Open Synod Group Members
Nigel Bacon
Chair
Diocese: Lincoln
GS Number: 342
A Reader (LLM) by vocation and a Chartered Engineer by profession, Nigel took early retirement in 2016 to apply within the Church the expertise he had gained in areas such as project leadership, business strategy and governance.
Nigel was first elected to General Synod in 2015, is Chair of the House of Laity for the Diocese of Lincoln and serves on numerous diocesan committees. His experience of church life has given him a deep appreciation of the diversity encompassed within the Church of England.
Married with two sons, Nigel’s interests include travel, DIY, wine, the performing arts and glass art.
John Mason
Treasurer
Diocese: Chester
GS Number: 280
John started his career as a research scientist, before moving into various scientific and financial management positions. After a management buy-out of an international analytical services company, he served on its Board for about five years before being called to become the Diocesan Secretary of Chester Diocese. Following a cancer diagnosis, John took ill-health retirement, but 15 years later remains involved with the Diocese, serving on Bishop’s Council and numerous committees and working groups. John also Chairs the Diocese’s Multi-academy Trust. He became a General Synod lay member in 2010, and serves as trustee on a number of small charities.”
Penny Allen
Secretary
Diocese: Lichfield
GS Number: 327
General Synod member since 2005.
A member of the Bishop’s Council, Diocesan Board of Finance, Diocesan Synod, Trysull Deanery and The Church At Perton’s Church Council and belongs to a local Ecumenical Church, Anglican/URC. Penny is a retired teacher of RE and PSHCE, a parish councillor, secretary of the carnival committee and active in the community. She is married with two daughters.
Other Committee Members
Rev Canon Simon Talbott
Diocese: Ely
GS Number: 112
GS member since 2015.
Simon is currently priest in charge of Great Shelford & Stapleford (just outside Cambridge). He has served in urban, sub-urban and deeply rural parishes during 35 years of ordained ministry. He is a member of Bishop’s Council, the Diocesan Board of Finance and chairs the Diocesan Houses Committee.
Simon is a training incumbent and has long experience as a clergy mentor, coach and ministry reviewer. Clergy and lay ministers well-being is a high priority for him, especially as we embrace the challenges of mission and ministry in a rapidly changing environment.
Julie Dziegel
Diocese: Oxford
GS Number: 377
Rev Canon Eleanor Robertshaw
Diocese: Sheffield
GS Number: 217
Eleanor is Team Rector of the Parish of Great Snaith in the Diocese of Sheffield, and has been on General Synod since 2015. Prior to ordination in 2010, Eleanor was a secondary school teacher in Rotherham.
Her passions include being a training incumbent, and the well-being of ministers in the church. As well as her role on Synod, she is also a member of the Church of England Pension Board.
In her spare time, Eleanor enjoys spending time with family, knitting and sewing and Wild Swimming.
Eleanor feels it is important to be a member of the Open Synod Group, as she is someone who likes to build bridges when there are significant differences. She always finds that, amongst differences, we always have far more in common than the sum of our disagreement.
Matthew Edwards
Diocese: Lichfield
GS Number: 337
Matt is a linguist and educator by training but currently works for the NHS in a management role.
He is a Licensed Lay Minister in Lichfield Diocese, where he is also the Diocesan LGBT+ Chaplain, and at General Synod is a member of Together on General Synod group.