Dean of Chelmsford

The Dean of Chelmsford is the head (primus inter pares – first among equals) and chair of the Cathedral Chapter, the governing body of Chelmsford Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin, St Peter and St Cedd. Before 2000 the post was designated as a provost, which was then the equivalent of a dean at most English cathedrals. The cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Chelmsford and seat of the Bishop of Chelmsford. The Dean of Chelmsford is also responsible for the Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall at Bradwell-on-Sea, founded by St Cedd, among the oldest church buildings in regular use in England.

Nicholas Henshall was Dean until 23 February 2023 and Paul Kennington^[1] took over as acting Dean then.

List of provosts and deans

Provosts

1929–1949: William Morrow
1949-1951: Charles Waller
1951–1966: Eric Gordon
1966–1977: Connop Price
1978–1981: Dick Herrick
1982–1996: John Moses
1997–2000: Peter Judd^[2] (became Dean)

Deans

2000 – 6 October 2013: Peter Judd
October 2013 – February 2014: Ivor Moody, Vice Dean (Acting)
February 2014 – February 2023 (res.): Nicholas Henshall (returned to parish ministry)^[3]
February 2023 – present: Paul Kennington (Acting)
January 2025: Jessica Martin (announced)^[4]

References

^ https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/news/article/the-very-revd-paul-kennington-appointed-as-acting-dean-of-chelmsford ^{[bare URL]}
^ "Churches Conservation Trust – Peter Judd". Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
^ "Licensing of Fr Nicholas Henshall". St Thomas the Apostle, New Groombridge. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
^ "Jessica Martin to be the next Dean of Chelmsford". Diocese of Chelmsford. 28 June 2024. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.

[1] ttps://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/news/article/the-very-revd-paul-kennington-appointed-as-acting-dean-of-chelmsford ^{[bare URL]}

[2] "Churches Conservation Trust – Peter Judd". Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.

[3] "Licensing of Fr Nicholas Henshall". St Thomas the Apostle, New Groombridge. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.

[4] "Jessica Martin to be the next Dean of Chelmsford". Diocese of Chelmsford. 28 June 2024. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.

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v t e Diocese of Chelmsford
Chelmsford Cathedral Bishopscourt, Margaretting Diocesan Office, Chelmsford The Retreat House, Pleshey Waltham Abbey St Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell Area scheme (since 1983)
Office holders	Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford Roger Morris, area Bishop of Colchester Lynne Cullens, area Bishop of Barking Adam Atkinson, area Bishop-designate of Bradwell and Archdeacon of Charing Cross AEO: Bishop suffragan of Richborough (vacant) & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet Jessica Martin, Dean-designate of Chelmsford Chris Burke, Archdeacon of Barking Ruth Patten, Archdeacon of Colchester Mike Power, Archdeacon of West Ham Kate Peacock, Archdeacon of Stansted Jonathan Croucher, Archdeacon of Chelmsford Archdeacon of Southend (vacant)
Historic offices	Archdeacon of Essex (1914–1922; renamed West Ham) Provost of Chelmsford (1929–2000; see Dean of Chelmsford) Archdeacon of Harlow (1989–2024)

v t e Deans in the Church of England
Province of Canterbury	Birmingham Bristol Canterbury Chelmsford Chichester Dean of Christ Church, Oxford Coventry Derby Ely Exeter Gibraltar Gloucester Guildford Hereford Jersey Leicester Lichfield Lincoln Norwich Peterborough Portsmouth Rochester St Albans St Edmundsbury St Paul's (London) Salisbury Southwark Truro Wells Winchester Worcester
Province of York	Blackburn Bradford (Leeds diocese) Carlisle Chester Durham Liverpool Manchester Newcastle Peel Ripon (Leeds diocese) Sheffield Southwell Wakefield (Leeds diocese) York
Royal Deans	Dean of the Chapel Royal Westminster Windsor