The United Reformed Church (URC) is delighted to announce that the Revd Mike Thomason has been nominated as the next Moderator of the North Western Synod, following the retirement of the Revd Clare Downing.
Mike is currently the minister at High Cross Church, Camberley, in the URC’s Wessex Synod, and has previously served with the Bolton West Pastorate and as a Chaplain with the British Army.
Called to Ministry from Worsley Road URC, Swinton, he was ordained in 2002 after training at Northern College. His first pastorate was Bolton West (Horwich New Chapel URC, Lee Lane (URC/Anglican LEP), Adlington (URC/Methodist LEP).
He became an Army Chaplain in 2006 with posts in Germany, UK and New Zealand, with a variety of units, operation tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and exercises in Canada, Italy France and Germany. His last job was as Senior Chaplain to 20th Armoured Brigade managing a team of Chaplains across the UK and Germany and supporting families and soldiers on a variety of deployments.
On retirement from the Army, was called to High Cross Church (URC/Methodist LEP) in Camberley. Whilst in the army, Mike served as Interim Moderator to Aston Tirrold URC.
He is a member of the Wessex Synod Executive and the Denominational Ecumenical Officer for Surrey. Having been an Air Cadet Chaplain and a Chaplain to St John Ambulance in Surrey, he was made a Member of the Order of St John in 2019. He is married to Sue and they have two teenage children.
Mike said: “It is extremely humbling to be nominated to serve as the Moderator of North Western Synod – a place where I grew up and was called to ministry.
“Coming back to this new role is like coming home. It is a great honour to return and serve God in this new role in the coming years. I look forward to journey with the synod as we seek together to be a Church with people at the margins.”
The Revd Dr John P Bradbury, URC General Secretary, said: “I’m delighted that Mike has been nominated to serve the North Western Synod as Moderator. For Mike, this is a returning to his roots. He brings with him huge experience of ministry, in local pastorates, and also from his time as an Army Chaplain, serving in some of the most demanding contexts.
“The appointment panel were very impressed with his passion for the ‘Church with people on the margins’ strategy for the Synod, and his pastoral and leadership gifts. I greatly look forward to working with him in the years to come.”
Tim Hopley, URC North Western Synod Clerk and Operations Manager, said: “North Western Synod is delighted to receive the nomination of the Revd Mike Thomason as our new Synod Moderator, following the retirement of the Revd Clare Downing in June 2026.
“It is nearly 20 years since Mike left the Synod, after training at Northern College and having his first pastorate here, and we look forward to welcoming him back and to sharing in his ministry with us as our new Moderator.
“North Western Synod is facing some exciting challenges and opportunities, and we are pleased that Mike will walk these next steps with us, and offer us his wisdom and vision.”
The appointment, once confirmed by the Assembly Executive of the URC, will begin with a handover period next April.