General Synod Elections 2026

Elections for the General Synod (2026 - 2031) open soon. Below are the details of those standing for election in the House of Clergy and the House of Laity. Voting opens on 21 September 2026 and those eligible to vote will have received voting instructions.

>> Elections to Synod information on CofE website

The inauguration of the twelfth General Synod will be on Tuesday, 17 November 2026. The election period began on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 and concludes on Monday, 19 October 2026.

The election timetables for dioceses as set by the House of Clergy Election Rules 2025 (HCR) and the House of Laity Election Rules 2025 (HLR) are now available.

A notable change from previous elections is that the archbishops no longer decide the election period, meaning dioceses now have very limited flexibility within the published timetables. Please ensure that every stage indicated in the timetables is completed by 5 pm on the date assigned for that stage.

General Synod Elections 2026 Candidates

Candidates for election to the House of Clergy

Bryony Taylor - view election address [PDF]

Emma Sykes - view election address [PDF]

Gary Weston - view election address [PDF]

Jason Ward - view election address [PDF]

Joanna Honour - view election address [PDF]

Julian Hollywell - view election address [PDF]

Phil Mann - view election address [PDF]

Sarah Watson - view election address [PDF]

>> Summary of Clergy Candidates and Nominators [PDF]

Candidates for election to the House of Laity

Andrew Whysall - view election address [PDF]

Bethany Sutherland - view election address [PDF]

Emily Brailsford - view election address [PDF]

John Payne - view election address [PDF]

Kat Alldread - view election address [PDF]

Louisa Wass Griffiths - view election address [PDF]

Peter Kelsey - view election address [PDF]

Rachel Bond - view election address [PDF]

Richard Lindop - view election address [PDF]

Stephen Wall - view election address [PDF]

Steve Johnson - view election address [PDF]

Sue Cavill - view election address [PDF]

>> Summary of Laity Candidates and Nominators [PDF]

Candidates responses to questions asked

As part of the election process, voters have been invited to submit questions for candidates and candidates have been invited to respond.
Responding to the questions is optional not a prerequisite.

>> Clergy candidates responses to questions raised [PDF]

>> Laity candidates responses to questions raised [PDF]

The Parish Support Team is acting only as a neutral facilitator in collecting and circulating these questions and answers. The wording and content of each question and answer are the responsibility of the individual voter who submitted it and the candidate who responded. These do not indicate endorsement by, or represent the views of, the Parish Support Team or the Diocese of Derby.

General Synod Election Resources

>> General Synod Explainer animation [YouTube]

The General Synod

The General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England. It came into being in 1970 under the Synodical Government Measure 1969, replacing an earlier body known as the Church Assembly.

The General Synod considers and approves legislation affecting the whole of the Church of England, formulates new forms of worship, debates matters of national and international importance, and approves the annual budget for the work of the Church at national level.

Houses of the General Synod

There are 483 members of General Synod. Members are arranged into three Houses:

House of Bishops

House of Clergy

House of Laity

Further information