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| The Ministers of the Colchester Methodist Circuit are all full time in that role. Prior to becoming a fully ordained minister several years will normally have been served as a
'Local Preacher',
followed by time spent at theological college and a further two years serving as a probationary Minister in a Circuit. In accordance with normal Methodist practice a Minister is initially appointed for a five year period to serve the circuit. Towards the end of the fourth year consideration is given by both the Minister themselves and the members of the Churches in the circuit as to whether the appointment should be extended, and by how long. One of the Ministers in the Circuit is appointed to be the Superintendent Minister, who has responsibility for the management of the circuit and the pastoral care of the other ministers in the circuit. The Superintendent Minister is responsible to, and cared for by, a Chair of District. Colchester Methodist Circuit is part of the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District of the Methodist Church of Great Britain. The Chair of the District is Anne Brown
Anne is based in Bishops Stortford and has responsibility for 18 circuits incorporating 67 full time Methodist Ministers, several Deacons, several retired, or supernumary, Ministers and a range of other ordained personnel either fulfilling specialist roles or belonging to other demoninations but serving as part of the Methodist Church in the District.
The Colchester Circuit is served by four Ministers and a Deacon. Each of the Ministers has responsibility for a sector of the Circuit.
John Allison B.Sc. is the Superintendent Minister, he was appointed to the Colchester Circuit in September 2005. Apart from being the Superintendent Minister he has pastoral responsibility for the Churches at Wimpole Road, Mersea and Mile End and Boxted. Andrew Bell lives and works in Brightlingsea, he also has responsibility for the Churches at Fingringhoe, at Elmstead Market (known and Trinity Methodist Church) and Wivenhoe. He was appointed to Colchester circuit in 1999. Catherine Bowstead came to Colchester from Southend and Leigh Circuit in 2004, and has been in ministry for several years. She is responsible for Castle Methodist Church in Colchester town centre, the church with the biggest congregation in the circuit, and Highwoods Methodist Church, the newest of the circuits churches. Ruth Ridge is one of two probationer ministers in the Colchester circuit. She has just finished three years of training at Wesley House, Cambridge and lives at present in Halstead with her husband who is an Anglican curate. Ruth has pastoral responsibility for churches at Boxted, Eight Ash Green, Lexden, Marks Tey and West Bergholt.
Ruth can be contacted on 210141 or 01787 273623.
Whilst not having a pastoral responsibility for specific churches in the circuit, Tania will be filling preaching appointments and carrying out other roles in the circuit as requested by the Superintendent Minister.
Tania can be contacted on 01206 384355. Deacon Jane Mason serves the circuit by carrying out a role as an evangelist and as a developer of community links with the new population arriving in Colchester. Having spent a two year period working in the Mile End section of the town she has now been appoointed to an ecumenical post on the former Colchester garrison development where the Abbeyfields Community Project in association with other Churches is trying to create a community atmosphere amongst the extensive number of new homes being built in that area of town.
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