crown nominations
I have deep experience of church governance, having served on PCC, Deanery Synod, Diocesan Synod, Bishop’s Council, a Crown Nominations Commission and General Synod.
I raised up ordinands, trained curates, planted a new congregation, led two major building projects and served as Area Dean and on diocesan bodies including Bishop’s Council and the Crown Nominations Committee.
I was first elected to represent Bath and Wells on General Synod in 2013 and in 2017 had the privilege of being elected by General Synod to the Crown Nominations Commission, which has the responsibility for discerning those whom God is calling to be diocesan bishops.
My experience on Synod, including past service on the Archbishops’ Council Finance Committee and on occasion the Crown Nominations Commission, has given me insight into the workings, demands and challenges of the national church and there are some key issues to be faced during this coming Synod.
I serve on the Bishop’s Council, am Acting Area Dean, chaired the Drafting Group for the Vacancy in See Committee where we worked well together across different traditions, and I was elected to the Crown Nominations Commission who nominated Bishop Andrew.
I also served as a substitute central member for two Crown Nominations Commissions.
Tribunal under Incumbents (Vacation of Benefices) Measure; Diocesan Property Committee; elected Diocesan member of Crown Nominations Commission for Bradford and Leeds.
In 2025 I was elected as a Diocesan Member of the Crown Nominations Commission which nominated Bishop Hugh.
Crown Nominations Commission: I spoke about making some of the standing orders more flexible so that parish priests have greater freedom to contribute to the work of the CNC.
In 2022 I was elected by Synod as a Central Member of the Crown Nominations Commission.
• In 2025/6 I was a member of Crown Nominations Committee which elected our
After two terms on General Synod and having served on the most recent Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) for this diocese, I have gained a broad perspective on the life of the Church nationally and locally.
Member, Crown Nominations Commission (current Bishop of Exeter)
I have asked formal questions (the way at Syn od to hold those in authority to account) on a wide range of issues (evangelism, transparency, clergy wellbeing, pensions, clergy retirement housing and the Crown Nominations Commis sion as well as others).
I’m now looking forward to playing my part in the next phase, as one of the three elected diocesan lay representatives on the Crown Nominations Commission.
I have also served and worked with the wider diocese through co- option to the Vacancy in See Committee; election to the Crown Nominations Commission for our diocesan bishop; membership of the Bishop's Advisory
In 2025 I was one of the six elected representatives of the diocese on the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) which nominated Bishop Joanne Grenfell to be our next diocesan bishop.
e Served on the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) in 2025 which led to the appointment of our new
I served on the Crown Nominations Commission which nominated Bishop Rick, and what I learn nationally informs my contribution to Diocesan Synod and Finance Group, while parish and diocesan realities shape the questions I take to General Synod.
statement of needs for the new Bishop of St Albans o Crown Nominations Commission - the committee responsible for shortlisting and interviewing candidates for the position of Bishop of St Albans I am an active member of all these committees, asking questions and contributing to the discussions.
I am currently a central member of the Crown Nominations Commission (which nominates Diocesan bishops)—a position to which I was elected from the General Synod.
She has been a superb member of Team Leeds and a joy to serve alongside, and I wholeheartedly commend her for re- election.” Hugh Lorimer –Leeds CNC Rep and Member of Diocesan Synod. “Having recently worked alongside Rachel on the Crown Nominations Commission, I greatly valued her support throughout the process of selecting a new Bishop of Leeds.
I have also served on several Crown Nominations Commissions, including:
Steering Committees, and Crown Nominations
As one of the Durham six serving on the Crown Nominations Commission to appoint our new Bishop I have had experience of reading lots of paperwork in a short time and working respectfully with those whose views may be different to mine.
It has also been a great honour to serve as a central member of the Crown Nominations Commission for the See of Bristol and for the See of Leeds.
• been elected to a 5-year term as a central member of the Crown Nominations Commission (which I will
As a member of General Synod during the last quinquennium, I am a member of the Vacancy in See Committee, and I have recently been elected as a diocesan member of the Crown Nominations Commission which will appoint our next diocesan bishop.
Chair, Crown Nominations Commission
I have also served as a Chair of the General Synod (for 8 years) and as a central member of the Crown Nominations Commission (for 10 years).
It was also my great privilege to deputise as a central member of the Crown Nominations Commission, working to discern and nominate the next Bishop of St Albans, giving another layer of insight into the workings of the church
Wider church involvement I have been a member of General Synod representing Oxford Diocese from 2024-26 following a by-election and I am currently serving as one of the 6 Diocesan representatives on the Crown Nominations Commission, seeking to discern who God is calling as the next Bishop of Oxford later in 2026.
The Committee elected me to represent the diocese on the Crown Nominations Commission, which will find our next bishop.
SUPPORTING MINISTRY: Ministry Development Board & Crown Nominations Commission I have been a theological educator, particularly in ministerial formation, including mission and spirituality.
Within General Synod I was also elected to be a central member of the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) which nominates diocesan bishops to the Crown.
Member of Ministry Development Board & Crown Nominations Commission
As a current member of General Synod, I am deeply privileged to have been appointed to the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) interview panel that will select the next Bishop of London.
I was appointed to serve on the governing body of one of the theological colleges (Cranmer Hall, Durham) in 2012 & have also served (2012-2022) as one of General Synod’s elected three lay representatives on the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC), the national church body which selects candidates to be diocesan bishops, for nomination to the Sovereign.
During this term, I have served on a Crown Nominations Commission for the appointment of a diocesan bishop.
I was a General Synod member on the Crown Nominations Commission to appoint the Bishop of Leeds in 2026.
• Elected by Synod to the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) as a central, voting member,
Member of Crown Nominations Commission for the appointment of +David and the Advisory Committee for the appointment of +James.
I was on the Crown Nominations Commission in 2017 which led to the appointment of Bishop Sarah.
I was also a member of the Vacancy in See Committee and will be part of the Crown Nominations Commission that will elect the next Bishop of Southwark.
Since being elected, I have spoken twice in Synod debates on changes to the Crown Nominations Commission, drawing on my experience as member of the committee which considered how the church nominates bishops: in my speeches I highlighted themes of confidentiality, discernment and trust.
I served on the Crown Nominations Commission for Chelmsford Diocese 2020/21
A key contribution I have made during this last quinquennium has been to serve as a Central Member of the Crown Nominations Commission, alongside my ‘pair’ The Revd Canon Claire Lording.
• Crown Nominations Commission rules and regulations, seeking to ensure the process by which
• served on the Crown Nominations Committee that interviewed and nominated Bishop Philip
I was on the Clergy Conduct Measure Revision Committee and have also been a member of a committee of Archbishop’s Council - the Advisory Group for the Terms and Wellbeing of Ministers, which works to ensure that our clergy are well cared for and can thrive in parish ministry. ● I am also Vice Chair of our Vacancy in See Committee and have been elected to the Crown Nominations Commission to help us find the 100th Bishop of Lichfield in the coming months. ● My experience of being a trustee of CPAS and Church Society helps inform my governance work in the wider church, together with service as a governor at our church school for over ten years, and on CEEC and Lichfield Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship. ● I’m married to Neil, a vicar, and we have three young adult children, and a large lurcher.
I asked the bishops to be clear about what was and was not changing, and pressed for doctrinal, legal, and procedural clarity, because ambiguity in these matters is pastorally unkind. Crown Nominations Commission.
Member of the Bishop’s Advisory Group for the appointment of the current Area Bishop of Stafford Served the Diocese on the Crown Nominations Commission for the appointment of the retiring Bishop of Lichfield Former chairman of Governors to two Primary Schools Served on Bishop’s Council and of the Diocesan Finance and Asset Management Committee until appointed to Archbishop’s Council Past member of Stafford Area Mission and Pastoral Committee Past member of the Diocesan Advisory Committee
Recently a member Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) elected by members of Leeds Diocese and responsible for the selection of the next Bishop of Leeds.
I am currently serving on the Oxford Crown Nominations Commission to identify the next Bishop of Oxford.