The Diocese of Chelmsford Archdeaconry Profiles: Archdeaconry of Barking Archdeaconry of Southend Archdeaconry of Stansted 1 The Diocese of Chelmsford The Diocese of Chelmsford is a church region of more than 1,500 square miles that stretches from the east coast to the Thames and ranges from countryside to towns and suburbs. It comprises the county of Essex, the unitary authorities of Southend and Thurrock, and the east London boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest. Chelmsford diocese is a big, dynamic and vibrant place and its residents represent most, if not all, socio-economic groups; with a wide diversity in terms of affluence and poverty, culture, different faiths and church traditions. With a population of nearly 3 million people Chelmsford is the second largest diocese in England. There are 463 parishes and 599 churches. Nearly 30,000 children and young people attend church schools, and an estimated 100,000 young people share in assemblies, chaplaincy, clubs and youth work. The Diocese is young; created in 1914, having formerly been part of the Dioceses of London, Rochester and St Albans. It extends from the River Lea in East London, to the Essex coast and the boundary with Suffolk. That the Diocese contains such huge diversity creates a very special place that is different from most other large dioceses and creates unique opportunities and challenges for the future. 2 Archdeaconry of Barking The Barking episcopal area covers the western part of the diocese in what was originally old Essex, east of the river Lea. The Episcopal Area is named after the ancient abbey founded as a missionary centre by St Erkenwald in 666 for his sister Saint Ethelburga. Today, the Episcopal Area covers five London boroughs and extends north through Epping Forest to Harlow. It includes the deeply urban areas such as Newham, suburbs, leafy villages and new towns. It is home to the Olympic Park, Excel Centre, London City Airport, and the Crossrail corridor. It is the most densely populated of the episcopal areas in the diocese, and is larger in population terms than all but nine CofE dioceses. There are three archdeaconries in the Area: Harlow (serving Epping, Ongar and Harlow), West Ham (serving the London boroughs of Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest) and the new archdeaconry of Barking. The Archdeaconry of Barking comprises the outer London boroughs of Havering and Barking & Dagenham. The two deaneries are co-terminus with the borough boundaries. This area covers a socially mixed population of 400,000 in a range of settings from the urban to the suburban and rural fringes. It includes Barking Riverside, one of the largest areas of projected population growth in western Europe, centres of outer London affluence, and within just a few miles, some of the poorest and most socially deprived post-war resettlement wards. In consequence, the stock of church buildings ranges from traditional medieval churches to post-war estate churches, to modern worship centres. Some of these churches are exploring exciting redevelopment proposals to provide community hubs, social housing and a renewed Christian presence. The archdeaconry has initiated two of the three proto- Bishop’s Mission Orders in the diocese, and a number of parishes are active in tackling local needs. The full range of CofE traditions are represented in the Archdeaconry, and there are close ecumenical relationships. The archdeaconry includes six of our largest parishes, which will be a particular focus for the new Archdeacon. The archdeaconry also includes one of two CofE Secondary Schools in the diocese. In 2013 the two deaneries together paid around 90% of the parish share requested of them, which is below the diocesan average. The archdeaconry has its strengths and its challenges, and the deaneries are working to respond to Transforming Presence. Summary Deaneries 2 Parishes 34 Population 400,000 Area 15,180 hectares Church Buildings 44 Members 4,810 3 Area Team The Barking Area Team includes the Bishop and three Archdeacons, plus Continuing Ministerial Development, Youth, Mission & Ministry, Mission & Regeneration, and Lay Training advisers, all of whom work closely with counterparts across the diocese. Archdeacon’s Housing and Office A house for the Archdeacon is presently being sought in the Gidea Park area on the A12 corridor, providing good connections to Chelmsford and the Archdeaconry. A number of potential houses are currently being considered. The specification is a well maintained parsonage type house with 4 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, office suite, garage and parking. 4 Archdeaconry of Southend The Bradwell Episcopal Area which is larger than many English Dioceses, covers nine deaneries from the banks of the Thames to the coast and north, incorporating Maldon and Chelmsford and with a population of 980,000. The nine deaneries which comprised the former Archdeaconry of Southend have been split north south so that the new Archdeaconry of Chelmsford comprises the Deaneries of Brentwood, Chelmsford North and South and Maldon and Dengie. The new Archdeaconry of Southend comprises the Deaneries of Thurrock, Basildon, Hadleigh, Southend and Rochford stretching from the Queen Elizabeth Bridge in the west along the Thames to Foulness Island in the east, and incorporates the towns of Grays, Basildon, Billericay, Wickford, Rayleigh, Hadleigh, Canvey Island and the Southend Conurbation as well as some rural villages. There is a great mix of deprivation and affluence ranging from much poverty in Tilbury Docks, West Thurrock and parts of Southend to considerable wealth in parts of Billericay, Hadleigh, Thorpe Bay and Hockley and some of the rural areas. Very large numbers commute to London by rail and road. A factor in ministering to the community is that there are three local authorities, Essex County Council and the Unitary Authorities of Thurrock and Southend. The five deaneries are served by 65 stipendiary clergy, 7 self- supporting ministers, 12 title curates and 39 Readers. Many of the church buildings were constructed post war whilst others are extremely old but quite small. There are very few large medieval buildings. Church traditions cover most of the Church of England incorporating conservative, charismatic and open evangelical, traditional Anglican, affirming and traditional catholic. There are five parishes which have petitioned for alternative episcopal oversight and several more with resolutions A or B. Seven Team Ministries and many other parishes working together means that collaborative working styles are now a vital part of the life of the Archdeaconry. Parishes work hard to cover their finances including the parish share which in the Episcopal Area amounts to over 5 million pounds. In 2012 93.6% of this was paid. Summary Deaneries 5 Parishes 66 Population 639,000 Area 52,590 hectares Church Buildings 97 Members 6780 5 Area Team The Bradwell Area Team includes the Bishop and two Archdeacons, plus Continuing Ministerial Development, Youth, Mission & Ministry, Faith in Action and Lay Discipleship advisers, all of whom work closely with counterparts across the diocese. Archdeacon’s Housing and Office A large modern house has been purchased for the new Archdeacon of Southend. The house is located between Rayleigh and Southend, with easy access to the A127 providing good connections across the archdeaconry and to Chelmsford. The house contains 5/6 bedrooms, 2/3 reception rooms, private garden and an annex/garage. The house is presently being upgraded to provide a fully equipped office suite. 6 Archdeaconry of Stansted Geographically, the Colchester Episcopal Area covers 51% of the Chelmsford diocese while containing not quite 20% of its people. The northern swathe of the County of Essex contains significant coastal communities and port towns, like Clacton, Frinton and Harwich; and Colchester itself is the sixth fastest growing borough in the country (and – at 179,000 people – is now slightly bigger than Chelmsford itself). Yet there are many villages scattered across this landscape too – usually with historic, and often beautiful, Church buildings. Multi-parish benefices are the norm here. The Area is made up of the Archdeaconry of Colchester and the Archdeaconry of Stansted. The new Archdeaconry of Stansted is the western half – and the least populated part – of this Episcopal Area. Its main travel arteries are the A120 and the M11 (although only one exit of the M11 is actually in the Area!). To the west and to the north are three other county and diocesan boundaries. Braintree continues to be a growing town of nearly 50,000 people, and 25 miles away to the north-west is the historic market town of Saffron Walden. Halstead and Great Dunmow are also major settlements. Stansted Airport handles nearly 23 million passengers a year and provides employment for many people in the region. All else is rural – from picturesque to workaday villages, involving some of the most prosperous communities in the country alongside real pockets of rural deprivation and need. There are currently 36 benefices grouped in 4 rural deaneries. In 2012 these benefices paid almost 97% of the Parish Share requested, one of the best share performances in the diocese. The pattern of ministry currently includes multi-parish benefices, a few sole cures and several established and developing team ministries. Stipendiary clergy are supplemented by a network of self-supporting clergy, lay ministers and retired clergy. The archdeaconry is at the forefront of rural mission, including piloting one of the mission weekends for the diocesan centenary, new youth ministry (resourced from the diocese’s residential youth centre, located in the archdeaconry) and rural evangelism (with a newly appointed rural evangelism adviser beneficed in the archdeaconry). Whoever joins us will find a warm welcome, committed colleagues and real diversity in both local and Christian communities, some surprising – as well as expected – challenges and opportunities, all set in the environment of understated and beautiful countryside.