15 July 2024
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani has announced that the next Area Dean of Hinckford will be the Rev Mark Payne.
Since 2019, Mark has been a Team Vicar in the Halstead Area Team, where he will continue to serve. He is also an Area Ordination Adviser for the Stansted Archdeaconry.
Commenting on the announcement, Bishop Guli said:
“Our Area Deans play a hugely important role in the life of our diocese, serving and supporting our parishes and worshipping communities, and working closely with their Archdeacon and Area Bishop. I’m delighted that Mark has agreed to become the new Area Dean of Hinckford. He will bring skills, energy and experience and I’m very grateful to him for accepting the role. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Mark’s predecessor, the Rev Katie de Bourcier who recently moved to a new role in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and made an outstanding contribution during her time as Hinckford Area Dean.”
The Bishop of Colchester the Rt Rev Roger Morris said:
“Katie de Bourcier did a huge amount to encourage the spiritual vitality of the church communities. I have been hugely impressed by the passionate prayerfulness that I encountered right across the Hinckford Deanery. Mark’s boundless enthusiasm, his heart for mission and his deep commitment to working collaboratively will build upon Katie’s achievements in a positively exciting way. I very much look forward to working with Mark as the new Area Dean.”
Commenting on his appointment, the Rev Mark Payne said:
“I am delighted to be the next Area Dean of Hinckford and to serve our Deanery, lay and ordained, through this role, as we continue to share the Good News of the Kingdom in our communities. There are many opportunities and challenges ahead, and together with my colleagues, I will do all that I can to enable our mission and ministry in this Deanery.”
Before he was ordained, Mark ran the charitable wing of a children and family organisation on the Isle of Man. He is also a qualified Executive Coach, and part of the Diocesan Coaching Team.
Details about when Mark will be licensed and start the role of Hinckford Area Dean will be confirmed soon.
