Mr John Smallwood, who has been one of the foremost lay participants in the affairs of Southwark Diocese for forty years, has retired after 25 years as Chairman of the Diocesan Board of Finance.

Mr Smallwood, now aged 74, is a Reader in the Church of England, and has been a member of General Synod since 1965. He served on the Council of the Southwark Ordination Course, 1960-74 and 1980-94, as Vice-Chairman for the latter period. He was a Church Commissioner from 1966 to 1998. He has contributed hugely to sound financial management in Southwark Diocese, as a member of the Board of Finance since 1961 and Chairman for 25 years (1975-2000). He worked for the Bank of England from 1951 to 1979, when he retired as Deputy Chief Accountant. He has served on the Central Board of Finance and a wide variety of other committees of the Church of England. He was appointed a CBE in 1991.

Mr Andrew Britton, 59, was elected as the new Chairman of the Board of Finance at the AGM on 3 May. He is also a Reader in the Diocese, licensed to The Good Shepherd, Carshalton Beeches. From 1982 to 1995 he was Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. In 1995 he became Executive Secretary of the Churches' Enquiry into Unemployment and the Future of Work. He has recently led a review of the diocesan Fairer Shares system which assures that parishes support the Diocese in proportion to their ability to pay.

Mr Britton's background is with HM Treasury, where he rose to be Senior Economic Adviser in 1975, and later became Under Secretary, 1980-82.

Ends. 

John Smallwood, b April 1926 City of London School; RAF; Peterhouse Cambridge Church Assembly 1965-70 Bank of England 1951-79 ; Dep Ch Accountant 1974-79 ACC 1975-87 BCC 1987-90 Numerous Cttees and Commns 1971-75 Central Board of Finance 1965-99 (Dep Vc Chmn 1972-82) Church Commissioner 1966-99 (Bd of Govrs & Gen Purposes Cttee) City Parochial Fund 1969-99 (Chmn 1981-92) Lambeth Palace Lib 1977-99 Overseas Bishoprics Fund 1978-99 (Chmn 1992-99) Stg Cttee 1971-95 Pensions Board 1985-95 Chs Main Cttee 1987-95 Coun Corp of Ch Ho 1987-95 Southwark DBF 1962-2000 (Chmn 1975-2000) Sthwk Ord Course Coun 1960-94 (Vc Chmn 1980-94) Reader from 1983 General Synod 1970-

Andrew Britton, b Dec 1940. RGS Newcastle upon Tyne, Oriel Coll Oxford (BA), LSE (MSc) HM Treasury as Cadet Economist 1966; Economic Asst 1968; Economic Adviser 1970 Senior Economic Adviser DHSS 1973; HM Treasury 1975 London Business School 1978-79 Under Secretary HM Treasury 1980-82 Director, National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) 1982-95 Executive Secretary, Churches' Enquiry into Unemployment and the Future of Work, 1995- Member, Treasury Panel of Independent Forecasters, 1993- Licensed Reader, Southwark 1986- Member, Industry & Economic Affairs Cttee 1989- Board for Social Responsibility 1992- Southwark Diocesan Board of Finance, 1998- Chairman, Fairer Shares Review

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