18 July 2022
The Venerable Elizabeth Snowden has announced her retirement after serving as the Archdeacon of Chelmsford since 2016.
Commenting on the announcement, Archdeacon Elizabeth said:
“I felt very privileged to sense a call and be appointed to serve in this diocese as an archdeacon. Despite the many challenges, I have valued the support, encouragement and friendship I have received.
“The last couple of years however, have been challenging for my family and I need to step back from my role in order to give them more support.
“Back in 2016 in my early days in the Diocese this verse was given to me: ‘The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.’ This reflects my experience, for which I give thanks.”
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani has thanked Archdeacon Elizabeth for her service to the Diocese.
“I want to thank Elizabeth for her tremendous contribution as Archdeacon of Chelmsford. She has been a great servant to the parishes and people of her archdeaconry, where she will be missed. She has also supported and served people across our wider diocese in a variety of roles. In particular, I want to thank her for her contribution as Chair of the Diocesan Environment Group through which she has helped many church communities put caring for God’s creation at the heart of their mission.
She has also helped set our diocese on a path towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. There are many other groups and people that Elizabeth has served, supported and worked with who will miss her greatly, including all of us on the Bishop’s Leadership Team. I look forward to gathering for a service in October so we can give thanks for Elizabeth’s contribution to the life of our diocese and pray for her as she starts her retirement.”
Commenting on the announcement, the Bishop of Bradwell, the Rt Revd Dr John Perumbalath said:
“We will miss Elizabeth in the Bradwell Episcopal area. She has been a source of great wisdom and support to the parishes in the Chelmsford Archdeaconry as she has to me and the Bradwell Area Team. She has also made a significant contribution to the life of our diocese in her environmental work, in her ministry with young people, deaf church, the Diocesan House of Retreat and on the numerous committees and bodies on which she has served. Please do join me in praying for her as she begins her retirement in the Autumn.”
Elizabeth began her ordained ministry in Lichfield Diocese. She was Curate at Christchurch Burntwood from 2001 to 2004. In 2004, she was appointed Resident Minister of Holy Trinity Clayhanger, a church plant and also became Youth Work Coordinator for the Parish of St James, Brownhills.
In 2010, Elizabeth was appointed Priest-in-Charge of the Benefice of Bestwood Emmanuel with St Mark in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham where she was made Vicar the following year. From 2013, she also served as Area Dean of Nottingham North. During this time she worked closely with four other parishes in the Bestwood area including two Methodist Anglican local ecumenical partnerships.
Farewell service
Archdeacon Elizabeth's farewell service will take place at Chelmsford Cathedral on Sunday 2 October at 5pm, followed by refreshments.
