I am Rector of Dorchester Abbey and the Dorchester Team in the Oxford Diocese. I’ve been a priest in the Oxford Diocese for sixteen years, in this post for the last six and a member of General Synod since 2006. My ministry in the Abbey and the Dorchester team is varied and challenging. Dorchester Abbey is a large Church, widely regarded as a pro-Cathedral for Oxford Diocese and home of many diocesan, civic and cultural events. It is also a fairly small parish (about 1,000 souls) who have done a fabulous job of caring for their building and using it as a centre for mission for centuries. The Dorchester Team comprises 12 parishes and, as well as holding the oversight of these (with colleagues), I am Area Dean of Aston and Cuddesdon Deanery.
This means that playing hard is important, and when I get the chance I love walking the dog or escaping on to the River Thames where we have a small ‘classic’ cruiser. I also enjoy the occasional opportunity to tread the boards with the local amateur dramatics group or in Abbey productions.
On Synod I served as a member of the Business Committee during the last quinquennium and I have been re-elected for the next five years. I am also chairing the elections review group. I’ve been a member of OSG since coming to Synod – I appreciated the welcome offered, the broad membership and the openness of the choice of speakers. I remember that my first OSG meeting was an early presentation about Women in the Episcopate with a speaker from each of the (then) two main points of view. As Vice Chair in the coming quinquennium I will be endeavouring to maintain these three strands that I have appreciated: a welcome, the broadest possible membership and attendance, and good speakers on current issues rep-resenting all points of view.