Refelcting on Nine Years as Dean of Chelmsford Cathedral

We arrived here in Chelmsford on New Year’s Day 2014. Probably not a great day to move house as even tracking down somewhere to eat that evening was a challenge!

Chelmsford looked very different back then. What we think of today as Bond Streetthat whole area around John Lewis - was simply a massive (and very ugly) informal car park. That is almost impossible to remember now. And of course the population has continued to grow; not simply outer estates like Beaulieu Park, but office block after office block being turned into flats. That has mostly been good news for the city centre, but it feels quite challenging for the provision of public services like GP surgeries.

In those early years Chelmsford felt like a big town rather than a small city. But a whole range of things - including John Lewis, and population growth, and lots of new restaurants, and (I would inevitably suggest) the growing profile of Chelmsford Cathedral as public space for all - has created a new sense of our civic life together and the things that make this a good place to live.

Indeed, the Queen’s visit in May 2014 felt like part of all that. Yes, Her Majesty’s visit was to mark the centenary of Chelmsford Cathedral, but it really felt like her personal endorsement of our status as a city. It has been great over the years seeing the knitting together of so many networks in the city centre, and certainly from the cathedral’s perspective, the Gaia installation in October 2022 felt like a great celebration of that as each day we saw 4,000 people enjoying this beautiful space.

My ministry as Dean has not been just about Chelmsford of course. As Dean I’ve had a brief right across the churches and communities of east London and Essex (ie, the ancient county of Essex). It’s been fascinating getting to know extraordinarily diverse places and people from Saffron Walden to Southend and from Canning Town to Clactonon-Sea.

Inevitably, I need to say something about the pandemic. I went on my first ever period of study leave in October 2019. Apparently clergy are meant to get these every 10 years, but in 30 years this hadn’t come my way! It was amazing. I spent two months back in Oxford, reading, writing, talking, walking. That was followed by a family Christmas in France at the community of Taizé, and New Year with our Slovenian in-laws in Ljubljana. That was wonderful and followed for me by a 30-day silent retreat in North Wales, which was a really life-changing experience. I guess I had all sorts of ideas about what happened next when I got back to Chelmsford. But three weeks later the first lockdown began.

As many people have noted, it is hard now to remember the sequence of the lockdowns or quite how it all fitted together. We all had both very different and quite similar experiences. Similar because we lost the same freedoms. But different because our circumstances were different. I was deeply aware of the loneliness of so many. At the same time many of us found ourselves in lockdown with quite a few members of our family and that too could of course have its stresses.

As a priest, the most difficult aspect of lockdown was the funerals. Every part of it was difficult. You couldn’t meet the family face-toface. Numbers were massively restricted. We couldn’t sing. And even if it wasn’t a covid-related death, it was treated as if it might have been. I think we all worked very hard to make it a genuine human experience, but it was very hard.

For so many of us lookdown also brought us Zoom. A really helpful technology, but eventually the days came to be crammed with 6, 7, 8, even 9 or 10 hours of Zoom calls. It was exhausting. By contrast, another technology was really transformative for many churches and certainly for the cathedral: the discovery that we could live-stream services and teaching and that people actually wanted to be part of it! The enduring gift for the cathedral is that every day, some 20 to 30 people join in a simple morning prayer service live-streamed from the cathedral, and they have become a real community, praying for one another, looking out for each other.

Now, we are all still living through the post-pandemic period. We are still a bit battered. I guess the big thing has been learning that quite a lot has changed permanently - that maybe ‘normal’ never was normal. That’s going to take quite a long time to get used to in the cathedral, the city and the diocese. Yet, I leave the cathedral in good heart with a vision for the future and a sense of promise.

As for me (and my wife, family and cat), we are off to a small village in East Sussex where I’ll be the half-time parish priest. This isn’t about stopping or even slowing down, but developing a new rhythm where I am able to have deeper space to read, prayer, write, think, reflectan invitation to greater solitude, stillness and silence that goes right back to the beginning of my calling. Another exciting step on the adventure!

Nicholas Henshall

February

Friday 17th

Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: The Overtures

Chelmsford Theatre - Tap Factory

Hot Box - The Tier Lauch Party

Saturday 18th

Chelmsford Theatre - Dreams of Fleetwood Mac

Chelmsford Theatre - Carl Hutchinson: Watch Till the End

Hatfield Peverel Village Hall - The Jam Project

Hot Box - Ghost Car

Village Hall (Wickham Bishops) - Wickham Bishops Jazz Club:

Paula Jackman’s Jazz Masters (6.30 for 7.30pm - contact Pete: wickhambishopsjazzclub@gmail.com - 07548 775 777)

Sunday 19th

Chelmsford Theatre - Chelmsford Dance Centre Specatular

Hylands Estate - Open Day

Monday 20th

Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night

Sandon School - Scottish Country Dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pmwww.sandonscotdance.org.uk - sandonscotdance@gmail.com)

Tuesday 21st

Central Baptist Church (Victoria Road South) ECC Retirement Fellowship monthly meeting (2-4pm - new members welcome)

Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - Country Dancing (barn dance - 7.50pm - £2 - 01245 475 660)

Woolpack - Quiz

Wednesday 22nd

Hot Box - Radio City Sessions: Alyssa Bonagura + The Jackson

Line + Eddy Smith

Trinity Methodist Church - Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust, will be speaking (7.45pm)

Thursday 23rd

Chelmsford Theatre - Jimeoin: the Craic!

Chelmsford Theatre - NT Live: Othello

Hot Box - Uber Jam

The Lion Inn - The Official Comedy Club

Friday 24th

Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: The Verity/ Bromham Band

Chelmsford Theatre - Showaddywaddy: 50th Anniversary

Concert Tour

Hot Box - Hinge + Bo Weevil + No Time to Waste

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga

Saturday 25th

Chelmsford Social Club - Little Dave & the Sun Sessions

Chelmsford Theatre - The Carpenters Story

Hot Box - Three Birds Blind EP Launch + Dean Frost

Sunday 26th

Chelmsford Theatre - Syd Lawrence Orchestra: In the Mood for Miller

South Hanningfield Village Hall (South Hanningfield Road CM3

8HL) - Table Top Sale (9am -1pm - vallisc@aol.com)

Tuesday 28th

Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - Country Dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)

Woolpack - Quiz

March

Wednesday 1st

Friends Meeting House (Rainsford Road) - CRAG Retirement Group (monthly meeting - 9.30am - First visit free)

Wednesday 1st (cont...)

Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music

Supper Club: Dave Browning’s Jazz Cats Sextet (7.45pm - to book phone Phil on 07850 607 075)

Thursday 2nd

Chelmsford Theatre - Dreamcoat Stars

Hot Box - Open System

Friday 3rd

Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: Martin Turner (ex-Wishbone Ash)

Hot Box - Stark + MetroGlow + BrokenAtoms

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair Yoga

Saturday 4th

Chelmsford Theatre - Come What May: The Ultimate Tribute to Moulin Rouge

Chelmsford Theatre - Pinocchio

Hot Box - Boogie in the Box

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)

Sunday 5th

Chelmsford Theatre - Act First

Monday 6th

Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club Night

Sandon School - Scottish Country Dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pm - www.sandonscotdance.org.uk, sandonscotdance@gmail.com)

Tuesday 7th

Old Court Theatre - Stockholm

Woolpack - Quiz

Wednesday 8th

Chelmsford Theatre - An Evening with Joe Cornish

Chelmsford Theatre - Danny Baker: At Last... The Saudage

Sandwich Tour

Hot Box - The Big Music Quiz

Old Court Theatre - Stockholm

Patch - Talk on the London to Clacton-on-Sea railway (7pmemail info@chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.uk to book)

Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music

Supper Club: The Essex Hot Five (7.45pm - to book, call Phil on 07850 607 075)

Thursday 9th

Chelmsford Theatre - Abigail’s Party

Hot Box - Open Mic Night

Old Court Theatre - Stockholm

Friday 10th

Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: Some Kinda Wonderful (celebrating Stevie Wonder)

Chelmsford Theatre - Abigail’s Party

F Cookes (Moulsham Street) - An Evening of Soul & Motown with Michael Winchester

Old Court Theatre - Stockholm

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga

Saturday 11th

Chelmsford Theatre - Abigail’s Party

Old Court Theatre - Stockholm

Hot Box - Vigilantes

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)

The UB - Playlister

Sunday 12th

Channels Estate - Wedding Show

Chelmer Valley High School - 2023 Lace and Craft Fair

Chelmsford Theatre - Mary Cassatt: Painting the Modern Woman

Hot Box - Jazz Sundays with Zak Barrett

Monday 13th

Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club Night

Tuesday 14th

Sandon School - Scottish Country Dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pmwww.sandonscotdance.org.uk - sandonscotdance@gmail.com)

Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - country dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)

Woolpack - Quiz

Wednesday 15th

Chelmsford Theatre - Cinderella: The Chelmsford Ballet Company

Hot Box - Control Voltage (electronic music open mic)

Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music

Supper Club: Julian Stringle & Dominic Ashworth Qnt (7.45pmto book phone Phil on 07850 607 075)

The UB - Pub Quiz

Thursday 16th

Central Park - The 3foot People Festival Party

Chelmsford Theatre - Cinderella: The Chelmsford Ballet Company

Hot Box - Ignition: Existentialist + Mechro Morph + Xenomyiasis

Friday 17th

Central Park - The 3foot People Festival Party

Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: Hamish Stuart (Average White Band)

Chelmsford Theatre - Cinderella: The Chelmsford Ballet Company

Hot Box - Model Man

Saturday 18th

Central Park - The 3foot People Festival Party

Central Park - Fling Cabaret Extravagasm

Chelmsford Theatre - Cinderella: The Chelmsford Ballet Company

The Swan (Bicknacre) - Music Bingo

Sunday 19th

Chelmsford Theatre - Making Headway

Hylands Estate - Open Day with Hot Box Live

Chelmsford Theatre Launches Membership Scheme, Café and 2023 Panto

Chelmsford Theatre has announced a brand new membership scheme, the opening of its first ever café, and the release of tickets for its 2023 pantomime production. The announcement follows the transformation of the theatre’s front-of-house spaces during a six month refurbishment programme.

New Membership Scheme Rewards Theatre Goers

The launch of the theatre’s very first membership scheme will allow all theatre goers to access some brilliant benefits while supporting the arts at their local theatre. Whether you visit Chelmsford Theatre twice a week or twice a year, the rewards on offer will give you better access to a world of entertainment. There are two tiers to the membership scheme. At £35 and £55 annually.

Chelmsford Theatre

Members can be among the very first to snap up tickets with priority booking for selected shows. They’ll also get access to special member offers, free ticket postage, waived transaction fees and will receive exclusive membership newsletters.

For the most dedicated supporters, £55 a year grants Chelmsford premium members all the above benefits, as well as a 20% discount in the theatre café, a 10% discount in theatre bars, and flexible ticket exchanges.

How to Join the Membership Scheme Memberships help theatres to achieve more. They help support our productions, community events, and education workshops; allowing more people than ever before to access and enjoy the arts. To purchase your membership, visit Chelmsford Theatre’s website, call the box office on 01245 606 505, or visit the box office in person.

Our Chelmsford Plus and our Chelmsford Premium membership holders can also benefit from £5 off Chelmsford Theatre membership. To find out how to access this discount, visit the theatre website.

First Ever Café to Become ‘Cultural Living Room’

The theatre’s new café is now welcoming customers daily from 10am-3pm from Monday to Saturday. The opening marks a milestone in Chelmsford Theatre’s vision to become a ‘cultural living room’ for the city. The intimate and cosy café provides an additional space in the theatre for people to socialise while grabbing a drink and a bite to eat. A varied menu of savoury delights and sweet treats will be available to satisfy you from breakfast through to mid afternoon. Enjoy products locally sourced from Tiptree Patisserie and Brownbread Bakery, plus a range of vegetarian and vegan options. The café will also offer a wide range of hot drinks, perfect for the current cold months.

Throughout the summer, you can also soak up the sun while enjoying refreshing drinks and salads on the new outdoor terrace.

Councillor Marie Goldman, Chelmsford City Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Connected Chelmsford, says that with these latest announcements, Chelmsford Theatre continues to evolve into a cultural venue that meets the needs of the city: “With the café now open, Chelmsford Theatre has realised its ambition to become an all-day venue, ready to welcome people across the city and beyond for socialising, workshops, classes and shows. With the new membership scheme, our most frequent visitors will also receive more value for money while getting the chance to support the city’s cultural heart. I’m looking forward to seeing Chelmsford’s cultural groups, residents and workers utilising the theatre’s new spaces in the coming years.”

Annual Family Panto Now on Sale

The new membership scheme has arrived just in time for the online release of tickets for Chelmsford Theatre’s much-loved annual panto. The 2023 pantomime will be Jack and the Beanstalk. Previously due to be presented at the theatre in 2022, the show will now be performed on the main stage from 1st December 2023 to 7th January 2024. This traditional pantomime brings a classic adventure presenting singalong songs, glitzy costumes, hilarious jokes and uplifting dance routines.

Book your tickets now to see hapless Jack, his mother the dame and their beloved cow discover a handful of magic beans and a larger-than-life beanstalk inhabited by a ferocious giant!

Lee Henderson, Theatre Director, is looking forward to hosting the long-awaited production of Jack and the Beanstalk: “It’s been so great to welcome people back to our beautiful, refurbished theatre and to see some fantastic reactions to the makeover from our audiences. We’re thrilled to now be launching the return of our much-loved pantomime; the annual panto is such a big tradition at Chelmsford Theatre and the team have such fun hosting it and listening to families laugh, shout, and sing each year. We can’t wait to see another lively show this December.” www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk