the Colchester Episcopal Area

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.

Colchester Castle Colchester Castle

Meet the team

Photo of The Right Reverend Roger Morris

The Bishop of Colchester

The Right Reverend Roger Morris

1 Fitzwalter Road, Lexden,
Colchester C03 3SS


Our Archdeacons

Photo of The Ven Ruth Janet Patten

Archdeacon of Colchester

The Ven Ruth Janet Patten

Photo of The Ven Kate Peacock

Archdeacon of Stansted

The Ven Kate Peacock


Personal Assistants

Photo of Michelle Wood

Personal Assistant to the Bishop of Colchester

Michelle Wood

Photo of Sian Simpkins

Personal Assistant to the Archdeacon of Colchester

Sian Simpkins

Photo of Lizzie Armour

Personal Assistant to the Archdeacon of Stansted

Lizzie Armour


Area Deans

Photo of Revd Canon Lawrence Bond

Area Dean of St Osyth

Revd Canon Lawrence Bond

Photo of Revd Simon Garwood

Area Dean of Witham

Revd Simon Garwood

Photo of Revd Erwin Lammens

Area Dean of Colchester

Revd Erwin Lammens

Photo of Revd Darren McIndoe

Area Dean of Harlow

Revd Darren McIndoe

Photo of Revd Rod Reid

Area Dean of Braintree

Revd Rod Reid

Photo of Revd Canon Philip Ritchie

Area Dean of Harwich & Mission & Ministry Adviser

Revd Canon Philip Ritchie

Photo of The Revd Robert Stone

Interim Assistant Area Dean of Dunmow and Stansted

The Revd Robert Stone

Photo of Revd Jeremy Trew

Area Dean of Saffron Walden

Revd Jeremy Trew


Staff and Team Members

Photo of Revd Canon Ian Anthony Hilton

CMD Adviser

Revd Canon Ian Anthony Hilton

Photo of The Revd Canon Janet Nicholls

Area Rural Adviser

The Revd Canon Janet Nicholls

Photo of Revd Canon Philip Ritchie

Area Dean of Harwich & Mission & Ministry Adviser

Revd Canon Philip Ritchie


Voluntary Officers & Advisors

Photo of Revd Canon Christopher Bishop

Retired Clergy Adviser - Stansted Archdeaconry

Revd Canon Christopher Bishop

Photo of Revd Sarah Hayward

Women's Advisor for the Colchester Archdeaconry

Revd Sarah Hayward

Photo of Revd Philip Howlett

Self-Supporting Ministry Adviser for Colchester Archdeaconry

Revd Philip Howlett

Photo of Revd Rachel Prior

Women's Advisor for the Stansted Archdeaconry

Revd Rachel Prior

Photo of Revd Robert Stone

Self-Supporting Ministry Adviser for Stansted Archdeaconry

Revd Robert Stone

Photo of Revd Canon Martin Wood

Retired Clergy Adviser - Colchester Archdeaconry

Revd Canon Martin Wood

Latest news from the Colchester area


Community Hub at Christ Church, Colchester

New ‘Community Hub’ opened at Christ Church Colchester

18 July 2024

Christchurch Colchester's new community hub opened earlier this year.

Mark Payne

The Rev Mark Payne appointed as Area Dean of Hinckford

15 July 2024

The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani has announced that the next Area Dean of Hinckford will be the Rev Mark Payne.

St Mary's, Great Dunmow

Time Out at St Mary’s Church Great Dunmow

6 February 2024

The Rev Elsie Bouffler, shares the story of Time Out, a weekly drawing group at St Mary's Great Dunmow, that has brought people from across the community together.

Jonathan Croucher and Kate Peacock

New Archdeacons of Chelmsford and Stansted appointed

27 August 2023

Bishop Guli has announced the appointments of the new Archdeacons of Stansted and Chelmsford.

The Revd Canon Phil Ritchie

The Revd Canon Phil Ritchie appointed as the Area Dean of Harwich

13 February 2023

Bishop Guli has announced the temporary appointment of the Revd Canon Phil Ritchie as the Area Dean of Harwich.

Bluebells on a path

Travelling Well Together - a pastoral letter from Bishop Guli, Bishop Roger and Bishop Lynne

23 January 2023

Bishop Guli, Bishop Roger and Bishop Lynne have today sent a pastoral letter introducting a document titled Travelling Well Together.