13 February 2023
Bishop Guli has announced the temporary appointment of the Revd Canon Phil Ritchie as the Area Dean of Harwich.
Phil is the Mission and Ministry Adviser for the Colchester Episcopal Area, a role he will continue to serve in alongside his ministry as an Area Dean. He also serves as an Associate Priest at All Saints, Great Oakley.
Phil’s appointment is temporary while recruitment of a second Harwich Rural Missioner continues. You can read more about the Harwich Rural Missioner role and find out how to apply here.
Speaking about Phil’s appointment, Bishop Guli said:
"I’m very grateful to Phil for taking on this additional role as Area Dean of Harwich. He is someone with extensive experience of supporting local parish ministry both in his role as Mission and Ministry Adviser for the Colchester Area and as a parish priest. His appointment will be of great benefit to people in the churches and worshipping communities of the Harwich Deanery.”
The Bishop of Colchester, the Rt Revd Roger Morris said:
“Phil is already well known to people in the Harwich Deanery and news of his appointment as their Area Dean has been warmly welcomed. I’m particularly grateful to him for agreeing to take on this additional responsibility alongside the significant contribution he makes as our Mission and Ministry Adviser. Please do join me in praying for him and for his new ministry in the Harwich Deanery.”
Speaking about his appointment, the Revd Canon Phil Ritchie said:
“Over the last three years I have had the privilege of working closely with the deanery and parishes of Harwich in my role with the Colchester Area Team and seeing the way God is at work in the communities of the deanery. I am very much looking forward to developing that relationship as Area Dean of Harwich; ministering alongside the Chapter and churches across the deanery as we seek to continue to share the Good News of Jesus at a time of challenge and change.”
Phil started his role as Area Dean of Harwich on 7 February.
