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General Assembly Moderator
The moderator of the General Assembly is the national figurehead for the denomination, representing the United Reformed Church both internally and within the wider world. The moderator chairs major meetings, visits churches at home and abroad, and seeks to provide worship, teaching and pastoral care.
From Assembly 2026 our moderator is the Reverend Neil Thorogood.
On this page, the Revd Neil Thorogood, writes and reflects on the things he does, places he visits, people he meets, and moments/events in the life of the United Reformed Church and beyond during his time in office.
If you would like to invite a moderator to visit your church or meeting, please email us.
Moderator’s Diary: October – December 2026
10 Oct – attending Eastern Synod in Colchester
11 Oct – leading worship at Wattisfield URC and then going on to lead another service at Wrentham Chapel in Beccles, one of the smallest URC congregations in the country
31 Oct – inducting Paul Robinson as Southern Synod [email protected] for more information.
7 Nov – a visit to the Kent and East Sussex Synod Area (KESSA) including The Church in Hope Street in Sheerness-on-Sea and Staplehurst URC
8 Nov – attending the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall
14 Nov – a visit to Heavitree and Pinhoe URC
15 Nov – leading a service at The Cornerstone Church in Torpoint
21 Nov – taking part in a community event at Moldgreen URC and leading a Bible study for Waverley URC, both in Huddersfield
22 Nov – leading a service for New Providence URC in Halifax
24th Nov – chairing the Assembly Executive budget meeting
5 Dec – touring the Cumbria Partnership churches
7 Dec – leading a service at Garstang URC
12th – 13 Dec – a weekend in Swansea with a tour of churches and a joint service on Sunday
13 Dec – Attending Haverfordwest Open Table where the Bishop of St David’s (the Rt Revd Dorrien Davies) is presiding
13 October 2026
One of the amazing blessings for the Moderator of the URC’s General Assembly is the invitation to preside at the induction of a new moderator called to serve in one of our 13 synods. Earlier in September I shared in...
29 September 2026
In his latest blog post, the Revd Neil Thorogood, Moderator of the URC's General Assembly, looks back on this summer's Christian festivals - and on one in particular. Festivals come in many shapes and sizes, catering to all sorts of...
15 September 2026
Holiday Forum has been an annual gathering for URC folk and friends for decades. It took place this year at The Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire, as it has done for very many years. I remember watching my dad...
3 September 2026
We think we probably just created a "never-before" in the life of the URC! A recent August weekend of formal visits to Northern Synod brought together General Assembly and Youth Assembly Moderators for what we think is the first time...
20 August 2026
At the United Reformed Church’s General Assembly in July 2026, we rejoiced in a shared commitment to creation with friends across many other Churches. As we resolved to encourage United Reformed congregations "to observe the Feast of Creation in Christ...
7 August 2026
Judaism teaches Christianity the power of lament. Sometimes, all we can do is weep and rage. Sometimes, God and faith have to navigate our agonies. My parents-in-law lived many decades close enough to Dunwich Heath and RSPB Minsmere to be...
28 July 2026
A few folk did wonder if I’d made my home at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick. No sooner had the URC’s General Assembly concluded then I was back within days for my first outing as Assembly Moderator. It was...
6 July 2026
The United Reformed Church (URC) General Assembly has inducted its 2026-2027 Moderator. The Revd Neil Thorogood, Minister of Thornbury and Trinity-Henleaze URCs in South Western Synod, who will serve as General Assembly Moderator 2026-2027, called the role an “honour”. Born in Sydney, Australia, while his parents were serving...
Previous Moderator’s Blogs
Read a selection of posts from previous Moderators of the United Reformed Church.
7 May 2026
My most recent excursion as Moderator has been to Northumberland. Fish and chips were on...
20 February 2026
In this reflection, Catriona Wheeler, General Assembly Moderator and Elder of Trinity URC in Lincoln...
21 November 2025
A couple of months before General Assembly my chaplain, Jane Wade, got in touch to...
6 June 2025
There’s a game that’s used to teach young actors something fundamental about acting. It’s so...
10 December 2024
The URC's Moderator of the General Assembly, the Revd Tim Meadows, who was born in...
26 July 2024
The moderatorial year of 2024-2025 has begun. I intend to start blogging under the title...
20 June 2024
On 17 June, the Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, Moderator of the URC General Assembly, reflected...
15 May 2024
During the ecumenical pilgrimage to Jamaica earlier this month, the Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson was...
16 January 2024
In this blog, the Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson reflects on how 2024 sadly begins with...
8 August 2022
Convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference is an opportunity for Anglican Bishops...
5 February 2021
From 29-31 January, the Revd Clare Downing, Moderator of the United Reformed Church (URC) General...
18 December 2020
Peter Pay, Moderator of the United Reformed Church General Assembly, explains why the fig tree...
30 November 2020
The Revd Clare Downing reflects on contrasting experiences in November, highlighting the value of behind-the-scenes...
1 September 2020
Peter Pay gives thanks for local church communities, and their nurturing work. I was due...
11 August 2020
In her first blog post as General Assembly Moderator, the Revd Clare Downing shares new...
29 July 2020
In his first blog, Peter Pay, who was inducted as a Moderator of the United...
8 July 2020
In his last blog post as General Assembly Moderator, the Revd Nigel Uden reflects on...
16 June 2020
In his last blog post as Moderator of the United Reformed Church General Assembly, Derek...
5 May 2020
The Revd Nigel Uden, Moderator of the United Reformed Church General Assembly, reflects on the...
16 March 2020
Inspired by Young people, Derek Estill, Moderator of the United Reformed Church General Assembly, encourages...
Youth Moderator, Kacie Hodgson, and Youth Moderator-Elect, Alex Clements, write and reflect on the things they do to help young people thrive in their faith explorations and to enable youth and children’s voices to be valued within the wider denomination.