We are members of Gods family, worshipping God together.
Our deaf church team leaders are: Diana, in Colchester, Peter and Stephanie in Southend, Stephanie in Chelmsford, Lucy, our interpreter lives in Chelmsford, and Sheila our Safeguarding Officer lives in Colchester.
The deaf church teams’ responsibilities are to:
- promote the Gospel
- develop Spiritual life
- provide regular services in sign language locally and in the Cathedral
- provide services for Baptisms, Weddings and funerals
- provide school assemblies and visits to school
- provide pastoral care in times of need
- encourage and enable deaf and deafblind people to be fully involved in church life
- raise deaf awareness in the diocese
Contact
Revd Stephanie Gillingham is the lead Minister for deaf church in the Diocese of Chelmsford and can be contacted on 07906 814174 or by sending her an email
Chelmsford Diocese Deaf church also has an active Facebook page which you can follow to keep upto date with news and services for the deaf church community.. Follow the Deaf Church Facebook.
Deaf church services
These are the current services:
St Mary’s Church, Widford
1st Sunday and 3rd Sunday in the month
Holy Communion, 9.30am at St Mary’s Church, Widford, Chelmsford, CM2 8TE
St Peter's Church, Westcliff-on-Sea
2nd Sunday in the month
St Peters Church, Eastbourne Grove, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 0QF
A service for the Deaf Community and their families conducted in British Sign Language, starting at 11.30am
Oak Tree Coffee House, Highwoods
3rd Sunday in the month
Worship Service, 3.30pm at Oak Tree Coffee House, Highwoods Square, Colchester CO4 9BB
Conducted in Sign Language
SS Peter & Paul, Dagenham
SS Peter & Paul, Church Lane, Dagenham, RM10 8SH
This church has a competent signer available and would love to welcome you to their services:
2nd and 4th Sunday of the month – Holy Communion
3rd and 5th Sunday of the month – Morning Worship
Helpful resources and websites
Deaf awareness training
The video below from Through the Roof - a charity that supports churches in being inclusive for disabled people - features Revd Neil Robinson giving a short talk on welcoming Deaf people to your church or group. It includes tactics for inclusion, some discussion of culture, and recomendations for prayer and addressing people's spiritual needs. Neil delivers the talk in British Sign Language with an interpretation and voiceover from Shirley David.
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Christmas Carols with us in The Oak Tree Coffee House, Colchester
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Licensing of Rev'd Stephanie as the Lead Minister working with deaf and deafblind people in the Diocese of Chelmsford