The care and welfare of all clergy and their families is of paramount importance at all stages of ministry. We have dedicated provision for pastoral support with our Retired Clergy Officer (RCO) and eight Retired Clergy Chaplains (RCC), each based around named deaneries.
Retired Clergy Officer – The Revd Brian McHenry CBE
Following an extensive career in Government Legal Service, Brian was ordained in 2008, serving his title at St Paul’s, Deptford (Southwark), before serving as Vicar of All Saints’, Orpington (Rochester). Retiring in 2018, he took up PTO in Canterbury in the Benefice of St Dunstan, St Mildred and St Peter, and has served as Canterbury Deanery PTO representative since 2020. Brian takes a keen interest in swimming, walking, travel, and reading with a focus on history.
Please email RCO@diocant.org if you would like to speak to Brian or would like to arrange a chat with any of our Retired Clergy Chaplains.
Retired Clergy Chaplains
All of our RCCs currently hold PTO, and have a varied and extensive experience ministering in a variety of contexts. Our RCCs are based all across the Diocese, and represent the following Deaneries:
| Archdeaconry | RCC | Deaneries |
|---|---|---|
| Canterbury | The Revd Denise Critchell | East Bridge, Stour Valley, Reculver |
| The Revd Peter Richmond | Canterbury | |
| The Revd Ken Cox | Thanet | |
| Ashford | The Revd Sue Starkings | Ashford, Romney, Vineyard |
| The Revd Canon David Russell | Elham, Dover, Sandwich | |
| Maidstone | The Revd Sarah Williams | Ospringe, Sittingbourne |
| The Revd Stephen Hardy | Weald | |
| The Revd Colin Terry | Maidstone, North Downs |
Bishop Rose met the RCO and some of the RCCs in July 2025 to thank them for their ministry (pictured below).
