Synod Snippets Spring 2022
Synod Snippets is designed to help Synod members communicate what’s happening at Swindon Deanery Synod with their PCCs and wider congregations and provide points for discussion at and feedback from PCCs.
Please share all the information below widely in your parishes. Cutting and pasting the information into notice sheets and parish magazines as appropriate is encouraged!
If you want further information about anything below where there is not a contact listed, please email
Area Dean Sally Robertson Sally.robertson27@btinternet.com
Assistant Area Dean Phill Harrison Vicar@wroughton.com
Lay Chair David Cain TwelveTwentyFive@msn.com
Our most recent synod was on 10th May. Here are some thoughts for you to digest.
Renewal of St Mary’s Purton
We enjoyed the fruits of the project to renew St Mary’s Purton and David Nettleton shared with us the joys and challenges of the project. You can find his presentation here.
Transforming Church. Together
The main part of the meeting was led by Archdeacon Christopher helping us to think through how the Draft Diocesan strategy might impact us in Swindon. We particularly discussed what Mission Areas might look like in Swindon and the role or potential Growing Faith Chaplains, linking school, church and home contexts for faith growth. You can read the draft strategy here and it will be discussed further at Diocesan Synod on Saturday 11th June.
Feeding Swindon Partnership.
Mark Tidey (Food Partnership Officer for Swindon Borough Council and Associate Minister in West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze) introduced us to the Feeding Swindon Partnership. This Partnership is aimed at developing links, collaboration and support between organisations across the town. Churches have a huge amount to offer, indeed with a lot going on already. Mark is currently mapping provision across the town so would be keen to hear what is going on. Any group can join the Partnership, the only thing we would ask is that they make a pledge to say what they are going to do in order to address issues of (food) poverty in our town. Mark is happy to chat to people about this; it is not as complicated or daunting as it first seems.
He is also keen to hear from people about:
- challenges folk in their Parishes are facing at the moment and where support might be needed
- ideas or plans they have that look to support people in the challenges they are facing
- questions they have about current provision
- questions about how they can become involved in projects- either as individuals or churches
- ways they can offer their buildings or other resources they are blessed with Generally, he is very keen to have conversations!
He has put together a survey particularly aimed at faith groups which can be found at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/faithgroupsfood/
In terms of information and resources we have a 'Padlet' page which you can find at https://padlet.com/SBCFood/food I am continually updating it, so am keen to hear of anything I can add.
You can contact Mark directly at MTidey@swindon.gov.uk
Swindon Deanery Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Swindondeanery
Please like our facebook page and post items of interest to the deanery onto it. We are also looking for 7 administrators who can keep an eye on it one day a week, so if you feel this is something you could help with, please contact Sally or David.
Eco church
You can find the most recent Environment Briefing from the Diocese here.
Future Deanery Synod meetings:
Our next 2 meetings are (and anyone is welcome to attend).
Thursday 21st July – St Luke’s Church, Broad Street, Swindon
Focus on refugees and the work of the Harbour Project
Wednesday 19th October – St Francis Primary School, Taw Hill
Focus on Education