28th August 2026

Canadian adventure begins for Youth Synod member, Sophie

Sophie Gornall from Tarleton Holy Trinity Church is currently visiting Canada as part of the Church of England Youth Synod Delegation. She is pictured with Fr Joe Kochanski, left, and Rev. Canon Mark Soady before her trip. Here she writes about how the trip came about and what she hopes to be able do while in Canada…

Hi! I’m Sophie and I’m delighted to have been selected to join the upcoming discussions at the Canadian Youth Council in the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario.

This exciting opportunity has stemmed from my involvement with the Youth Synod - a group which was established by The Church of England General Synod to enable younger voices to be heard.

I have been involved with the Youth Synod since its inception just over a year ago. During this time, I  have enjoyed taking part in thought-provoking discussions on topics such as how to dismantle barriers to young people’s involvement in policy direction.

I feel inspired by the progress that has already been made in encouraging younger voices; for example, diocesan representatives from the Youth Synod, including our own representative, William, have attended the General Synod meetings in London and York.

The groups has grown too. Just five dioceses were involved at the start including trailblazing Blackburn, but now it is branching out to include wider participation.

And now Youth Synod is going international!

At one of our regular online meetings, members were invited to apply for an all-expenses paid trip to Canada in August 2026. Only two places were available, so anyone expressing interest was asked to write a statement detailing their skills, experiences and hopes for the trip.

I was thrilled to be chosen, along with Pip from Portsmouth Diocese, to take part.

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain wisdom and insight about the ways in which our fellow brothers and sisters are encouraging younger voices through their youth council in the Canada’s most populous province.

By sharing and listening to each other’s ideas there is great potential for both personal and organisational growth. I am keen to learn about how Ontario’s Youth Council operates and its relationship with the Synod. It will be interesting to explore the similarities and differences between our respective young adults’ groups – and to establish an enduring relationship.

During our Youth Synod meetings, as we have matured as a body, we have been encouraged to take on leadership roles, including facilitating online breakout discussions.

This experience has enabled me to gain confidence in the skills that I believe will be important in building a relationship with the Youth Council in Canada; active listening, synthesising contributions and formulate encouraging responses.

Outside of Youth Synod, I am an Authorised Lay Minister (ALM) at Tarleton Holy Trinity Church where I am involved with preaching and pastoral care as well as serving on the PCC. I really enjoy my role and feel that it has given me a foundation in Christian leadership.

I believe that it will be vital for is uphold the Christian values whilst on the trip, behaving with patience and sincerity. The verse from James 1:9 being ‘quick to listen and slow to speak’ is a gentle reminder for me to exercise self-control, such a significant fruit of the spirit.

I hope that this trip will be the cornerstone of a long-lasting relationship between our Youth Synod and the Youth Council in Ontario, so that together we can develop strategies for engaging young people within the governance of the church.

So – I am excited (and slightly nervous) about the trip to a country I haven’t previously visited. I will value the chance to establish new friendships and to extend my growth in faith.