General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Victoria Townsend

General Synod candidate in the Diocese of Chichester
Telephone number: 07800 855187
Proposer: Mary Nagel, Chichester Deanery
Seconder: Yvonne Salmon, Eastbourne Deanery

Aged 47; married; Teaching Assistant at Christ Church Primary and Nursery
Academy and Sunday School leader in Parish Church and Parish Children
and Families Work Co-ordinator March 2020 to present; Teaching Assistant
at Plaistow and Kirdford Primary School 2002 to 2012, Staff Governor 2010
to 2012; Teaching Assistant at West Wittering Parochial Church of England
School 2012 to 2020, Co-opted Governor of Palatine Primary School 2022 -
2024 , Mothers’ Union member and Safeguarding Officer at St Andrews,
Seaside, Eastbourne, July 2026

Dear Elector,

I am a lifelong Christian (my late father was a Reader) and I have grown
through the usual childhood roles from chorister and Sunday School
member to Sunday School leader.

For the past year and a half, I have been a Teaching Assistant at Christ
Church Primary and Nursery Academy, working with children in Year 4 and
doing lunchtime duty. In my role I have been involved in Religious
Education (RE) and preparing the Children’s Pilgrimage to Walsingham.

In my previous job as a Children’s and Families Worker at St Andrews
Church, Tarring in Worthing, I was tasked with building relationships in the
community with schools, families and our own church community. In the
school holidays I ran Craft and Play sessions. In term time I helped at the
church’s Baby and Toddlers Group each Wednesday, and I ran a pre-school
session in church on Thursdays with a different story and craft each week
(and of course time to play!)

I am now involved with the children’s work at St Andrews, Seaside,
Eastbourne, working with the priest to build relationships with the local
families and the local community. I run the Junior Church once a month. I
also prepare crafts and activities for different events for the children. We
have very good links with the two local church schools which we continue
to develop. I am also on the serving team and currently encouraging the
children to serve at church.

For the last 14 years I have been a leader of the Diocesan group for the
Children’s Pilgrimage to Walsingham, and more recently also a leader for
the Youth Pilgrimage to Walsingham. Our numbers increase each year as
children grow in faith and confidence.

We need to invest in our Church schools, ensuring that children and young
people can explore and develop in faith. I have learnt a lot about this during
my time as a Governor at a Special school for children with disabilities.

In relation to the current debate, which is ongoing within General Synod, I
believe in the Church’s traditional doctrine concerning marriage. I am
committed to uphold this and other catholic sacramental principles.

I am the Safeguarding Officer for my church, and I know that Safeguarding
must be a priority for any community, especially the Church. I believe that
my experience of, and my concern for, the wellbeing of our children and
young people make me a very well-placed candidate to represent our
Diocese on General Synod.

I would do my utmost for the flourishing of the whole Diocese.

Please consider giving me your first preference vote or alternatively another
high preference vote. With my prayers & my good wishes to you all, Victoria

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