I am very lucky to live in a large (3000), attractive, lively village on the Surrey/West Sussex border, just over 40 miles from London. Visitors to my daughter's wedding in 2009 were heard to remark they didn't realise that Surrey had real countryside! We are fortunate enough to have a school, post office, doctor, pubs, a few shops and an hourly daytime bus service. One of the most beautiful buildings is our ancient village church; hidden behind, in a dip, is our grass-covered church room, completed last year to serve our community.
St Mary's is an inclusive, village church, with an open door, catering for a wide spectrum of churchmanship. When a female incumbent was appointed 8 years ago, I can only recall one person leaving the congregation. On Sundays there is always a family-friendly communion service and an 8 a.m. Common Prayer service. Yes we don't always agree about everything but the range of house groups cater for our different perspectives.

I was elected from Guildford Diocese to represent moderate ordinary Anglicans on General Synod, the sort of people you find in the pews of a village church. I expected to find other such people on GS. When I arrived in 2005, I was quite naively shocked at the widespread political separation into very definite groups, whose members in some cases appeared not even willing to talk to others of a different persuasion.

Initially I was reluctant to join any group, as I really did not know where I belonged – although I knew where I didn't belong! I found the first York GS quite lonely, as everyone seemed to gravitate to their interest groups. Eventually I found Open Synod. I do have affiliations to another group but OSG is where I am most at home. Like my village church, it has an open door policy, where everyone is listened to and all are welcome but particularly if you are an ordinary moderate, open-minded Anglican, you probably are or hope-fully will be very comfortable as a member.

Anne Martin, Guildford