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 as missionaries in the Cook Islands, Neil was ordained in 1992 at the age of 28. He served in local churches in Halifax and Welwyn Garden City before serving as Director of Pastoral Studies and then Principal of Westminster College in Cambridge.
A visual artist and writer, Neil returned to local ministry in Bristol and Thornbury in 2020.
He regularly contributes to the URC’s Daily Devotions, the annual URC Prayer Handbook, and Reformed magazine. During the Covid lockdown, Neil made small sketches each day and published them on Twitter (now X). These pictures were the basis of his book Talking Pictures, published by the URC in 2023.
He was inducted as Moderator at the URC’s 2026 meeting of General Assembly, the denomination’s key-decision making body, held at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire, on 3–6 July.
Neil said: “I’m very conscious of the privilege of being elected Moderator of the General Assembly and hope I can fulfil this new chapter of ministry in ways that can be a blessing for everyone I share with.”
A theme he hopes to explore throughout his term in office is “Christ’s conspiracy of goodness”.
Neil explains: “It is inspired by a book about mission written by an American Methodist which has spoken to me ever since reading it in the 1990s.” The book takes inspiration from rural French Christian communities who protected Jews from the Nazis during the Second World War; undermining evil with faithful goodness.
As well as representing the URC at significant ecumenical and national events and gatherings, Neil adds: “I aim to visit many parts of the URC and discover more of the amazing mosaic of faith and action that is our life together.”
The Revd Dr Susan Durber, a URC minister who serves as President of the European Region of the World Council of Churches, was elected as General Assembly Moderator-Elect and will serve in the role from July 2027-2028.