First ever Archdeacon of Stansted appointed

THE first Archdeacon of Stansted has been appointed as part of a pastoral reorganisation in Essex.

The appointment of Revd Canon Robin King – currently vicar of Bures, Little Cornard and Assington and dean of Sudbury – follow a pastoral re-organisation aimed at bringing leadership closer to the parishes and local communities the church serves.

The new Stansted archdeaconry – which comprises the deaneries of Dunmow & Stansted, Saffron Walden, Braintree and Hinckford – becomes one of seven in the diocese. Mr King will take up his new post in September.

He said: “I have a passion for seeing the church flourish in rural areas – it’s certainly no easy option but it can be such an exciting environment in which to minister.

“I very much look forward to working in the Diocese and with the churches in north Essex to help shape the future of the church at such an exciting time.”

After leaving university Mr King spent six years working for a domestic. He then spent two years training for ministry in Cambridge, where he met and married his wife, Katharine. The couple have two sons, both at university.

Rev King says he has a “great love for the water” and enjoys rowing, diving and sailing. “When I can’t get wet, a bit of running and cycling help me keep me sane,” he adds.

As part of the church’s Essex reorganisation, two other new archdeacons have been appointed: the Rev Mina Smallman for Southend and the Rev Dr John Perumbalath for Barking. They join those for Harlow (the Venerable Martin Webster), Chelmsford (the Ven David Lowman), Colchester (the Ven Annette Cooper) and West Ham (the Ven Elwin Cockett).Bishop of Chelmsford, The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, said: “This is a stirring and stimulating time of change for the church in Essex and East London. In restructuring the Diocese of Chelmsford into seven smaller and more cohesive archdeaconries we are looking to bring leadership closer to the parishes and local communities we serve. And we do this so that Christ may be made known and his kingdom established.

“This meant creating three new archdeaconries, and now I am happy to announce we have appointed three new archdeacons.”

The Rt Rev Christopher Morgan, the Area Bishop of Colchester, said: “The appointment of Robin King as the first Archdeacon of Stansted comes as hugely good news.

“He brings very significant experience in nurturing and growing smaller rural parishes. As a rural dean, too, he is known to work effectively and in genuine partnerships with others.

“Robin’s current ministry is on the Suffolk side of the River Stour, so he will bring us fresh insights and resource from his current diocese, while he is already sufficiently near his new archdeaconry so as to understand readily the range of challenges and opportunities that are facing us all in North Essex.

“I know that he and Katharine will be warmly welcomed among us here later this summer and I am glad to voice my own congratulations now.”