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The Revd Dr Sue Lucas appointed as the next Archdeacon of Southend

1 December 2024

The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani has announced the appointment of the Revd Dr Sue Lucas as the next Archdeacon of Southend following interviews last month.

Sue Lucas

Sue currently serves as Team Rector of East Ham and Area Dean of Waltham Forest, in the Barking Episcopal Area.

Speaking about Sue’s appointment, Bishop Guli said:

“I am delighted that Sue has agreed to serve as the new Archdeacon of Southend. She is, of course, well known to many of us in Chelmsford Diocese and will bring great experience and wisdom from local parish ministry and from her role as Area Dean. The churches and schools of the Southend Archdeaconry will benefit greatly from Sue’s appointment and I am very much looking forward to welcoming her onto the Bishop’s Leadership Team.”

The Revd Dr Sue Lucas said:

“I am thrilled and humbled that Bishop Guli has offered me this role and I am looking forward to working and worshipping alongside the people and clergy of the Southend Archdeaconry and diocesan colleagues. I hope to offer my experience of parish ministry and as an Area Dean, and my commitment to the flourishing of God’s church in all its forms, to serve all God’s people in the Southend Archdeaconry.”

The Southend Archdeaconry is part of the Bradwell Episcopal Area in the Diocese of Chelmsford. The Bishop of Bradwell, the Rt Revd Adam Atkinson said:

“It will be a joy to welcome Sue to the Bradwell Episcopal Area as the new Archdeacon of Southend. She has a great heart for parish ministry, community organising and caring for people and her appointment is good news for all who serve in our schools and churches. We are very much looking forward to her beginning her new ministry with us in 2025”

About the Revd Dr Sue Lucas

Since 2016, the Revd Dr Sue Lucas has served as Team Rector of East Ham, a large and diverse parish in East London.  She has served as Area Dean of Waltham Forest since earlier this year.

Before ordination, Sue worked as a religious studies teacher at schools in London and Liverpool as well as Chief Examiner for the GCSE Religious Studies course. Ordained deacon in 2008 and priest in 2009, Sue served in three parishes in Liverpool before moving to East Ham in 2016.

She is also a member of the Chelmsford Diocesan Synod and a Chelmsford Diocese representative on the Church of England General Synod.

The role of Archdeacon of Southend became vacant earlier this year, when the Venerable Mike Power became Archdeacon of West Ham.

Welcome and Installation

A service to Install the Revd Dr Sue Lucas as Archdeacon of Southend and to welcome her to her new ministry will take place at Chelmsford Cathedral on 16 February at 3.30pm. All are very welcome to attend.