A STUDENT from Malvern has been elected to serve on the General Synod of the Church of England.

Sarah Maxwell-Phillips thinks that at the age of 21, she must be one of the youngest people, if not the youngest person, to serve on the Synod, which is described as the deliberative and legislative body of the Church of England.

A former student at Dyson Perrins CE Academy, Sarah is now in the second year of a geography degree at the University of Bangor.

She is an active member of the congregation at Great Malvern Priory, and a member of the Worcester Diocesan Synod.

It was as a representative of the diocesan synod that she stood for the General Synod, which involved submitting a short biography and other information to the synod members, who then voted on her candidacy.

She said: “I’m delighted to have been elected to the synod and I’m very much looking forward to taking part in its discussions and decisions.

“The first meeting I hope to attend is in London in February, and there will be lots of different issues coming up, including the environment and youth evangelism. It will be good experience because I hope to work for the church in the future.”