Diocese of Chelmsford

Diocese of Chelmsford The Diocese of Chelmsford is the Church of England serving the people of Essex and East London

The Retreat House, Pleshey is a place where people from all walks of life come to seek God and to search for the spiritu...
17/06/2026

The Retreat House, Pleshey is a place where people from all walks of life come to seek God and to search for the spiritual in their lives.

Discover upcoming retreats and quiet days at https://buff.ly/snb8cb3

🙏Today we pray for the leadership team, volunteers, congregation and local community in:Dengie with Ashledam (St James...
17/06/2026

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Today we pray for the leadership team, volunteers, congregation and local community in:

Dengie with Ashledam (St James)
Clergy: Steven Poss (PIC).

Pray for: The retired Clergy, Readers and Lay Ministers who live and work in the Deanery of Maldon and Dengie.

🙏Today we pray for the leadership team, volunteers, congregation and local community in:Althorne (St Andrew) and North...
16/06/2026

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Today we pray for the leadership team, volunteers, congregation and local community in:

Althorne (St Andrew) and North Fambridge (Holy Trinity)
Clergy: Suzanne Fryer (PIC), Karen Eyles (A).

Monday 22 June is National Windrush Day, marking the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury in our diocese in 1948.Th...
15/06/2026

Monday 22 June is National Windrush Day, marking the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury in our diocese in 1948.

The ship carried Caribbean passengers invited to help rebuild the UK after the Second World War.

Despite their vital contributions, many faced discrimination, and some were wrongly deported or denied rights due to missing documentation - a failure later known as the Windrush Scandal.

The Windrush Compensation Scheme (WCS) was established to address these harms, but challenges remain, including low awareness, limited trust, delays, and a complex process.

Kemi Ademola, Branch Leader of Leyton Emmanuel Mothers’ Union, has spent the past two years working with the WCS to raise awareness across East London and support eligible individuals. Her work focuses on outreach, training, and helping people navigate both status and compensation processes.

Kemi first heard about the scheme through her work at the Department for Work and Pensions as it was known Kemi was actively involved in her local church and other community initiatives across Waltham Forest, including being leader of the Emmanuel Parish Mothers’ Union.

“Since launching a Black History Month programme in 2017, I have used this platform to promote dialogue and highlight issues affecting our community.” explained Kemi.

Working with the Windrush Stakeholder Engagement Team, Kemi has delivered presentations at Black History Month events, creating safe, welcoming spaces for people to share experiences, ask questions, and receive guidance.

The impact has been significant, with individuals and families receiving compensation, and many encountering positive, firsthand accounts of successful claims for the first time. Further partnership has trained ten volunteer facilitators from Emmanuel Parish and neighbouring East London parishes, supporting applications and building trust through lived experience.

Kemi’s dedication has been recognised with an OBE in the King’s New Year Honours List, presented at Windsor Castle in April by HRH The Princess Royal.



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Discover other inspiring stories from across our diocese in the latest edition of WEPRAY 👉 https://buff.ly/qLHIJ9w

🙏Today we pray for the leadership team, volunteers, congregation and local community in:Mayland (St Barnabas) and Latc...
15/06/2026

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Today we pray for the leadership team, volunteers, congregation and local community in:

Mayland (St Barnabas) and Latchingdon (Christ Church)
Clergy: Andrew Appiah (PIC).

Pray for: The Diocesan Safeguarding Team.

🙏 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY As churches and communities prepare to mark Refugee Week (16-22 June) we remember those ...
14/06/2026

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SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

As churches and communities prepare to mark Refugee Week (16-22 June) we remember those driven from their homes, separated from their families and forced to live in another country.

We pray that we may be among those who can lighten the burden of the dispossessed and provide new beginnings for the vulnerable refugees in our midst.

14/06/2026

The Revd Bethany Joss-Pothen, Vicar of St Andrew’s Romford and Racial Justice Advocate for the Havering Deanery, has recorded our for today titled ‘Learning to Improvise’.

As the 'It's Not Just Policy, It's Personal' safeguarding campaign continues, please join us in prayer:Loving God, we pr...
13/06/2026

As the 'It's Not Just Policy, It's Personal' safeguarding campaign continues, please join us in prayer:

Loving God,
we pray that Your church may be a place of welcome,
security and compassion.
Keep us watchful yet caring,
trusting yet ready to question,
that all who worship may do so
in safety and in the knowledge of Your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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Please do make use of the 'It's Not Just Policy, It's Personal' resources in your church context, as they aim to help build people's confidence in both recognising safeguarding concerns and responding with appropriate action.

The resources are designed to be flexible and can be used in a way that suits your setting, whether digitally, in print, or as part of local conversations.

Explore and download them at https://buff.ly/kVtGsdR

🙏Today we pray for the leadership team, volunteers, congregation and local community in:Woodham Mortimer (St Margaret)...
12/06/2026

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Today we pray for the leadership team, volunteers, congregation and local community in:

Woodham Mortimer (St Margaret) with Hazeleigh and Woodham Walter (St Michael)
Clergy: Julie Willmot (PIC).

Pray for the pupils, teachers, staff and governors of:

Woodham Walter Church of England Primary Academy:
Amy Dennis (HT), Lesley Roche (Exec HT).

In February King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the village of Dedham in Essex, to celebrate local community hero...
11/06/2026

In February King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the village of Dedham in Essex, to celebrate local community heroes, charities, and businesses.

Despite the rainy weather, the royal couple went on a High Street walkabout to meet residents, including pupils from Dedham Church of England Primary School.

The school choir also treated the King and Queen and the surrounding crowds to a performance of a special song, which received huge applause.

In the school newsletter following the royal visit, Headteacher, Gemma Chester, wrote:

“What a memorable and special experience ... We are all so incredibly proud of the children and how they performed for their Majesties. They really did provide the sunshine and represented the school beautifully.”

The school also received a letter from Jennifer Tolhurst, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Essex. Jennifer wrote:

“The children’s contribution was outstanding; many people have commented on it, and their Majesties were obviously very impressed and moved.

“The children sang so beautifully which was inspiring in itself, but to be out in those conditions and perform cheerfully was a great credit to them, their teachers and the school; they were a ray of sunlight on a rather wet day.”

☔️

Address

53 New Street
Chelmsford
CM11AT

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

01245 294400

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