The Bradwell Area team The Bradwell Area team

Bradwell Area Team

Icon for Church building

212

Church Buildings

Icon for Clergy

105

Clergy in
parish

A challice

165

Parishes

Icon for Licensed Lay Ministers & Readers

70

LLM & Readers

Icon of books

53

Church of England Schools

Icon of people

1m

Population

About the Bradwell Episcopal Area

The Bradwell Episcopal Area consists of nine deaneries covering south and mid Essex, stretching east from Epping, through Brentwood and Chelmsford, to Maldon and the Dengie peninsula and on to Bradwell as well as the area stretching along the north of the Thames Estuary from the Dartford Crossing to Southend.

The Bradwell Area, which is as large as many dioceses, is served by The Bishop of Bradwell, The Right Reverand Adam Atkinson and two Archdeacons – The Archdeacon of Chelmsford, The Venerable Jonathan Croucher and the Archdeacon of Southend, the Venerable Sue Lucas.

Our Bishops and Archdeacons work with an Area Team made up of Area Deans, Advisors and Voluntary Officers, details of whom can be found below.

South and Mid Essex is an area of great diversity and contrast – Southend, recently having been made a city, with the longest pier in the country; Basildon where the greatest piece of civic architecture is the noteworthy church bell tower and St Peter on the Wall in Bradwell built by Cedd in 654 when he came to bring the Gospel to the East Saxons.

Bradwell Chapel Bradwell Chapel

Meet the team

Photo of The Right Reverend Adam Atkinson

The Bishop of Bradwell

The Right Reverend Adam Atkinson

The Bradwell Area Office,

58 New Street,

Chelmsford,

CM1 1AT


Our Archdeacons

Photo of The Ven Jonathan Croucher

Archdeacon of Chelmsford

The Ven Jonathan Croucher

Photo of The Venerable Dr Susan Lucas

Archdeacon of Southend

The Venerable Dr Susan Lucas


Personal Assistants

Photo of Laura Dolton

PA to the Archdeacon of Southend

Laura Dolton

Photo of René Horner

PA to the Archdeacon of Chelmsford

René Horner

Photo of Rachel Tufnell

Senior Executive Assistant to the Bishop of Bradwell and the Bradwell Area Office Manager

Rachel Tufnell


Area Deans

Photo of Revd Peter Begley

Area Dean of Maldon and Dengie

Revd Peter Begley

Photo of Revd Jonathan Evens

Area Dean of Basildon

Revd Jonathan Evens

Photo of Revd John Fry

Area Dean of Epping Forest and Ongar

Revd John Fry

Photo of Revd Pete Hillman

Area Dean of Hadleigh

Revd Pete Hillman

Photo of Revd Simon Pearce

Area Dean of Chelmsford

Revd Simon Pearce

Photo of The Revd David Rollins

Area Dean of Thurrock

The Revd David Rollins

Photo of Revd Canon Nicholas Rowan

Area Dean of Rochford

Revd Canon Nicholas Rowan

Photo of Revd Andy Smith

Area Dean of Brentwood

Revd Andy Smith

Photo of Revd Canon Louise Williams

Area Dean of Southend

Revd Canon Louise Williams


Staff and Team Members

Photo of Revd Canon Darren Barlow

Bradwell Area Vocations Lead

Revd Canon Darren Barlow

Photo of Belinda Ramsay

Children, Youth and Families Adviser

Belinda Ramsay


Voluntary Officers & Advisors

Photo of Revd Hugh Dibbens

Retirement Adviser (Chelmsford)

Revd Hugh Dibbens

Photo of Revd Timnat Emmanuel

Women's Advisor for the Chelmsford Archdeaconry

Revd Timnat Emmanuel

Photo of Revd Canon Andy Griffiths

CMD Adviser

Revd Canon Andy Griffiths

Retirement Adviser (Southend)

Revd Barry Johnson

Photo of Revd Kate Moore

SSM Advisor

Revd Kate Moore

Photo of Revd Marion Walford

Women's Adviser - Southend Archdeaconry

Revd Marion Walford

Latest news from the Bradwell area


Easter Sunday at St Mary the Virgin Shenfield

Parish Giving Scheme enables generous giving at St Mary the Virgin Church in Shenfield

6 February 2026

St Mary's Church in Shenfield has used the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) to enable people in their church community to give generously.

James Matthews pictured with the High Sheriff of Essex, Julie Fosh and Diocesan Rural Adviser, the Revd Canon Janet Nicholls.

St Nicholas C of E Primary School pupil presented with High Sheriff’s Award

4 February 2026

A school pupil has received the High Sheriff’s Award for inspiring fundraising for Christian charity, Farming Community Network.

Epping Team Ministry

Introducing and celebrating the Epping Team Ministry Pastoral Care Team

16 January 2026

Discover more about the thriving Pastoral Care Team in Epping.

ACE 2025

Church Magazine from All Saints’ Springfield is awarded top prize at the Association for Church Editors 2025 Awards

9 December 2025

The parish magazine of of All Saints’, Springfield has won the Gold Award at the Association for Church Editors 2025 Awards.

St Michael's Theydon

St Michael’s Church in Theydon Mount hold Baby Loss Memorial Service

14 October 2025

St Michael's Church in Theydon Mount led a Baby Loss Memorial Service during Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Hospice Chaplain

Hospice Chaplaincy: “It is a real privilege to be part of that final journey with a person”

30 September 2025

The Revd Andrew Merchant is a priest at St Andrew's Church, Chelmsford and a volunteer Chaplain at Farleigh Hospice.