Meet our new General Synod representatives

The Diocese of Oxford has elected its representatives to the Church of England’s General Synod for the next five years.

As a diocese, we give our congratulations to all those elected, who will represent the clergy and laity of our diocese at a national level. We also extend our thanks to everyone who stood for election, took part in the voting process and helped organise the elections.

General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England, bringing together bishops, clergy and lay representatives from dioceses across the country. It plays a vital role in shaping the life and work of the Church, debating important issues, considering legislation and helping to set the Church’s direction and priorities.

Our newly elected representatives will contribute to these discussions, bringing the experiences and perspectives of churches and communities across the Diocese of Oxford. They will also help keep the diocese informed about the decisions and developments taking place at a national level.

We are also delighted that the Rt Revd Gavin Collins, Acting Bishop of Oxford and Bishop of Dorchester, has been elected as one of five Southern Suffragan Bishops to serve in the House of Bishops of General Synod. Bishop Gavin will join our newly elected clergy and lay representatives in contributing to the discussions and decisions that shape the life and mission of the Church of England.

The new General Synod will meet for the first time in London in November 2026.

We encourage churches and individuals across the diocese to pray for our representatives as they prepare to take up their roles. Please pray for wisdom, discernment and unity as they work alongside others to serve the Church and its mission in the years ahead.

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Meet our new General Synod representatives

We are pleased to introduce the clergy and lay representatives elected to serve the Diocese of Oxford. You can read their election addresses on our dedicated General Synod page. A full results breakdown will be available shortly.

House of Clergy

Revd Dr Andrew Atherstone

Andrew has served as Assistant Minister in Eynsham and Cassington for 21 years. He is also a Tutorial Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, where he trains future clergy and teaches Christian history and Anglican studies. He serves on the Church of England’s Faith and Order Commission and Liturgical Commission, and has extensive experience of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Revd Matt Beer

Matt is vicar of Cogges and South Leigh and Assistant Area Dean for Witney, supporting churches across the deanery. Previously, he served in Milton Keynes and Telford. He has extensive experience in mission and evangelism, school governance and working with children and young people, and serves on the Crown Nominations Commission for the next Bishop of Oxford.

Revd Canon Mark Bennet

Mark has been Team Rector of Thatcham for 15 years and has served on Diocesan Synod and the Diocesan Board of Education. A member of General Synod for the past five years, he has contributed to work on Church governance, parish structures and ordination processes, bringing his experience of parish ministry to national discussions.

Revd Canon Sue Booys

Sue is a retired parish priest and former Team Rector of Dorchester Abbey. Ordained in 1995, she has served in numerous diocesan and national roles, including Chair of the General Synod Business Committee. She leads the diocese’s link with Kimberley and Kuruman in South Africa and is Vice Chair of the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust.

Revd Chris Dingwall-Jones

Chris is Team Vicar in the Benefice of Witney and previously served as Chaplain of Jesus College, Oxford, and in parish ministry in Lancashire. He is an LGBTQIA+ Chaplain in the diocese and contributes to courses on the diocesan Learning Hub. His experience also includes community development, teaching and school governance.

Revd Canon Dr William Lamb

William has been Vicar of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin in Oxford since 2017. Ordained in 1995, he has served in parish ministry, university chaplaincy, cathedral ministry and theological education. He is a former Vice-Principal of Westcott House, Cambridge, and has supported theological education across the Anglican Communion.

Revd Jeremy Moodey

Jeremy is a self-supporting Associate Minister at St Mary’s, Chesham, and has served on General Synod since 2021. He is Chair of Church Mission Society and a former Chief Executive of Clergy Support Trust. His wider experience includes charity leadership, theological education and national Church committees focused on clergy wellbeing.

Revd Dr Stephen O’Connor

Stephen is Rector of the Winslow Benefice in Buckinghamshire. Ordained in 2019, he previously spent 30 years working in nursing, healthcare education and research, specialising in cancer and palliative care. He has also undertaken international healthcare teaching and mission work and served as a voluntary chaplain at General Synod.

Revd Canon Vaughan Roberts

Vaughan has served at St Ebbe’s Church in Oxford for 35 years, including 28 years as Rector. He is an Honorary Canon of Christ Church Cathedral and served on General Synod from 2021 to 2026. His ministry has included work with young people and students, alongside a longstanding focus on mission, evangelism and parish ministry.

Ven David Tyler

David is Archdeacon of Dorchester and has served in the Diocese of Oxford for nearly 20 years. His ministry combines parish experience with diocesan leadership, supporting clergy, laypeople and churches across a wide range of communities and traditions. He has a particular interest in strengthening parish ministry and supporting clergy wellbeing and development.

House of Laity

Peter Barrett

Peter has been a member of All Saints, Wokingham, since 1996, serving on its PCC, deanery and diocesan synods, and Bishop’s Council. He is an authorised preacher and leads Bible study groups. He also chairs Wokingham’s Christian Aid group and has served on General Synod since 2021. His professional background is in technology, sales and marketing.

Dr Andrew Bell

Andrew has worshipped at St James, Gerrards Cross, for 30 years, including ten years as Churchwarden. He is involved in children’s ministry, global mission and leading a weekly Bible study group. A retired pharmaceutical research professional, he has served on General Synod since 2015, contributing to debates, committees and wider Church decision-making.

Dr Gracy Crane

Gracy worships at Holy Trinity, Henley, and has served on General Synod since 2021. She has contributed to the Church’s work on racial justice through the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns and regularly reports back to diocesan and deanery synods. Originally from India, she works as a scientist in international health policy.

Prudence Dailey MBE

Prudence worships at St Michael at the North Gate in Oxford, where she previously served as Churchwarden. A former Lay Chair of Oxford Deanery, she has been a member of General Synod since 2000 and currently serves on the Crown Nominations Commission. She previously chaired the Prayer Book Society and was awarded an MBE in 2022.

Canon Julie Dziegiel

Julie lives in Chesham and has served on General Synod since 2010. A qualified accountant, she is Treasurer of Amersham Deanery and has held senior financial and governance roles across the diocese and national Church, including Vice-Chair of the Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance. She is also an Honorary Lay Canon of Christ Church Cathedral and a trustee of the Parish Giving Scheme.

Professor Helen King

Helen is an authorised lay preacher in Wallingford, where she has lived for more than 20 years. A retired academic, she has served on General Synod since 2021 and previously served as a younger member. She contributes to national work on ministry development and theological education, and has supported the diocesan Learning Hub. Her community involvement includes Street Pastors and care home ministry.

Helen Lamb

Helen lives in Headington, Oxford, where she and her husband lead a home group. She has served on General Synod since 2024 and is a diocesan representative on the Crown Nominations Commission for the next Bishop of Oxford. She also serves on the council of a theological education institution and has more than 25 years’ professional experience in human resources and organisational development.

Helen Savage

Helen is PCC Secretary at her village church in Flaunden, Hertfordshire, having served on the PCC for 20 years, including five as Churchwarden. She is also a member of Amersham Deanery Synod and Oxford Diocesan Synod. A former solicitor, she has supported church building projects, fundraising, children’s ministry and the organisation of services during clergy vacancies.

Alexandra Scott

Alexandra is an active member of the church in Abingdon, serving in children’s ministry, worship and environmental initiatives. She has represented churches on PCCs, deanery and diocesan synods for more than a decade and served on the diocese’s Vacancy in See Committee. Professionally, she is a specialist nurse working in advanced cancer treatment.