25 June 2023
The Revd Dr Rachel Pennant is to become the new Chaplain to the Bishop of Chelmsford.
Rachel is currently Vicar of Hoddesdon Parish Church in the Diocese of St Albans where she has served since 2016. She has also served as Rural Dean of Cheshunt since last year.
As well as providing pastoral and spiritual support to diocesan bishops, chaplains provide strategic and practical guidance and support, liaise with clergy and parishes as needed and represent the diocesan bishop at meetings, services and events.
Commenting on her appointment, Rachel said:
“I’m very much looking forward to becoming Chaplain to the Bishop of Chelmsford and to meeting and getting to know new colleagues across East London and Essex, where my family roots lie.
It has been a great privilege to serve in local parish ministry in St Albans for over a decade and I will be sad to say goodbye, particularly to friends and colleagues in Hoddesdon.
I’m excited to be taking this next step in my ministry, and to supporting Bishop Guli in hers, and I’d be very grateful for your prayers as I prepare to join you.”
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani said:
“The Bishop’s Chaplain plays an important role, not only by supporting the Diocesan Bishop, but also those who serve in our parishes and worshipping communities. So I’m thrilled that Rachel has been called to this ministry with us in Chelmsford Diocese. She brings valuable parish experience as well as many qualities that will serve her and us well.
I hope she will be very happy here and I look forward to working with her. Please join me in praying for her and her family as they prepare to join us in the Autumn”.
Rachel will begin her ministry as Chaplain to the Bishop of Chelmsford on 18 September 2023.
She succeeds the Revd Rosie Woodall who had served in the role on an interim basis after Bishop Guli became Diocesan Bishop in 2021.
About the Revd Dr Rachel Pennant
After completing her ordination training at Trinity College Bristol in 2012, Rachel served her curacy at St Andrew Biggleswade before becoming Vicar of St Catherine and St Paul Hoddesdon in 2016. She became Rural Dean of Cheshunt in 2022.
Before she was ordained, Rachel worked as a researcher at the Home Office for 10 years, during which time she was seconded to the Chaplaincy at Wormwood Scrubs prison.
Rachel is married to Julian who is a science teacher and a Lay Reader in St Alban’s Diocese. They have three children.
