7 April 2025
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev’d Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, has announced that the next Area Dean of Harwich will be the Rev’d John Saxon.
John is currently Rural Missioner for Harwich and has also served as Disabilities Adviser to the Bishop of Chelmsford since April 2022.
Commenting on John’s appointment, Bishop Guli said:
“I am delighted that John has accepted my invitation to become Area Dean of Harwich, a role to which he will bring valuable skills and experience; serving and supporting our parishes and worshipping communities.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank Phil Ritchie for his service as Area Dean of Harwich for the past two years - a role he accepted on a temporary basis to allow us time to recruit a Rural Missioner for Harwich, in anticipation that the appointee would also serve as Area Dean.”
The Harwich Deanery is in the Colchester Episcopal Area and the Bishop of Colchester, the Rt Rev’d Roger Morris said:
“The parishes and worshipping communities of the Harwich Deanery will benefit greatly from having John as their new Area Dean. John brings a maturity of church experience and a non-anxious assurance to his ministry as a priest. He is people-centred, warm-hearted, and generous. I’m grateful to him for taking on this additional responsibility alongside his parish ministry and his role as Disabilities’ Adviser. Please do join me in praying for John and for his new ministry in the Harwich Deanery. I know that many people will join me in giving thanks for all that Phil Ritchie he has done to support the parishes of the Harwich Deanery as previous Area Dean.”
Commenting on his appointment, Rev’d John Saxon said:
“I am pleased and honoured to be taking the role of Area Dean in the Harwich Deanery. Since being ordained priest, I have enjoyed the challenge of rural ministry; to build and nurture often small faith communities worshipping in treasured (and sometimes cold!) ancient buildings whilst also embracing new ways of reaching out and engaging with others who love their parish church but rarely cross its threshold. In the climate of one priest to many parishes, collaboration and connection across parishes in a Deanery will be of increasing importance for many of us in our rural or urban contexts. In the Harwich Deanery therefore, I look forward to working with my lay and ordained colleagues and to explore ‘Travelling Well Together’ supporting, encouraging and even challenging each other to be the Church Christ is calling us to be.”
John will be licensed as Area Dean of Harwich later this month.
