General Synod Election Candidates 2026

General Synod Election Address

HILARY PENTYCROSS
St Barnabas, Gloucester – Gloucester City Deanery

Nominator: Phil Jaekel, Gloucester City Deanery
Seconder: Lorraine Best, Gloucester City Deanery

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have:
Email: [email protected]; Tel: 07766 955057

Who am I?

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I am 61-year-old Anglican and worship at St Barnabas Church, Gloucester where I
have been licensed as a Reader for ten years.

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I was born and brought up in Gloucestershire. After university study in music, I
moved to London to work in arts management where I was also a charity trustee for
an international oboe competition. I then undertook further study in music and
theology in New Zealand, alongside working part-time for an orchestra. I moved
back to Gloucestershire to study for my masters’ degree in practical theology and to
be nearer my family. It was here I met my husband, Ian and we have been married
for 15 years.

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In my downtime, I am an enthusiastic allotment gardener and enjoy holidays with my
husband and wider family in the Scottish highlands where my Dad’s family are from.

Why am I standing for General Synod?

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Having grown up in the Church of England and been active in ministry in my local
church for around twenty years, I am excited about serving on General Synod to help
enable the Church of England to continue to be a place where every person from any
context can encounter the saving message of Jesus and be nurtured in their love for
and understanding of him.

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I have experienced worshipping and studying within a breadth of Anglican traditions
which I feel has given me a good understanding of what it means for the Church of
England’s legislative body to serve the Gospel while being a “broad church”.

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My training in social work, my experience of prison visiting and my masters’ study in
spirituality and dementia have given me a particular interest in contributing at
General Synod to the area of growing and being church for the marginalised, the
disadvantaged and forgotten.

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I have participated in children’s ministry, led at Messy Church and Scripture Union
camps and have seen in my own and neighbouring churches how we can engage
children, families and young people with the message of Jesus in simpler, bolder
ways. If elected to General Synod, I will look to ensure the church prioritises and
supports reaching children, families and young people with the Gospel.

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I believe in being in a church where every person is welcomed, loved and enabled to
be safe. I uphold a traditional orthodox view on human sexuality, gender and
marriage and that Scripture shows all are loved by God and created in his image.

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During my five years living in New Zealand, I studied alongside those from other
denominations and also experienced something of being a Christian in Maori and
Polynesian contexts which broadened my faith experience and opened me up to
appreciating the diversity of people and ministry within God’s church. This is an
experience I can use to help enable our church to be welcoming of the diversity of
people in our communities and country.

What Experience do I bring?

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Professional experience in Arts Administration.

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Reader in the Church of England (ten years), including several years experience of
funeral ministry, pastoral care and preaching.

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In my local church, Lay Chair of PCC, Small Groups Lead, Member of Pastoral
Ministry Team, Small Group Leader, Prisons’ Ministry advocate. Childrens’ Ministry

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Member of Diocesan Synod. Member of Deanery Synod

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A wide experience of worship within different traditions of the Church of England;
and also in Anglican churches overseas including the Anglican Church in Aotearoa,
New Zealand and Polynesia

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A Theology Degree (Otago University, New Zealand) a Masters degree in Applied
Theology (Oxford University through Ripon College, Cuddesdon) and a postgraduate
Diploma in Social Work.

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Scripture Union Camp volunteer leader

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Experience as Church Army Pastoral Worker

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Experience as a charity trustee

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Many years experience of Church choral music including being a professional church
singer

I am offering to represent our Diocese at General Synod after some considerable prayer and
reflection. If elected, I am committed to being a prayerful and faithful member of Synod who
seeks we serve the Gospel across the breadth of our church.

Thank you for reading this, and please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.
I would be so grateful if you would consider giving me either your first or highest available
preference vote. With many thanks and every blessing in Christ. Hilary

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