Hounslow Deanery

Parish Churches serving communities across north-west London

Category Archives: Synod

19 Oct

October Deanery Synod Reminder

Hello all,

Don’t forget that the June Deanery Synod is tomorrow! The October Deanery Synod will focus on Schools. We’re being graciously hosted by The Green School for Girls (Busch Corner, London Road, TW7 5BB) and we look forward to seeing you all there. We’ll be meeting tomorrow, Thursday the 20th at 7.30pm, with refreshments served from 7pm. Our speakers will be Jo Jones, Kensington Area Bishop’s Schools’ Chaplain, Sally Yarrow, CEO & Executive Headteacher of the Green School Trust, and Penny Roberts, Diocesan Director of Education.

From school engagement and developing relationships, to ways to getting involved, this synod will be useful for church representatives and Christian parents alike. Please do feel free to invite any church members who may find this topic useful including any Children’s or Youth workers that facilitate your work with schools.

***The Green School for Girls have extended an invitation for all synod attendees to use their carpark. Once parked, please head for the main reception where you will be directed to the Main Hall. Please note that due to IT limitations this meeting will not be recorded or broadcast via zoom so the only way to see this important synod is to attend!***

In preparation for the meeting, please take a look at the below documents and get ready to bring your questions to our expert speakers.

The next synod meeting is planned for February, with a focus on community engagement. Please do reach out to Rev Andy Watkins, the Deanery Community Champion, if there’s anything you would like to contribute to this event.

Warmest wishes,

Kathleen McQuarrie 
Hounslow Deanery Secretary

06 Oct

October Deanery Synod

Hello Everyone,

The October Deanery Synod is in two weeks with a focus on Schools. We’re being graciously hosted by The Green School for Girls (Busch Corner, London Road, TW7 5BB) and we look forward to seeing you all there. We’ll be meeting on Thursday 20th October at 7.30pm, with refreshments served from 7pm. Our speakers will be Jo Jones, Kensington Area Bishop’s Schools’ Chaplain, Sally Yarrow, CEO & Executive Headteacher of the Green School Trust, and Penny Roberts, Diocesan Director of Education.

From school engagement and developing relationships, to ways to getting involved, this synod will be useful for church representatives and Christian parents alike. Please do feel free to invite any church members who may find this topic useful.

The Green School are currently working with their facilities department to see if we can make use of their car park for the synod. Watch this space for a future update on parking arrangements

In preparation for the meeting, please take a look at the below documents and get ready to bring your questions to our expert speakers.

Please make sure to mark the 20th of October into your diary. The next synod meeting is planned for February, with a focus on community engagement. Please do reach out to Rev Andy Watkins, the Deanery Community Champion, if there’s anything you would like to contribute to this event.

Deanery Updates & Notices 

Bishop of Kensington – until the consecration of the new bishop of Kensington, Bishop Ric Thorpe (the Bishop of Islington) will be Acting Bishop of Kensington during this interim period. Archdeacon Richard will be leading the Area Team locally during this time, but for any Bishop’s Office enquiries during this period, please continue to contact Emma Hughes (PA to the Bishop of Kensington).

Caring for God’s Creation – Saturday 8 October 10am to 4.30pm, St Pancras Church, Euston Road London NW1 2BA. We are all called to follow the 5th mark of mission. “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.” The day will be a mix of reflective and practical sessions, as well as a number of information stalls to pick up ideas and inspiration. For more information on this event and to register, click here.

Preventing Gambling Harms in Diverse Communities (PGHDC) – run by YGAM together with Hounslow Safeguarding Children Partnership, PGHDC was set up in 2021 to equip Faith and Community Leaders in London and surrounding counties with the knowledge and skills to have purposeful and informed conversations with young people and their families about gaming and gambling. The training is open to Safeguarding Officers, Children & Youth Workers, School Chaplains, and anyone else who works closely with children. Workshops are being held Monday 10th October at 10am (register here), Wednesday 19th October at 10am (register here), Monday 7th November at 6 pm (register here), and Tuesday 29th November at 10 am (register here). For further information please reach out to Marek Maj, YGAM Education Manager

Kensington Area “Growing Younger” Training Morning – Saturday 15 October 9am to 1pm, St Mellitus College, 24 Collingham Road London SW5 0LX. Everyone who works with children and/or youth in a church setting in the Kensington Area, is warmly invited to this training morning.  This will include time together in worship, a key note speaker, and a wide variety of seminars on different aspects of working with children and youth across our churches. All free and breakfast will be provided!  To book your place please click here.

Patenting in a Digital Age – 1st November, 7.45pm, at All Souls. Young people growing up today are ‘digital natives’ – the first generation to grow up exclusively in the digital age. The impact of digital technology is far-reaching; creating both challenges and opportunities. Led by Jason Royce, former director of Romance Academy, and a hugely experienced youth worker, this seminar will look at the challenges and opportunities of parenting in this digital age. To sign up, click here.

The Menopause Café – 17th November, 7.30pm, St Paul’s Church Brentford.The Menopause and the Workplace report found that one in 10 women have left work because of symptoms of the menopause. Featuring our special guests, Bishop of London Sarah Mullally, Menopause Nutritionalist and Wellbeing Specialist Joanne Fazel, and Angela Chan, Head of Inclusion at StoryFutures. Tickets are £2 each, please click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

Clergy Marriage Retreat – 25-27 November 2022 at Wiston House, West Sussex. An opportunity for clergy couples to spend a weekend away investing in their marriage. The weekend is led by Nicky and Sila Lee, Will and Louie Van der Hart and Ian and Jo Dyble, who help couples recognise and navigate the unique pressures on clergy marriages. As on The Marriage Course, each couple’s conversations are kept private while mealtimes give an opportunity to get to know others. There is limited availability so, if you would like to come, please book early.

Warmest wishes and God bless,

Kathleen McQuarrie 
Hounslow Deanery Secretary

Deanery WhatsApp Groups
Useful for sharing best practice, the Deanery groups cover roles as diverse as Churchwardens, PCC Secretaries, Treasurers, Safeguarding, and children’s workers. If those in your parish would like to join, click here to let us know.

Kintsugi Hope
Kintsugi Hope is not just a charity. We have a vision of starting a movement of Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Groups where people can experience safety and support. To find out more about Kintsugi Hope please click here.

Hounslow Welcare Trust
This year the trust has extended grants to several churches, supporting projects ranging from debt support, community hubs, and relief for Ukraine. – take a look at the criteria and get in touch if your church would like funding.

26 May

June Deanery Synod

Hello Everyone,

The June Deanery Synod is in a little over two weeks. We’re being graciously hosted by Holy Trinity Hounslow (6 High St, TW3 1HG) and we look forward to seeing you all there. We’ll be meeting on Tuesday 14th June, with refreshments served from 7pm and the meeting starting at 7.30pm and looking at Racial Justice with Fr Joseph Fernandes, Vicar of St Hilda’s Ashford and Area Dean of Spelthorne.  This is a key area in the Kensington Area Plan so it’s incredibly important that we engage with this topic fully.

In preparation for the meeting, please take a look at the below documents and get ready to bring your questions to our expert speakers.

Please make sure to mark the 14th of June into your diary. The next synod meeting is planned for Thursday 20 October, with a presentation by Jo Jones, the Kensington Area Bishop’s Schools’ Chaplain.

Deanery Updates & Notices 

Children & Youth Workers – we’ve been asked to setup a WhatsApp group for Children and Youth workers to co-ordinate and share best practice. If your workers would like to participate in this, please send their contact details to me here.

School Chaplain Vacancy – Chelsea Academy have a vacancy for a school chaplain.  If you, or someone you know, would be interested please click here for the vacancy advert and for the Chaplain pack, click here.

Archdeacon’s PA Vacancy– The Archdeacon of Middlesex is advertising for a permanent PA.  If you, or someone you know, would be interested please click here for more information. 

Creed & Culture Seminar:  Identity – what difference does the Christian faith make to how we understand each other? Taking place at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (5 minute walk from Oxford Circus or Broad Street tube stops). The speaker is Michael Lloyd, principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. Held on Saturday, 18th June 2022, 2 – 5 pm, more details and ticket information can be found here.

Warmest wishes and God bless,

Kathleen McQuarrie 
Hounslow Deanery Secretary

Unconscious Bias Trainers
This involves undertaking about three hours of training and then helping PCCs in vacancies by giving them unconscious bias training – probably a couple of times a year. Email Martine if you’re interested.

Hounslow Welcare Trust
This year the trust has extended grants to several churches, supporting projects ranging from debt support, community hubs, and relief for Ukraine. – take a look at the criteria and get in touch if your church would like funding.

Kintsugi Hope
Kintsugi Hope is not just a charity. We have a vision of starting a movement of Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Groups where people can experience safety and support. To find out more about Kintsugi Hope please click here.

15 Mar

February Deanery Synod Minutes

Hello Everyone,


It was lovely to see many of you at the February Synod and I hope that you enjoyed the meeting as much as I did. Our speakers, Rebeccah Cooper-Jones & Rev Jody Stowell gave a very informative talk on Living in Love and Faith along with some guidance on the Pastoral Principles. The minutes of the meeting are here and include links to useful details following on from the synod. Do let me know if you have any questions or notice any changes needed in the minutes.

Our next Synod meeting is currently pencilled in for the 14th of June, held at Holy Trinity Hounslow, and will feature Revd Allen Bower, the Kensington Area Dean of Cultural Diversity. Please do keep this date in your diary and do let me know if you have any items that you would like to be considered for the agenda.

Diocesan Synod By-Election
Nomination forms have been received and as the nominations did not exceed the number of vacancies, no election was needed. Congratulations to our new clergy representatives to the Diocesan Synod:

  • Rev Anne Dollery (St Dunstan, Feltham)
  • Rev Micheal Dobson (St George, Hanworth)
  • Rev Sally Baily (Holy Trinity Hounslow)

They join Rev Michael Gill and our lay Representatives Julian Duffus & Shelia Matthews to represent the Hounslow Deanery at the London Diocesan Synod. Our thanks to everyone who participated.


With thanks,

Kathleen McQuarrie 
Hounslow Deanery Secretary

Hounslow Welcare Trust
 The Houslow Welcare Trust exists to make grants to help Deanery churches. The next trustees meeting is in two weeks – take a look at the criteria and get in touch if you’re interested.

Unconscious Bias Trainers
This involves undertaking about three hours of training and then helping PCCs in vacancies by giving them unconscious bias training – probably a couple of times a year. Email Martine if you’re interested.

Mental Health First Aider Training
Eight parishes have signed up for this so far but there are still plenty of places left.  Please let Martine know asap if you or someone else from your parish, would like to attend.

15 Nov

October Synod Minutes

Hello Everyone,

It was lovely to see many of you at this week’s Synod and I hope that you enjoyed the meeting as much as I did, and our speaker, Rev Derek Winterburn. The minutes of the meeting are available and include a link to Derek’s slides, please do reach out to me if you need a copy. Do let me know if you have any questions or notice any changes needed in the minutes.

Our next Synod meeting is currently pencilled in for the 24th February and will be held over zoom. Closer to the time, we will confirm this date and send over the meeting details. Please do keep this date in your diary and do let me know if you have any items that you would like to be considered for the agenda.

Chapter Christmas Lunch

Those of you who have attended in the past may remember what fun our Clergy Christmas Lunches are.  This year we’ve booked the Royal Oak, 128 Worton Rd, Isleworth TW7 6EP for the 16th of December at 12.30pm.
They’re offering a fabulous Christmas Menu with 2 courses for £25 or 3 courses for £28 and the deanery will be paying for all the drinks. 

We need to pre-order and space is limited so please RSVP by reaching out to me to select your menu choices. 

With thanks,

Kathleen McQuarrie 
Hounslow Deanery Secretary

Hounslow Welcare Trust
 The Houslow Welcare Trust exists to make grants to help Deanery churches. The next trustees meeting is at the end of November – take a look at the criteria and get in touch if you’re interested.

Diocesan Synod 

Following the recent election, Hounslow Deanery still has 3 lay vacancies and 3 clergy vacancies.  Please do think about whether you could contribute in this way and get in touch if you have any questions.

Lay Chair Election
The results are in and we welcome Simon Surtees from St Paul’s Chiswick as the new Lay Chair. Our deepest thanks to Fred Michell, who is stepping down and served as the Hounslow Lay Chair for almost 20 years!

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19 Oct

October Deanery Synod

Hello Everyone,

Just a quick message from your friendly neighbourhood secretary. The October Deanery Synod is in less than a week, and the first Synod to be held in person since the start of the pandemic. We’ll be meeting on Monday 25 October at St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Road W4 3DY. Don’t forget that we’re starting with the Lay Reps meeting at 6.30pm, with clergy welcome to join for refreshments from 7pm.

If you are planning to attend and have not yet received the meeting pack including both the agenda and minutes from the June meeting, then please reach out to me here.  

Please make sure to mark the 25th of October into your diary and I look forward to seeing you all there!

WhatsApp Groups

The Deanery now offers WhatsApp groups for clergy, PCC Secretaries, Treasurers, and Churchwardens. They’re a great resource for problem solving and sharing solutions with others, do let me know if you would like to join one of these groups!

Kathleen McQuarrie 
Hounslow Deanery Secretary

Hounslow Welcare Trust
 The Houslow Welcare Trust exists to make grants to help Deanery churches. The next trustees meeting is coming at the end of November – take a look at the criteria and get in touch if you’re interested.

New Triennium Starts Soon!

If you would like to nominate someone for the Deanery Synod Standing Committee (even yourself), please out to me or our Area Dean, Martine. Both clergy and lay members are needed.  

Lay Chair Election
The election for the new Lay Chair is now well underway and all Lay Reps should now have been sent voting papers via the post. Please make sure to have your paper returned by the 22nd to have it counted!

27 Sep

Oct Deanery Synod CHANGE OF DATE

We have had to change the date for the October Deanery Synod meeting and we will now been meeting on Monday 25 October (NOT 28 Oct.)  The meeting will still be IN-PERSON and still be held at St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Road W4 3DY.

Lay representatives, please do come for 6.30pm for the Lay Only Meeting (no clergy please!) to elect the next Lay Chair. Everyone is welcome from 7pm for refreshments followed by Holy Communion (sharing bread only) at 7.30pm. Following this, Rev Derek Winterburn, Vicar of St James’s Church Hampton Hill, will facilitate a conversation about how we are caring for God’s creation.  Finally, we’ll have some brief notices and the appointment or election of our Deanery Synod Standing Committee.  An agenda will be sent round nearer the time.

Please remember!
The Hounslow Deanery Common Fund Meeting is still going ahead by Zoom on the 5th of October, 7.00-8.30pm. Do invite anyone in your church who you feel would benefit from attending and I look forward to seeing you there! If you would like the zoom detail for this meeting then please reach out to Kat here.


Warmest wishes and God bless,

Martine Oborne
Area Dean

Hounslow Welcare Trust
 The Houslow Welcare Trust exists to make grants to help Deanery churches. The next trustees meeting is coming soon – take a look at the criteria and get in touch if you’re interested.

New Triennium Starts Soon!
If you would like to nominate someone for the Deanery Synod Standing Committee (even yourself), please out to me or Kat. Both clergy and lay members are needed.  

Christian Mindfulness and Contemplative Prayer
This course comprises two Thursday morning sessions on 7 & 14 October at St Peter’s Church in Southfield Rd W4.  Please contact Fabrizio Pesce to find out more.  Or book here.

20 Sep

Hounslow Deanery Synod news and updates….

As many of you know, I have recently been appointed as Hounslow Area Dean. Thank you so much to everyone who has sent good wishes and offers of support. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the role and I hope that our Deanery Synod meetings will be both enjoyable and helpful to your ministry and mission.

I am the Vicar of St Michael’s Church in Chiswick where I’ve been in post for ten years now.  Before this, I served my curacy in Islington and, before that, I had a career in the City.  I’m married to Peter and we have five children, but with only one still at school.

A new triennium!
We are at the start of a new three year cycle of Deanery Synod meetings, so this is an ideal time to have a rethink about what we do and why.  If you’ve got any comments or suggestions, please be in touch.  

I’m hoping that we’ll be able to focus on some of the new Kensington Area priorities such as: mission in the community; the environment; ministry to children and youth; and mental health and wellbeing.  If you would like to play a role on the Deanery Synod Standing Committee, possibly as a rep for one of these priorities, do please let me know.  We need both clergy and lay members.  Standing Committee meets three times a year by Zoom and is responsible for planning events, talks and the agenda at the Deanery Synod meetings.

Next Deanery Synod meeting – Thursday 28 October – IN-PERSON at St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Road W4 3DY at 7pm
I am looking forward to meeting and welcoming reps, particularly new ones, to Deanery Synod at this first session.  Do please join us if you can.

We’ll start first with a Deanery Meeting of Lay Representatives at 6.30pm to elect our Lay Chair.  Then there will be refreshments at 7pm for both lay and clergy reps, followed by Holy Communion (sharing bread only) at 7.30pm.  Then Derek Winterburn, Vicar of St James’s Church Hampton Hill, will facilitate a conversation about how we are caring for God’s creation.  Finally, we’ll have some brief notices and the appointment or election of our Deanery Synod Standing Committee.  An agenda will be sent round nearer the time.

Subsequent Deanery Synod meetings
The new Deanery Synod Standing Committee will meet in November and make plans.  We will probably have a Deanery Synod meeting by Zoom in February and an in-person one in June.

Welcare applications
Applications for grants for community projects are welcome.  If they are submitted by 15 November, they will be considered at the next meeting of trustees on 29 November.  More information and application forms can be found here.

I look forward to seeing you soon.
Warmest wishes and God bless,

Rev Martine Oborne
Area Dean

25 May

Message from Archdeacon Richard Frank

(For a PDF version of this letter, click here)

Dear Friends in the Hounslow Deanery Chapter,

Resignation of The Revd Sarah Guinness as Hounslow Area Dean

Sarah Guinness has been a wonderful colleague and friend to many of us during this past year as she has so ably carried the role of Hounslow Area Dean. Bishop Graham asked Sarah to take on the task at the beginning of 2020 and she agreed to serve for a year to see how it sat alongside settling into her time at Brentford. Little did she, or any of us, know what that ‘initial year’ would involve!

As the new Archdeacon (and her predecessor in Hounslow, of course), I have had good reason to be grateful for her willingness to say ‘yes’ and I know that her fellow Hounslow clergy, the other Area Deans and Bishop Graham have felt the same.

This week, Sarah has decided, after much consideration, not to continue as Area Dean. She wants to focus her time and energy on the parish of Brentford as she anticipates a new curate starting this summer, the reopening of the St Paul’s café and plenty else in the pipeline. I know you will join me in praying for her in this next chapter of her ministry and time in Brentford. We are very glad to continue as her colleagues and partners in ministry and mission.

Bishop Ric (Acting Bishop of Kensington) and I feel that appointing a new Hounslow Area Dean should be for Bishop Graham on his return. I am grateful therefore that Elis Matthews, at St Mary’s Osterley Road, who has been Assistant Area Dean for much of the past year, has agreed to continue in that role and ‘hold the fort’ until the summer. When Bishop Graham returns, he will consult with the Chapter and make his decision on whom to appoint longer term.

In the meantime, may I thank you for all you have done over these past months to pray for, minister to and lead your churches through the astonishingly difficult and tiring time we have been living through. Please do be in touch if I can support you and those you serve in any way.

Every blessing

The Ven. Richard Frank
19th May 2021
cc. Bishop Graham; Bishop Ric; Fred Michell (Hounslow Deanery Lay Chair)

15 Jan

The Power of Invitation

The Power of Invitation

7.30pm Monday February 4th 2018 – St Michaels Church, Elmwood Road, W4 3DY

Join us at the first Deanery Synod of 2019 where Hounslow Deanery Synod is delighted to host international speaker Michael Harvey. Michael has spoken to thousands of church leaders in his Seminars and has to date seen hundreds of thousands of Christians mobilised to invite others to church services and events. He launched the first National Weekend of Invitation in June 2018 and is author of the books ‘Unlocking the Growth’ and ‘Creating a Culture of Invitation’. As an itinerant speaker he has a ministry across 18 countries and 5 continents and in February he will join us to unwrap the topic of evangelism in a whole new way.

Following Michael’s talk we will have time  time for questions, and the sharing of resources and good practice. As always, we will finish by 9pm.

If you would like to register your interest please sign up here