The Southern Synod of the United Reformed Church
Southern Synod is one of the 13 Synods of the United Reformed Church; 11 for England, 1 for Scotland, and 1 for Wales. In fact, Southern is Synod 11 and the largest.
The Synod serves 160 churches situated in the far south-eastern corner of England with a large coastal boundary that stretches from the Thames estuary in the north, bearing east through the Medway Towns and then alongside the Straits of Dover finally curving around the edge of the English Channel westwards through Hastings and Eastbourne as far as Bognor Regis and Chichester
SYNOD OFFICE
The Synod Office is at East Croydon United Reformed Church. It remains the focus of the Synod’s central functions and the base for the Moderator, the Synod’s administrative, finance and property staff and the core Committees and Trust. Local churches may wish to make initial contacts with their Area Officers, but they are also encouraged, whenever necessary, to contact the Office. The offices are within 3 minutes of East Croydon Station.
Southern Synod functions in four (4) areas called Synod Areas and two (2) United Areas to which some authority and powers have been devolved. It must be stressed that there is still one Southern Synod, but meeting and functioning in areas and coordinated by its central committees.
The Synod still has one Moderator, whilst the Areas have Area Leaders.
For more information on the Southern Synod please see www.southernsynodurc.org.uk
SYNOD AND TRUST OFFICERS AND STAFF
Synod Officers
Moderator Revd Bridget Banks
Synod Clerk Revd Russell Furley-Smith
PA to Moderator and Synod Clerk Lauren Kane
Synod Treasurer John Denison
Synod Council Convenor Revd Kim Plumpton
Finance Officer Catherine Kingdom
Property Officer Colin McCracken
Children and Youth Development Tom Hackett
Mission Development Martin Hayward
Training and Development Andy Twilley
Ecumenical Development Revd Dr Paul Dean
Administrative Support for:
Children’s and Youth Development Officer Synod Office Administrator
Mission Officer Synod Office Administrator
Development Officer for Education & Learning Synod Office Administrator
The Synod staff work with appropriate Synod Committees, servicing them as necessary. They also work closely with the relevant finance and property people in the Synod and United Areas (S/UA) and develop their relationships with Area Meetings and local churches. They offer support to S/UAs and local churches as necessary and appropriate – and local churches should feel able to turn to them for help.
Synod Office
East Croydon URC
Addiscombe Grove
Croydon
CR0 5LP
T: 020 8688 3730
E: office@urcsouthern.org.uk