To tell us about a forthcomining event you'd like to see publicised here, do one of the following:
share to the facebook group "Chelmsford CMD"
or email Andy at agriffiths@chelmsford.anglican.org
FEBRUARY
Workshop from the College of Preachers
Preaching with Power: How to Prepare & Deliver Effective Sermons
Thursday, 12 February, 10.30-13.00 | online via Zoom
Workshop leader: Samuel Thomas
Powerful preaching enables us to reach hearts and minds, to challenge, to comfort, and to present the good news of Jesus in a persuasive way. A powerful sermon requires careful preparation, clear structure, and effective delivery. This workshop will look at how we as preachers can prepare and deliver sermons that enable us to preach with power. In our preparation and delivery, Holy Spirit is present with us.
The Revd Samuel A Thomas, MTh, FRSA is an ordained bishop and pastor in the New Testament Church of God (UK) Pentecostal denomination, with over 30 years preaching experience.
Booking closes 9 February 2026
Lengthening Shadows
Exploring worship ministry to the elderly
Thursday 12th February 2026
7-9pm
via Zoom
Presenters:
Helen Bent
and Louise Foot
Welcome to our next Transforming Worship East event!
Liturgy and worship practitioners across the eastern dioceses are invited to come together. Using a peer-led discussion on Zoom, clergy and lay ministers can share experience, ideas and expertise, on 12 February 2026, 7-9pm. Presenters include Helen Bent and Louise Foote (Anna Chaplain).
O Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes… (from the Prayer of John Henry Newman)
We frequently focus our attention on worship to grow the church younger and rightly so, but this is an opportunity to consider the opposite end of the age spectrum. This is primarily about worship that recognizes that the different age groups within a church have different needs. Many older people will be present within intergenerational worship. Some will appreciate being kept young at heart by the interactive, lively approach and contemporary music, but some can feel disorientated and alienated without familiar service structures, liturgy and hymnody.
We will explore how we worship with and minister effectively to the elderly as they approach their final years ‘when the fever of life is over’ and ‘their work is done’, when their physical and mental capacity becomes increasingly impaired. This is about worship that cares – in both spiritual and practical ways.
We will draw on Anna Chaplaincy and the experience of those who lead regular worship in care homes or share in home communions with the housebound. We will also consider how we worship sensitively with those living with dementia.
Zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5652474073?pwd=wkw2at7qvfKvAFQ63V1FSVAXhITmoq.1&omn=85684518575
Meeting ID: 565 247 4073
Passcode: Lsi9gD
Booking
There is no need to pre-book: simply turn up!
MARCH
Community Organising Gathering, 16 March
Bishop Adam writes:
"I’m passionate about Community Organising as remarkable and God-given methodology for keeping us true to the gospel. We do this by putting relationships before programmes and listening before action. When this methodologies is enacted well it can bring real change in the world and real health in congregations. I’ve been involved over the years with TELCO, (community organising in East London), with the Centre for Theology and Community - CTC - and most recently with Citizens Essex. I’ve done micro organising and I’ve led a national level, I’ve taught on this and I am constantly kept sharp by the best communities doing this and the best organisers advocating and encouraging this.
It’s become clear to me that, in addition to the Citizens alliances, there is real value in drawing together those of us who are leaders in the Church of England in East London and Essex and who share a heart for this approach. Broad based Community Organising is about justice and mercy, but for each of our individual – and as a Diocese, corporate - institutions it is also about church growth and health and about ministerial wellbeing. Unless we learn to start not doing for others what they can do for themselves we’re going to drive ourselves into the ground! We need one another not just to share best practice and offer encouragement, but also to keep one another honest.
So I would love to invite all those who share this concern and are reading these words to a gathering on Monday 16 March, 2-4pm, at St Mary’s, Theydon Bois. There’s some parking at the church, and more at the nearby church hall, CM16 7ER.
I’ll be speaking, and linking community organising with the prayer and listening which is at the heart of all we’re doing at the moment as a Diocese – my subject will be “Listening that shapes the superpower of humility”. And some people from around the Diocese will be telling a little of the story of community organising in East London and Essex, as it has made a difference in their lives.
You don’t have to sign up in advance, but it would help us to plan if you could let Andy know if you’re attending, at agriffiths@chelmsford.anglican.org.
+Adam"
Study Day on Prayer Walking, 19 March
Bishop Adam writes:
"I’m thrilled to say that we have secured Rev Mark Bishop to lead a special Bradwell Area Study Day on Prayer Walking on Thursday 19th March, at Holy Trinity Church, South Woodham Ferrers.
You can read more about Mark and his wife Carrie in this article: “We’re amongst everybody.” The novel communities serving London. He leads HOP East, a House of Prayer for East London, in Stepney, for which I am the “episcopal visitor” - a religious community due to come on stream and be known as the “order of the pigeon“! It has prayer and peace-making at its heart, two things that I believe must be at our hearts, too. He will be talking about prayer walking – walking the streets of our towns, cities and villages and praying for them, whether on special occasions such as “beating the bounds” or as a normal part of church life. We will also be making some resources available for prayer walking that draw on liturgy and creative ideas, and link prayer walking with the listening and prayer about sustainability which is the lifeblood of the Diocese of Chelmsford at the moment.
As with our study day with Isabelle Hamley, there will be two identical sessions: one in the afternoon (2.30-5) and one in the evening (6.30-9). There’s no cost, but we do need to know numbers in advance.
This day is for ministers of all kinds: clergy, LLMs, authorised ministers, and churchwardens. And to be honest, if you know someone in your church that would love to hear more about prayer walking and they aren’t “officially” a minister, please forward this invitation to them, too. I’m really looking forward to seeing you there. (And ministers from outside the Bradwell Area will be made very welcome, too). We all know that we should be praying more and could be doing that but just need some input and part of that is to do with creative and deliberate schemes/methods/ideas for praying. That’s what this study day is all about. It’s about tools, with joy and laughter and some actual praying of prayer."
+Adam
26 March: A Symposium on youth and children's ministry at Ripon College, Cuddeston
SPIRITUAL COMPANIONSHIP MODULES
South Shoebury, Bradwell Episcopal Area: Thursdays 10am-12noon
Spiritual Companionship and the Big Life Questions
29 Jan, 5 Feb ,19th,Feb, 26th Feb 5th March, 12th March
Chelmsford, Bradwell Episcopal Area: Tuesdays 6pm-8pm in the Diocesan Office New St
Spiritual Companionship and the Scriptures
3rd, 10th 17th 24th, March & 7th, 14th April
Spiritual Companionship and the Christian Tradition
21st April, 5th 12th 19th May & 2nd,9thJune
Spiritual Companionship and the Big Life Questions
16th, 23rd & 30th Jun & 7th, 14th, 21st, July
Spiritual Companionship: Becoming Hospitality
22nd, 29th September & 6th ,13th October
Manor Park, Barking Episcopal Area: Saturdays 10.30am-2pm
Spiritual Companionship and the Scriptures
11th , 18th and 25th April
Spiritual Companionship and the Christian Tradition
13th , 20th and 27th June
Spiritual Companionship and the Big Life Questions
5th ,19th and 26th September
Spiritual Companionship: Becoming Hospitality
7th , 14th , 21st November
WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL COMPANION?
Spiritual companions, (sometimes called spiritual guides or spiritual directors), are mature Christian men and women, who have been specially trained and have the experience and gifts to listen to you and encourage you in your journey of faith. They may be lay or ordained or belong to a religious order.
The exemplar of spiritual companionship, or spiritual direction, from the Scriptures is the story of Jesus meeting the two disciples on the Emmaus Road. The two disciples walked along the road together. The ‘direction’ is about where they are walking to. It is Jesus himself who is their guide. He came to where they were on the road and walked with them, listening, encouraging and gently challenging.
It was Christ himself who opened the Scriptures for them and made himself known in the breaking of the bread. In spiritual companionship one disciple acts as a ‘life servant’ to the other and holds the sacred space so that Christ can come and meet with them both.
A spiritual companion will not tell you how to pray or what to do. He or she understands that it is God who is the prime mover. A good spiritual companion works with you to listen, to notice, to name and to celebrate where God is in your life and then to discern God’s guidance.
People may meet in their companion’s home or a meeting room in a church, but many also offer online meetings or telephone calls or walks if that would be more accessible and/or safer. The frequency and length of meetings can vary, and this is something that needs to be discussed and agreed at the first meeting, but 60-90 minutes every 8-10 weeks is quite common.
REQUIREMENTS FOR NETWORK MEMBERS
Those who are members of The Diocese of Chelmsford Spiritual Companionship Network will be:
*Baptised and confirmed worshipping members of parishes in the Diocese of Chelmsford
*Trained, authorised and safely recruited, having gone through the discernment process outlined below
*Receiving the ministry of spiritual companionship themselves
*Receiving supervision for their ministry
*Up to date with safeguarding training
*Paying attention to their ongoing training and development
WHAT A SPIRITUAL COMPANION WILL DO
Listen attentively to the person they walk alongside and to God
Pray with and for that person
Help them to explore and to grow in prayer
Help them to see more clearly how God is calling them and working in their life
Help them to celebrate the good things God is doing in their life
Help them to discern where God may be leading
Encourage them in their faith journey
Accept the person as they are, whoever they are, without judging
Treat what they say as confidential within the safeguarding regulations laid down by the Church of England
TRAINING AND FORMATION FOR THIS MINISTRY
There are various ways to train for this ministry, some offered by dioceses and some by other organisations or groups.
The Diocese of Chelmsford has its own modular course which operates in different centres around the diocese and on different days/times. This is to ensure the course is geographically accessible . The cost is also kept low to ensure it is financially accessible. The current cost is £40 for each of its 4 modules.
The four modules aim to enable participants to explore the roots of this ministry within the Scriptures and Christian Tradition and the way in which they can resource our practice today.
The 4 core modules are as follows:
Spiritual Companionship and the Scriptures
Spiritual Companionship and the Christian Tradition,
Spiritual Companionship and the Big Life Questions.
Spiritual Companionship: Becoming Hospitality
The first three modules have 6 x 2 hours sessions and Module 4 usually takes the form 4 x 2hour sessions.
Each session is a blend of personal reflection, input and group discussion and triad work. The sessions are enfolded in prayer. There is an expectation that participants will engage is some personal work during the week , the fruits of which are then shared at the beginning of each session.
Some participants choose to undertake one module as part of their ongoing formation in the ministry they are already offering. Others build the modules into a whole course.
Participants who satisfactorily complete all the modules receive the Bishop of Chelmsford ‘s certificate. Completion of the course does not in itself lead to offering this ministry in the diocese.
If someone then wishes to offer this ministry within the diocese, they will go through a discernment and safer recruitment process which may lead to them being authorised by their area Bishop and joining the diocesan network.
Training and formation in this ministry is a lifelong experience and commitment and participants are encouraged to engage in other shorter modules and ongoing formation days offered by the diocese after the core modules have been completed and as they begin to offer this ministry within the diocese.
For further information or to have a conversation about the course please contact Ann Coleman annvcol@gmail.com and she will put you in contact with one of the tutors for your area.
APRIL
23-25 April: I'm not a theologian, but...
MAY
Bookings are open for the 2026 HTB leadership conference:
Leadership Conference 2026 | 4 - 5 May
Responding to criticism
An interesting article reflecting on how as leaders we respond to criticism positively. The author, Chris Green , has written a number of books on leadership and his blog Ministry Nuts and Bolts is worth looking at as well
A fascinating article about the value of boredom written by the leader of a local Chelmsford church - well worth a read!
Intergenerational Preaching: A video
Roots for Churches present a video by Mary Hawes and others
Lots of resources in different learning styles about being a "relational church"
A More Relational Church – Relational Church UK
Inside-Out: Next steps for Clergy Wellbeing – Relational Church UK
An article about clergy burnout, and the way that structural change may be required as well as personal responsibility
The article ends with challenging words: "In conclusion, Jesus came that we may have life in all its fullness. As churches we are treating our clergy as if this hope doesn’t apply to them. Worse than that, we treat them as “canon fodder” who can be used and put aside when they are broken. We could do better."
3D Coaching presents: Effective Conversations
You know how to have conversations. You’ve been having them for a long time.
Using our learning platform FreshLearn, you will be able to watch this set of videos (approx. 85 mins).
In this video set we will be thinking about small practical changes you can make to conversations that will make them:
- Easier for you
- More effective for the people you talk to
Includes: ideas, practice, real-life coaching demo, coaching framework and examples
Claire Pedrick MCC has been coaching for over 30 years. A coach, mentor coach and coaching supervisor, she trains managers, leaders and experienced coaches across multiple sectors to reap the benefits of working more simply. Claire is the Founding Partner of 3D Coaching.
Matt White's new book, "Propelled into Wonder," is out NOW!
50 original poems accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations.
#poetrycommunity #writerscommunity
GoHealth: Rest and Reset
Engaging with new housing
Is there new housing in your parish or area? Do you have questions about *How to be Christlike in New Housing Areas, *How to Deal with Practicalities, *How to Work Together as the Body of Christ, *How to Plan and Evaluate, and *How to Engage in Different Contexts?
These are exactly the issues a new resource covers: Introduction to Engaging with New Housing: a set of How-to Guides – Housing Justice.
We've been building a bit of a library of videos about various spiritual movements, and how they can influence us as ministers in East London and Essex in the 2020s.
Past sessions have looked at Benedictine Spirituality, Dominican Spirituality, two different varieties of Evangelical Spirituality, Ignatian Spirituality, Community Organising Spirituality, and Moravian Spirituality. Browse all this and lots of rubbish at:
http://www.youtube.com/@andygriffiths7654
I've been reading Thrive by Pam McNaughton (London: Church House Publishing, 2023), and I thought I'd post a review.
The subtitle of the book is "Helping your multi-parish benefice to grow", and this is an area the author has serious experience of, having been the incumbent of three different multi-parish benefices (MPBs) in three different dioceses, and having developed a course on the subject (also called Thrive) for CPAS.
The book isn't rocket science, and you won't be surprised to hear the list of things listed as keys to a thriving multi-parish ministry, around which the book is built:
*Prayer
*Mapping and relating stories
*Enabling leaders and great teams (for what it's worth, this seems to me to be the strongest section, and if you did nothing else any MPB would profit from taking this wisdom to heart)
*A culture of discipleship - "shaping the life and activity of our churches around the Great Commandments and the Great Commission." I liked this section, though the community organiser in me would have loved there to be a recognition that we don't just worship God, serve our neighbours and share the good news (crucial as these things are), but also listen to our communities to see what they care about, and enable them to take action for justice. I don't for one moment think that Pam MacNaughton is inward-looking-except-with-regard-to evangelism, but that's such a danger for MPBs that I would want to flag it up.
*Faith sharing. This may be the most challenging section for a number of our MPBs, but it's introduced with gentleness and realism.
*Vision for the future
The value of the book lies not so much in the choice of these topics, which will be familiar, as in the clear, approachable way they are explained and made relevant to multi-church contexts. I liked the way the book often gives several options, rather than a single authoritative template: for example, when starting to move towards vision, we are given
*a template for a formal review of church life, but also
*permission not to use it because there may be one or two areas that clearly need to be worked on first, before the review is encouraging, and
*permission to start with one big project that will get people's imagination firing and raise morale, so that when it is time to review the church(es), the momentum of the project will help people look at possibilities with newfound positivity.
I also liked the way the author often chooses to ask questions rather than to give advice.
I could imagine this being a book that a whole PCC, or a standing committee, looked at together; or perhaps, the wardens and ministers drawn from all the churches in a benefice. There are online materials available as well.
In this Diocese, there are two networks for incumbents (and other ministers) with MPBs or the equivalent - "Four or more" and "More than one". If you'd be interested in being part of such a network, do get in touch with Janet Nichols or Andy Griffiths.
Theological Reading Group
Susannah Brasier writes: "I set up an online theological reading group about 18 months ago. We meet monthly, on Zoom, on the second Tuesday of the month at 2pm for 45 mins-1 hr.
So far we have read a wide variety of books, of varying genres and intensity, and had some very good discussions.
The idea came from one of my own MDRs, where I lamented (not for the first time) that I wasn't getting around to theological reading - so Jill Mowbray suggested I started this group and certainly, even though previously I often thought I didn't have time to read, I now have a discipline whereby I am always reading at least one theological book a month!
It is however not only open to clergy - ordinands, licensed or authorised lay ministers are also welcome, as well as other lay people who have an interest in reading theological books."
Do contact Susannah Brasier if you'd like to get involved.
The institutions and providers below all offer courses relevant to the development needs of Chelmsford clergy.
The Anglican Centre in Rome
The Anglican Centre offers a range of residential courses. Go to www.anglicancentreinrome.org for more details.
The Arthur Rank Centre
A charity that supports and resources the rural church. It offers twice-yearly Rural Ministry Courses and Multi Church Ministry Workshops
It also has resources for the creative use of church buildings
The Buck Stops Here: Leading in MIssion and Ministry in Your First Incumbency
This residential course is offered by CPAS for those moving from a curacy to a first post of responsibility, or for those moving from overseas or sector post to an incumbency or team vicar post.
Los Olivos
A varied programme of courses and retreats in southern Spain, some of which will be eligible for CMD grant – check with your Area CMD Adviser before booking. Travel is not eligible for grant. Go to www.haciendalosolivos.org for details.
LYCIG Leading Your Church Into Growth
A training programme which takes the mystique out of growth and makes it ‘normal’ and do-able. It is likely that a LYCIG course will be run in Chelmsford Diocese in the coming year.
LYCiG is a four-day residential course for lay and ordained leaders. Now in itstwenty-first year, the course was pioneered by Robin Gamble and others, and is led by a team drawn from many different backgrounds, traditions, and ministry contexts. All are practitioners who can speak from personal experience of leading churches into growth. "The most valuable training we’ve ever done", is a typical comment from some of the 70 churches represented on the course.
For the current Conferences programme click here.
Transforming Worship
It offers a series of training events, mostly regional, for those who lead worship - website here
Sarum College
in Salisbury is an ecumenical centre for Christian study and research. It offers a variety of short courses and study programmes in theology, culture, Christian leadership, liturgy and worship, biblical study and sprituality; also singing, music and the arts. Many of these are eligible for CMD grant. For upcoming events or for their whole programme go to www.sarum.ac.uk.
The Society of Mary and Martha, Sheldon
The Society of Mary and Martha in Devon has a varied programme of residential weeks and workshops, including Myers-Briggs and Enneagram, and specifically for clergy, some of which (but not all) will qualify for use of CMD grant. Go to www.sheldon.uk.com.
How to obtain your CMD grant…
Many of these courses are eligible for funding from your CMD grant.
If you have questions about these or other training courses, contact your Area CMD Adviser or the CMD Administrator Sue Denham (01245 294450) .
For information on Sabbatical Leave and Study contact your Area CMD Adviser.
When requesting money for CMD grants, which are available for active clergy (including PTO with a working agreement) and Licensed or PTO Lay Ministers, applications must be received at least a month prior to the event and before booking or attending. To do this fill in an electronic grant form and send it to your Area CMD Adviser, Andy Griffiths, Jane Richards or Julie Couchman-Boor who will authorise and send to Sue Denham who will raise the payment. You do not need to send a copy of the brochure. It is preferred to make payments by BACS. See CMD Funding.
For consultation in advance of applications for any CMD events not included here, please contact your Area CMD Adviser. Please note that where a CMD Adviser, MDR, Archdeacon or Bishop has recommended coaching, this will be funded by a £230 grant, which will not deplete your CMD grant rights for the rest of the year.