Nicholas Henshall

Early life and education Henshall was born on 6 April 1962 in Mossley, England. He is the son of Michael Henshall, long-serving Bishop of Warrington. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree; as per tradition 1984, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree in 1988. From 1985 to 1988, he studied theology and trained for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon.

Ordained ministry Henshall was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1988 and as a priest in 1989. After a curacy at, St Mary, Blyth he was Vicar of St Margaret, Scotswood from 1992 to 2002; both parishes are in the Diocese of Newcastle.

In November 2013, Henshall was announced as the next Dean of Chelmsford, head (primus inter pares – first among equals) of the chapter of Chelmsford Cathedral in the Diocese of Chelmsford. He was installed as dean at Chelmsford Cathedral during a service on 2 February 2014. In November 2022, he announced his intention to step down as dean the following year.

Henshall resigned the Deanery in February 2023 to return to parish ministry.

Personal life In 1991, Henshall married Christine. Together they have three children: two daughters and one son.

Publications

Chapter on marriage and priesthood in Priests in a People’s Church ed George Guiver (SPCK 2001) 2008 – 2018: a series of 35 articles on pastoral and practical theology in The Tablet Focusses of Prophecy? Chapter in the book Holy Ground, ed Stephen Platten (2017 Sacristy Press) Contributing editor of the second edition of “Dear Nicholas” by Michael Henshall (2019 Sacristy Press)