20 April 2026
The Diocesan Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance (CDBF), Canon Michaela Southworth has announced that she will be leaving her role at the end of September this year after five years in post.
In a message to Staff and Trustees of the CDBF Michaela said:
“It has been a privilege to work alongside a wonderful team of colleagues in our Diocesan and Area Offices, on the Bishop’s Leadership Team, the Bishop’s Council and other committees. You do extraordinary work supporting and resourcing mission and ministry in our parishes, worshipping communities, chaplaincies and schools across the Diocese of Chelmsford. I am proud to have worked alongside you and know that you will continue to do incredible work in the future. As often happens, I have begun to sense a calling to something new and different and I will now take some time discern what that might look like.
“There will be plenty of time for goodbyes and thank you messages, but I want to take this opportunity to thank Bishop Guli for her leadership which has made such a difference across our diocese, and for her personal support and friendship.
“I would be grateful for your prayers over the coming months and my hope is that by remaining in post until September, I will be able to help oversee a smooth transition alongside a new Diocesan Secretary and Chief Executive Officer.”
Writing to Diocesan Staff and Trustees of the CDBF, the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev’d Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani said:
“I want to start by thanking Michaela for her extraordinary commitment, dedication and contribution to the life of our diocese over the past five years. It has been an enormous privilege and joy to work with her and I know that she will be missed by so many when she leaves her role in September.
“Michaela has faithfully led us in addressing numerous significant challenges, including financial ones, while holding to our diocesan values and the shared commitment to Travel Well Together. She has done all this, not only with considerable expertise, but with grace, wisdom and good humour, gaining the respect and admiration of people across the whole diocese. Though I’m very sad to see her go, Michaela will leave us, having made a positive and profound difference to the Diocese.
“I am very grateful that Michaela will be staying in post until the end of September to help oversee a smooth transition alongside a new Diocesan Secretary and Chief Executive Officer. A recruitment process will be starting for that role in the coming weeks.
“There will of course be further opportunities for us to say farewell and to give thanks for Michaela and her time with us. For now, please do join me in praying for her and her family and for the life of our diocese in the months ahead.”
