General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Candidate for General Synod - Rev. Fr. Benjamin Guy Drury

Benjamin grew up in Richmond, Yorkshire, he was baptised in St Cuthbert's Chester le
Street and confirmed at St Mary’s Richmond. He spent most summers in Greece in his
Godparent's village. His father was a Churchwarden and Treasurer at St Agatha's Easby.
At Worcester College, Oxford he read Ancient and Modern History, and Byzantine
Studies; he was college sacristan and on chapel committee for 5 years then continued
exploring his vocation as Pastoral Assistant of St Michael’s and St Paul’s, Brighton.
Ben was 2 years Pilgrimage Course Assistant at St George's College, Jerusalem before
returning to Oxford to read Theology at St Stephen’s House. His Curacy was in Oxford
Diocese, first in Stony Stratford then in New Hinksey near Oxford city Centre. From
2019 Ben was Priest in Charge of St Luke's Prittlewell and in addition from 2022 also
of St Mary's Benfleet.

He moved to be Chaplain in Athens and Apokrisiarios (Church of England
representative to the Greek Orthodox Church) in 2024. He serves as Chairman of the
Board of the Anglican Church in Greece. He engages with asylum seekers and local
charities such as Green Light and Saffron project that work with the vulnerable in
Athens. He has hosted potential and current ordination candidates for placements from
the UK, USA, Ireland and Istanbul as well as nurturing vocations in his parishes and
chaplaincy.

Benjamin has a passion for ecumenical work based on the call to full visible unity, with
the promotion of good relationships between Anglican and Eastern Orthodox
Christians. This has been pursued through being pilgrimage secretary of the Anglican
and Eastern Churches Association and organising their annual pilgrimages. (eg South
India, The Ecumenical Council location in Turkey to commemorate Nicea, and next
year Egypt). In Athens he meets regularly with the orthodox Archbishop of Athens and
fellowship with RC, Orthodox, Armenian and Swedish Lutheran Christians in Athens
and beyond.

Benjamin is a brother of the Society of the Holy Cross a devotional Society for priests.
He is a priest associate of the Shrine of our lady of Walsingham.

If elected Benjamin would be committed to:

 Fostering lay and ordained Vocations, and to nurturing those in discernment.

 The continuance and extension of residential formation for ordination
candidates.

 The celebration and financial support of parishes and chaplaincies; in particular
keeping stipendiary posts in poorer churches.

 Orthodox teaching grounded in scripture and tradition on marriage, and
sacramental theology.

 Lively engagement with synodical structure of the church of England with past
experience as a member of Diocesan Synod in Chelmsford diocese and regular
attendance at the Archdeaconry Synod of the Diocese in Europe.

 Mutual flourishing in the Church of England and the highest possible degree of
communion as enabled by the Provincial Episcopal Visitors.

To be in touch please email [email protected] or whatsapp 0044
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