New Archdeacons of Chelmsford and Stansted appointed

27 August 2023

The Revd Kate Peacock who currently serves as Deputy Director of Mission and Ministry for the Diocese of St Albans will become the new Archdeacon of Stansted. Kate will succeed the Venerable Robin King who is retiring at the end of September.

The Revd Jonathan Croucher will become the new Archdeacon of Chelmsford, succeeding the Venerable Elizabeth Snowden who retired in October last year. Jonathan currently serves in the Diocese of Southwark where he is Vicar of Christ Church Gipsy Hill, Priest in Charge of Emmanuel West Dulwich and Area Dean of Lambeth South.

Speaking about the appointments, Bishop Guli said:

“I am delighted that God has called Kate and Jonathan to serve with us here in Chelmsford Diocese. Their appointments are good news for the parishes, worshipping communities and schools of the Stansted and Chelmsford Archdeaconries. Kate and Jonathan bring a wealth of experience from local parish ministry, as well as energy, gifts and a commitment to serve God that will benefit not only their own archdeaconries but the whole of our diocese. We look forward to welcoming them when they join us in November.”

Speaking about her appointment as Archdeacon of Stansted, the Revd Kate Peacock said:

“I am thrilled and humbled to have been appointed to this role and am hugely looking forward to working and worshipping alongside the people and clergy of the Stansted Archdeaconry and diocesan colleagues. I hope to offer my passion and experience of parish ministry and church growth to serve God here.”

The Archdeaconry of Stansted is part of the Colchester Episcopal Area and the Bishop of Colchester, the Rt Revd Roger Morris welcomed Kate’s appointment saying:

“I am really excited by Kate’s appointment to this role. As a rural vicar, she led a group of growing churches in a multi-parish benefice. As a diocesan officer, she has offered advice, expertise and encouragement in the areas of church growth, ministerial training, development and wellbeing. Many people will have already met Kate as one of the team from Leading your Church into Growth (who did so much to encourage and inspire us last year). Kate is a fabulous addition to the Colchester Area and to the Bishop’s Leadership Team.”

Commenting on his appointment as Archdeacon of Chelmsford, the Revd Jonathan Croucher said:

“I am delighted to have been invited by Bishop Guli to serve as Archdeacon of Chelmsford.  I grew up, was educated, came to faith and was married in the Bradwell Episcopal Area so I have a real sense of coming home.  I am greatly looking forward to working with Archdeacon Mike and Bishop (designate) Adam in serving the clergy and parishes of the Area and particularly getting to know and getting involved with the people and churches across the Chelmsford Archdeaconry.  It has been a privilege and joy to serve the wonderful community of Gipsy Hill for 11 years and to have supported the churches of Lambeth South as Area Dean for the last five years.”  

Chelmsford Archdeaconry is part of the Bradwell Episcopal Area, where the Venerable Adam Atkinson will become the Bishop of Bradwell in November. Speaking about Jonathan’s appointment as Archdeacon of Chelmsford, Adam said:

“It will be a great joy that one of my first acts as Bishop of Bradwell will be to join our parishes and worshipping communities in welcoming Jonathan as he returns to the Bradwell Area as the new Archdeacon of Chelmsford. I was pleased to be able to join the interview panel for Jonathan’s appointment and I’m delighted for us he has been called to this role. I look forward to building a team together with Jonathan and Archdeacon Mike and, with the excellent Bradwell Area team, to support the ministry of God’s Church in the Bradwell Area.”

A service will be held in November at which Kate and Jonathan will be collated and welcomed to their roles as Archdeacons of Stansted and Chelmsford alongside Adam who will be welcomed as the new Bishop of Bradwell. The intention is for that service to take place on Saturday 4 November and we’ll provide further details soon. Kate and Jonathan will begin their roles in November (subject to the completion of standard legal checks). Kate will start in post immediately after her licensing and will commute from St Alban’s Diocese for the first nine months while her daughter completes her A-levels. Jonathan will start in post on 30 November following some time off between roles and moving house.

About the Revd Kate Peacock

The Revd Kate Peacock was ordained in 2003 and served her curacy in Cambridge then as Associate Vicar of the Three Rivers Benefice, both in the Diocese of Ely.  She served as Rector of Hormead w. Wyddial, Anstey, Brent Pelham and Meesden, in the Diocese of St Albans between 2012 and 2018 and as Rural Dean of Buntingford between 2016 and 2018 and Dean of Women’s Ministry for St Alban’s Diocese between 2017 and 2018. In 2018 Kate became Church Growth Officer for St Alban’s Diocese and, in 2021, became Deputy Director of Mission and Ministry. Kate also serves as part of the Leading Your Church into Growth Team and was part of the team who recently led workshops for participants from Chelmsford Diocese. She is married to Daniel and has two older teenage daughters.

About the Revd Jonathan Croucher

The Revd Jonathan Croucher was ordained in 2004 whilst working as a partner and then COO of a European law firm, Taylor Wessing LLP. He served as a self supporting minister at the Church of the Good Shepherd and St Peter, Lee in the Diocese of Southwark between 2004 and 2008 before joining St Michael and All Angels Blackheath Park where he moved into full time parish ministry. He has served as Vicar at Christ Church Gipsy Hill since 2012, with additional responsibility as Priest in Charge of Emmanuel West Dulwich since 2021. Jonathan was Area Dean for Lambeth South for five years from 2018 and is currently the Chair of Trustees of St Augustine’s College of Theology.  He is married to Yvette and they have four children who are at (or have recently left) university.