General Synod Election Candidates 2026

The Venerable Eleanor Robertshaw
Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey

Proposed by:

The Reverend Jenny Camm,
Priest in Charge, St Hugh, Brumby
and Rural Dean of Manlake

Seconded by:

The Reverend Peter Pathikrit Das, Vicar of St
John the Evangelist, Grantham

Introduction
I arrived in Lincoln Diocese in January following sixteen years of ministry in the Diocese of Sheffield
and have reflected and prayed about whether I should stand for General Synod this time. After
several promptings from others, and considering my ten years of General Synod membership in
Sheffield (2015-2025), I have decided to put myself forward to represent the Diocese of Lincoln.
Why should you vote for me?
Over the last 10 years I have been an active and passionate member of General Synod. I belong to a
small group of people who love synod! I have spoken in many debates and have been particularly
drawn to ‘outward’ facing debates which focus on the difference the work of the church makes to all
in society. I have a thirst for social justice and was pleased to be called to speak on a debate valuing
the work of Food Banks which called for the Government to reflect on the level of social security
provision to avoid reliance on Food Banks. This motion had originated from a Diocesan Synod motion
in Sheffield. I have also spoken on finance issues, the fair sharing of Diocesan resources, education
and young people, Living in Love and Faith, and valuing those with Down Syndrome. I have also been
a strong advocate for the work on clergy wellbeing and remuneration.
In general, I have called on my own learnings in ministry and beyond to bring ‘real and lived’
experience to the floor of Synod. There have also been times when I have challenged synod and
those leading nationally when I have felt we are forgetting why the church exists, when we are not
reflecting to love of Jesus.
Going forward, I hope that I would continue to be an advocate for all those in ministry, both lay and
ordained. I am blessed that my Archdeaconry is one that covers a hugely diverse area and hope that I
would be able to represent the voice of the rural, urban, market town and coastal context. I would
also be keen to contribute to debates around the review of the Mission and Pastoral Measure, which
will focus on how we reorganise benefices for more manageable governance, and how we dispose of
churches that are sadly no longer needed. This is something that is especially pertinent to Lincoln
Diocese.

Although I am not standing for any ‘constituency’, I will continue to be an ally for my LGBTQIA+
brothers and sisters in whatever follows the Living in Love and Faith process.
My background
I am a native of South Yorkshire and was educated at the University of Wales Bangor and the
University of Leeds. Prior to Ordination I taught for ten years in a Rotherham Secondary School. I
trained on The Yorkshire Ministry Course, was ordained in 2010 and served my title in Stainforth, a
former mining town with high deprivation in the Northeast of Doncaster. During that time, I also
completed a substantial placement in the adjoining rural group of parishes which ignited my passion
for rural ministry. From 2013- 2026 I was Team Rector of Great Snaith, a group of five semi-rural
churches half an hour north of Doncaster.
My ministry was very much motivated by the ‘cure of souls’ and the churches representing a beacon
of light for all in our communities. This was very much the case when the Parish of Great Snaith
suffered severe flooding in 2020 a few weeks before lockdown. During that time, I and several others
in the community established a Covid support group and the Priory Church became the central hub
for everyone who needed it.
While in Sheffield Diocese, I also served at various times on the Bishop’s Council, The Board of
Education, The Board of Faith and Justice, The Mutual Flourishing Group and the Clergy Well Being
Group. Beyond the Diocese I served on the Doncaster Fairness and Wellbeing Commission.
During my time on Synod, I have been a member of the Advisory Group for Term of service And
Wellbeing of Minsters (AGTAWM), a member of the Steering Committee for the Safeguarding (Code
of Practice) Measure, part of the Diocesan Stipend funds revision committee, a member nominated
trustee of the Church of England Pension Board (since 2021) and a Trustee of the Open Synod Group,
which arranges social events to encourage friendship and understanding across the range of views on
General Synod.
Following my sabbatical last year, I felt that God was nudging me to take on a new role. After a few
months of discernment, I was offered the role of Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey. While the start to
this role has been in challenging circumstances, I have absolutely relished the opportunity to be here
in Lincoln Diocese. It has been a joy to get to know you and the contexts in which you serve, and to
be part of a new senior leadership team led with such wisdom by Bishop Nicholas. With my role goes
membership of various committee, where I take my role as ‘interpreter’ between the parishes and
senior staff very seriously.
Although I still have a lot to learn about the Diocese of Lincoln, I am hoping that my pastoral and
approachable nature will mean that I become a trusted colleague, someone you are happy to turn to
with regard to aspects of ministry, but also someone who can raise your issues at synod with care,
compassion and attention to detail. As many of you know already, I take my role in the Diocese
seriously but can also be identified by my sense of humour and willingness to laugh.

I hope that you will consider giving me your first preference vote. Please do contact me if I can
answer any further questions.

clergy wellbeing,discernment,finance,justice,lgbtqia,living in love and faith,mission,ordination,pension,sabbatical,safeguarding,social justice,stipend,young people