16 September 2026
Our new Deacons were ordained at two services held at Chelmsford Cathedral on Sunday 13 September.
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, ordained our new deacons at two ordination services. Those serving in the Bradwell Episcopal Area were ordained at the 11am service, while those serving in the Barking and Colchester Episcopal Areas were ordained at the 2pm service.
This year's ordinands are pictured above during their ordination retreat at The Diocesan House of Retreat, Pleshey.
Watch the services on the links below:
11am service
The Bishop of Chelmsford the Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani ordained:
- Angela Edison
- Edison Soundararaj
- Nikki Firth
- Andy Mussell
- Penny-Anne Adams
- Aletta Penman-Barry
- Joshua Townshend
2pm service
The Bishop of Chelmsford the Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani ordained:
- Emeka Enweani
- Fiona Macaulay
- Annette Gordon
- Mark Sapaen Watan
- Melissa Clark
- Abbie Pledger
- Dominic Sheil
- Michelle Cottis
Photographs from the ordination services
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The Rev'd Charlotte Osborn from the Diocese of Newcastle led this year's Ordination Retreat and preached at the two Ordination services
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Our new Deacons from the Bradwell Area say their ordination vows
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People from church communities across Essex and East London gathered for the ordination services
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Newly ordained Bradwell Area Deacons with members of the Bishop's Leadership Team, the Rev'd Alexandra Podd (Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands) and the Rev'd Charlotte Osborne.
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Bishop Guli ordains our new Deacons from the Bradwell Episcopal Area
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Newly Ordinated Colchester Area Deacons with Bishop Guli, Bishop Roger, Archdeacon Kate, Archdeacon Ruth, the Rev'd Charlotte Osborn and their Training Incumbents
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Newly ordained Bradwell Area Deacons with their Training Incumbents, Bishop Guli, Bishop Adam, Archdeacon Sue, Archdeacon Jonathan, Dean Jessica and the Rev'd Charlotte Osborn.
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Newly Ordained Barking Area Deacons with members of the Bishop's Leadership Team and the Rev'd Charlotte Osborn
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Newly Ordained Colchester Area Deacons with members of the Bishop's Leadership Team and the Rev'd Charlotte Osborn
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Newly Ordained Barking Area Deacons with Bishop Guli, Bishop Lynne, Archdeacon Chris, Archdeacon Mike, the Rev'd Charlotte Osborn and their Training Incumbents
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The Newly Ordained Deacons received new bibles
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Bishop Guli ordains our new Deacons from the Colchester Episcopal Area
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Bishop Guli ordains our new Deacons from the Barking Episcopal Area
Meet our new Deacons
We introduced our new Deacons on our social media channels in the run up to the ordination services. Search @chelmsdio on Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky with the hashtag #ChelmsdioNewRevs.
Barking Area
Barking Archdeaconry
Emeka Enweani serving at St Andrew’s, Hornchurch (Havering Deanery)
Fiona Macaulay serving at St Laurence, Upminster (Havering Deanery)
West Ham Archdeaconry
Annette Gordon serving at St Saviour’s, Forest Gate (Newham Deanery)
Mark Sapaen Watan serving at Holy Trinity, East Ham (Newham Deanery)
Melissa Clark serving at St Andrew’s, Leytonstone (Waltham Forest Deanery)
Bradwell Area
Chelmsford Archdeaconry
Angela Edison serving the parishes of Ingatestone and Fryerning and Margaretting with Mountnessing and Buttsbury (Brentwood Deanery)
Edison Soundararaj serving the parishes of Ingatestone and Fryerning and Margaretting with Mountnessing and Buttsbury (Brentwood Deanery)
Nikki Firth serving the Benefices of Downham with South Hanningfield & Ramsden Bellhouse, Stock Harvard, and West Hanningfield (Chelmsford Deanery)
Andy Mussell serving at All Saints, Springfield (Chelmsford Deanery)
Penny-Anne Adams serving the Heymaldon Family of Churches – the Benefices of Heybridge with Langford and Maldon All Saints with St Peter (Maldon & Dengie Deanery)
Southend Archdeaconry
Aletta Penman-Barry serving the Benefice of Benfleet, Thundersley, and Hadleigh (Hadleigh Deanery)
Joshua Townshend serving the Parish of Rayleigh (Rochford Deanery)
Colchester Area
Colchester Archdeaconry
Abbie Pledger serving at St John the Evangelist, Colchester (Colchester Deanery)
Dominic Sheil serving the King’s Ridge Parishes - The Benefices of West Bergholt and Great Horkesley, Langham with Boxted and Wormingford & Mount Bures with Little Horkesley (Colchester Deanery)
Stansted Archdeaconry
Michelle Cottis serving Great Dunmow and Barnston (Dunmow & Stansted Deanery)
Ordained Ministry in our Diocese
If you feel that God is calling you to a role in the Church, there are many different opportunities. A good first step is to talk to your local clergy. You can find out more about Ministry in the Church of England, including ordained ministry by visiting the 'Exploring Vocations' page of our website.
Vocations Resources for your Church Community
Ordination season is a time when people often reflect on their own calling. A range of resources have been produced to help church communities encourage and support people as they discern their vocation.
View the resources on the link below.
Follow @ChelmsDioVocations on Instagram
Follow our Chelmsford Diocese Vocations (@ChelmsDioVocations) Instagram page for news, resources, information and stories about Vocations in Chelmsford Diocese. Share this page with your networks and anyone interested in exploring their vocation in our diocese.