General Synod Election Candidates 2026

GENERAL SYNOD ELECTION ADDRESS

Name:
Katrina Hancock
Church:
Christ Church, Abingdon
Parish:
North Abingdon
Deanery:
Abingdon

Hello

I am seeking your vote, in my application to serve on the General Synod. As someone who has experienced
and values the full breadth and range of worship offered by the Church of England, is committed to
investing in and discipling young people, and is passionate about being part of the global church, I believe
that this is the next natural step I can take to serve God and my brothers and sisters in Christ.

After my love of Jesus Christ, my two passions within the church are young people and global mission (with
a side helping of liturgy and choral music!). Young people are amazing and, while every generation has its
own challenges, I believe the challenges this generation face are unprecedented as they grow up in an
increasingly secular and individualist world where questions about identity and purpose are wrestled with
in the public arena, and where they live with a hope deficit with regards to social justice and environment
care. My focus since 2021 has been leading our 14-18s ministry at Christ Church, running a youth group for
16-20 young people every Friday where we study the Bible, ask big questions, discuss the things that matter
to them, worship, pray, and of course have fun and eat together! They ask the best questions – they’re
curious, they want answers, and they are not afraid to challenge themselves and each other – they
definitely have something to teach us about debate! In the last three years, at their request, we’ve explored
a range of topics, including sexuality and gender (using both the LLF and Kaleidoscope materials to spark
extraordinarily respectful and open discussions), the authority and reliability of the Bible, social justice,
women in leadership, evolution, social media, and more. In addition, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring a
number of them, leading them on a short term mission trip to Northern Ireland in 2025, supporting them at
summer festivals, and being a youth leader on a number of UK Christian summer camps.

I also value being part of the global church – from attending churches while on holiday or business trips to
the USA, HK, Singapore, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and a number of European countries – to taking part
in short term mission trips to Switzerland, Romania, China, and Ethiopia; from praying for and supporting
church mission partners to offering hospitality and friendship to those returning on home assignment. I’ve
also had the privilege of working professionally with Langham Partnership UKI and All Nations Christian
College. The thing that strikes me every time I travel or meet others from different countries or traditions, is
that God is already there and He is at work in his people around the world. Whether I’m serving or being
served, whether I’m being encouraged or challenged, whether I’m worshipping in English or Japanese or
Catalan or Amharic, there is something extraordinary about meeting God in these places and through these
people, and seeing the Gospel being shared in different languages, different cultures, and different
traditions. There is so much we can learn from each other and so much we can do to support and
encourage each other.

So those are my passions and these are two areas that I would love to be an advocate for on General Synod.
But let me tell you a little bit about myself to put these passions in context.

I have been a Christian all my life, making a public declaration of my own faith when I was confirmed as a
teenager. I grew up at St Mark’s Church Bilton, a traditional Anglican church in the Midlands, and was a
chorister until my early 20s firstly in my home church and then at Exeter College Oxford, singing up to three
services a week in Chapel and touring to a number of English cathedrals. I love the patterns, rhythms, and
beauty of traditional liturgy and choral music and the space and richness that they provide for personal and
corporate worship.

While in Oxford, I attended St Aldate’s and then St Ebbe’s churches learning what it means to put Jesus at
the centre of my life and how to read God’s word for myself and share it with others. After graduation, I
spent two years working as a Pastoral Assistant (youth and children) at St Michael’s Highgate in North
London where I was able to bring together my joy in traditional worship with that of teaching the Bible and
helping others to explore faith for themselves.

I have been a member of Christ Church, Abingdon since 2004 when my husband and I, newly married,
moved to Abingdon and made the commitment to be involved in our local church rather than returning to
the churches we had attended in Oxford as students (with a brief sojourn to Jersey between 2019-2021).
Since then, I have co-led a number of home groups, participated in and led short term mission trips, and –
as already mentioned – been involved in both children’s and youth work both in church and at summer
camps which both our children (daughter – 16 and son – 14) have been part of. Over the last ten years, I
have also had the privilege of being Chair of Governors at our local Church of England primary school.

Professionally, I have spent my career as a fundraiser in higher education and the hospice sector and, since
2017 have been a fundraising consultant working with a range of charity clients including World Vision,
Crisis, the National Trust, Wycliffe Hall, Ridley Hall, Oak Hill College, ANCC, Langham Partnership, a number
of Oxbridge colleges, the Earth Trust, Teach for Tomorrow, and the Honourable Artillery Company.

In conclusion, I want to see the Church of England flourish and be a light to those who do not yet know
Jesus; to be an advocate for justice and peace; to stand up for the oppressed, the lonely, the sick, and the
grieving; and above all to make sure that every single person has the chance to hear that they are created,
loved, and saved for a purpose and given the opportunity to find out more, respond, and come to know and
love our Lord God for themselves.

Katrina Hancock
6 September 2026

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