The Revd Brian Jolly has been nominated as the next Moderator of the North Western Synod of the United Reformed Church.
Born in 1956 in north London, Brian moved to the north west in 1978 for his initial ministerial formation at the University of Manchester and the Congregational College.
He was ordained in 1982 and has served pastorates in Blackburn, Bolton, Stockport and Altrincham. He serves now as Clerk of the North Western Synod and has been covering some of the duties of a Synod Moderator during a vacancy period.
He has served extensively in the wider church and as a trustee of the UK Christian charity Embrace the Middle East (formerly BibleLands).
Brian and Denise, who is a specialist in the residential care of children who have special educational needs and disabilities, have three adult children, Sam, Peter and Hannah, and a baby granddaughter.
Brian said: “I am looking forward to continuing to serve the North Western Synod and the wider church in this new role, and especially to supporting the ministers and churches of the Synod as they engage with the Missional Discipleship strategy which they have prayerfully discerned and agreed in the last few years.”
The Revd John Proctor, General Secretary of the United Reformed Church, said: “Brian Jolly has done an immense amount to sustain the life of our North Western Synod, in his role as Clerk over the last three years, and in carrying many of the Moderator’s responsibilities in the recent months of vacancy.
“His nomination offers the Synod the prospect of continuity, known and understanding leadership, and a steady and supportive attention to churches as they respond to the Synod’s strategy of Missional Discipleship.
“It is anticipated that his appointment would begin on 1 January 2020 and run until the end of 2024, when he will retire.”
The URC North Western Synod has 140 churches with more than 4,600 members. More than 4,400 adults and children worship in those churches every week with many more people using the churches for Scouts, Guides, community groups, foodbanks, associations, youth clubs, drama groups, craft groups, Bible Study, Messy Church, Godly Play, cafés, meeting places, lunch clubs, sports clubs and hobby groups to name a few of the weekday activities taking place in local URCs.
The churches in the North Western Synod are spread across the many towns and cities from Bewcastle in Cumbria on the Scottish Borders to Macclesfield in Cheshire, all supported from the Synod office in Manchester.
