Synod Snippets Winter 2023
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
Looking Back…….
Our last Deanery Synod was in October and we focussed on Education – particularly hearing from Liz Townend the Diocesan Director of Education and Jez Piper, the CEO of the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust. You will find their very interesting presentation here, which includes background information about the Diocesan Board of Education, Christian Distinctiveness in our schools and future plans for DBAT.
There are plenty of ways in which schools and churches can support one another, but have you ever considered supporting your local schools (church or otherwise) in any of the following ways:
- Relationship and deep interest
e.g. cake, regular presence, chaplaincy, listening, fundraising, knowing community, class support
- Supporting spiritual leadership
- Writing Vision ‘theologically literate’
- Church as an inviting warm space
- Signposting
- SIAMS, Collective Worship
- Spiritual Development, RE
- Governance, (Admissions)
- Leadership support e.g. resilience
- Pastoral & prayer support to HT, Chair of Governors/ trustees from community and congregation / PCC
- Church partnership and award – church and school teams
- Applying for Grants, Awards, Courageous Advocacy Projects, Environmental support
- Website, Newsletter, Networks, conferences
- Join the Education department for Training - zooms/face to face, 1:1s…
Take a look at the presentation from the meeting for more information
Looking forward………
Our next Synod meeting is on Thursday 9th February at St John’s Haydon Wick and we will be joined by Archdeacon Christopher to focus on the next steps for Transforming Church. Together
You can find the strategy and leaflets highlighting the way forward here, and each incumbent has paper copies too, so do ask if you prefer a paper version.
Everyone is welcome to come to synod to discuss the way forward for Swindon Deanery, and each PCC is also being asked to consider the following questions:
- How does TC. T fit with your local priorities?
- Which parts of TC. T are particularly important within your local context?
- What questions you have/further information would you like?
Please consider how your benefice and our Deanery can flourish by working together more closely.