13 April 2026
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, has announced that the next Area Dean of Brentwood will be the Revd Dawn Butcher.
Dawn is Vicar of Christ Church, Warley and St. Mary the Virgin, Great Warley, where she has served since 2024.
Commenting on Dawn’s appointment, Bishop Guli said:
“I am very grateful to Dawn for agreeing to take on the role of Area Dean of Brentwood. She brings many gifts to this ministry, and I am confident she will be warmly supported by colleagues as she takes up these new responsibilities. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to Dawn’s predecessor, the Revd Andy Smith, who served the Brentwood Deanery for nearly six years.”
The Brentwood Deanery is in the Bradwell Episcopal Area and the Bishop of Bradwell the Rt Revd Adam Atkinson said:
"I am delighted that Dawn Butcher will be serving as the new Area Dean of Brentwood. Area Deans play a key role in the life of our diocese, offering vital support to our parishes and helping to strengthen our shared ministry. Dawn’s appointment will be a real blessing to the parishes and worshipping communities across the deanery. I am grateful that she is taking on this wider ministry alongside her parish responsibilities, and I look forward to working closely with her as part of the Bradwell Area Leadership Team. I also want to thank the Revd Andy Smith for his dedicated service and kind pastoral ministry as the previous Area Dean. He has been and will continue to be a much valued colleague.”
Commenting on her appointment, the Revd Dawn Butcher added:
“It is a privilege to be appointed by Bishop Guli as the next Area Dean for Brentwood. The deanery includes a wonderful, diverse mix of traditions, and wonderful, diverse and faithful Christians seeking to live their faith and serve their communities well. I would welcome your prayers as I seek to support the deanery and continue serving the parishes of Warley and Great Warley, to the best of my abilities and with the help of God.”
Dawn will be licensed as Area Dean of Brentwood in May.
