22 September 2026
A celebration of Holy Communion has been held at Chelmsford Cathedral to mark the beginning of the new Cuddesdon Chelmsford Centre.
The service, which was held on Monday 21 September, was attended by staff and students of the new centre as well as members of the Bishop's Leadership Team, the Diocesan Mission, Ministry and Education Team and people from church communities across the Diocese of Chelmsford.
The appointment enables Chelmsford Diocese to continue its commitment to training ordinands and lay leaders within Essex and East London and followed an intensive five-month process, in which a range of TEIs were invited to offer expressions of interest.
Announcing the decision, the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev’d Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani said:
“Cuddesdon demonstrated that they are well placed to serve the great variety of ministries, traditions and contexts we have in Essex and East London and we are looking forward to working with them. This partnership is good news for those who will train for lay and ordained ministries in the years ahead and the parishes where they will serve.”
The new Director of the Chelmsford Centre, the Rev'd Dr Richard Wyld, preached at the service, which was led by Bishop Guli.
For over 30 years the Diocese of Chelmsford has had a theological training centre preparing people for lay and ordained ministry. The appointment of Ripon College Cuddesdon in October 2025 as the Diocese’s new Theological Education Institution Training Partner, followed the decision of St Mellitus College to end its partnership with Chelmsford Diocese in June 2026
Pictured above, the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev'd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Director of the Cuddesdon Chelmsford Centre the Rev'd Dr Richard Wyld and students who attended the service of Holy Communion.
