General Synod Election Candidates 2026

JUDITH ANDREWS

Standing for election to the House of Laity,
General Synod (Diocese of Canterbury)
Nominated by: Nigel Collins
Seconded by: Amanda Boucherat

A committed Anglican with a heart for pastoral care, belonging,
and the flourishing future of the local church.

About me
I am 58, married, with two adult children. I am self-employed and run two businesses. The first, Business
Tamer Limited, provides data protection support to small and medium-sized businesses and healthcare
organisations. The second, Longcroft Margate, is a five-star cat hotel!

I am a Licensed Lay Minister and Reader, and an Anna Chaplain. I currently serve as Lay Chair of Thanet
Deanery.

Why I am standing
I am standing for General Synod because I care deeply about the life, witness, and future of the Church of
England, particularly as it is lived out in our parishes and local communities. I believe the local church remains
one of the most precious gifts we have: a place of worship, welcome, service, prayer, friendship, and hope.

My experience
Licensed ministry:
•
Licensed Lay Minister training, Diocese of Rochester, 2013 to 2016
•
Licensed as a Reader at Rochester Cathedral in May 2017, and at Canterbury Cathedral in
September 2017
•
Commissioned as an Anna Chaplain at Canterbury Cathedral in September 2019
•
Assistant Warden of Readers for Canterbury Archdeaconry since 2019
•
Member of the Anna Ministry Working Group
•
Governance and leadership:
o Member of the PCC for the parish of St Laurence in Thanet since 2019
o Member of Deanery Synod since 2022
o Lay Chair of Deanery Synod since 2023
o Elected member of Diocesan Synod since 2024
o Elected member of the Archbishop’s Council, December 2025
o Member of the IT and Data Protection Board, and the Investment Committee

My ministry interests
My ministry interests include Anna Chaplaincy with older people and those living
with dementia, together with their families and carers. I regularly lead services in
care homes and residential settings, and at one such service I watched a resident
who had not spoken all morning join in to sing every verse of a familiar hymn from
memory. That moment spoke powerfully of God's enduring presence and has
deepened my commitment to ensuring that older people remain spiritually
nourished, valued, and connected within the life of the Church and wider
community.

I am also passionate about fostering churches where people experience Christian hospitality, welcome, and
belonging. I believe the Church should be a place where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and
where all can encounter the love and grace of God. I support an inclusive Church in which no one is pushed to
the margins. This includes people living with dementia, LGBT+ people, disabled people and neurodivergent
people, all of whom should be fully welcomed, valued, and able to belong.

Through my ministry with older people, I have seen how easily people can be marginalised when others focus
on a diagnosis rather than the person. Every person is made in the image of God, remains precious in God's
sight, and has gifts to offer the life of the Church. We are called to welcome one another as Christ welcomed
us.

A church where people belong
I long to see churches that are open, generous, and hospitable in spirit. For me, welcome is not simply about
what happens at the door on a Sunday morning. It is about the whole culture of a church. It is about whether
people feel seen, valued, respected, and able to belong.

We are all in need of God's mercy, and I believe our churches should be communities where people can
encounter that mercy through worship, friendship, pastoral care, and faithful discipleship. I want to see
churches where nobody is pushed to the margins, and where every person is valued as someone made in the
image of God.

The future of the local church
I am deeply concerned for the long-term flourishing of our parish churches. Many congregations are facing real
challenges, including declining numbers, limited resources, and changing patterns of community life.

I am interested in how local churches, deaneries, and diocesan structures can work together well, so that
national and diocesan strategy genuinely supports the life and mission of the local church. At its best, strategy
should not feel distant or imposed. It should help release energy, encourage confidence, use resources wisely,
and enable churches to discern how God is calling them to serve their communities. I would bring to Synod a
commitment to listening carefully to parish realities, while engaging constructively with wider diocesan and
national vision.

How I would serve
If elected, I would seek to contribute thoughtfully, prayerfully, and practically. I would bring a concern for older
people, pastoral care, safeguarding, inclusion, parish sustainability, and the renewal of local mission.
Alongside this, my experience of running a data protection business and serving on the Diocesan IT and Data
Protection Board, and the Investment Committee has given me practical experience of governance, digital
responsibility, risk management, and financial stewardship all of which are important aspects of Synod’s work.

I would aim to listen well, speak constructively, and help build a Church that is gracious in welcome,
courageous in mission, and hopeful about the future.

Thank you
Thank you for considering supporting me. I would be very happy to hear from anyone who would like to talk
further. If you would like to support me, I would be grateful for your first preference vote.

Contact
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07779 149979
Address: Gresham Avenue, Margate, Kent CT9 5EH
Nigel Collins: I have known Judith for almost 10 years and am pleased to nominate
her. She is a passionate disciple of Christ who will use her gifts and experience
well, in order to effectively represent our diocese on general synod if she is elected.
I whole-heartedly commend her to you as your first preference candidate.

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