Synod Election
View your local area candidates up for election
Voting opens
Invitations issued electronically
21/09/26
Voting closes
(postal votes close on 12th)
13/10/26
Results declared
Published on Diocesan websites
19/10/26
All the candidates listed below have signed to show their public agreement with, and commitment to equitable inclusion and accessibility in the Church of England. There are others we know are fully supportive of our work, but feel unable to be named publicly, for whatever reason. However, unless you know someone personally or have asked them directly, if they are not listed here do not assume you share the same values. It is not uncommon for people to avoid being transparent and open about their real opinions and priorities. Same-sex relationships and Gender equality are two key issues it is wise to seek clarity on.
Guidance to Voters
- Find your diocese in the list above, and make a note of the candidates standing in your election.
- The candidates listed here have publicly signed up to the broad inclusion statement (stated above) of the Inclusive Synod campaign. We suggest that you give these candidates serious consideration when deciding how to use your preferences. Please be aware, the order in which they appear is not a recommendation or ranking. Nor are we here to tell you how to cast your ballot: your vote is yours, and the final decision is yours. We simply want to equip you to make informed choices.
- Read, ask and consider – Head to your diocesan website and read the candidates’ election statements carefully. Look beyond the headline words. What do candidates actually say about the issues that matter to you and your community, including women’s ministry, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, racial justice, disability, poverty and participation? If a candidate hasn’t said where they stand on something that matters to you, don’t assume you know the answer. If you’re unsure, ask them.
- Use your preferences thoughtfully – Rank the candidates according to your own priorities and convictions. You don’t have to rank every candidate, and you should not feel obliged to give a preference to someone you would not want representing you on General Synod.
- Don’t be afraid to stop. You don’t need to use every available preference simply because you can!
- Talk about it – Share the candidate lists and regional videos with other voters — clergy and lay alike. Why not bring up the elections at church this Sunday? Talk together about the issues that matter in your context, encourage people to read candidates’ statements and, where appropriate, invite candidates to answer questions. Wider conversations in our churches can only strengthen the connection between the halls of Synod and the pews of local churches.
Candidates by Region
*indicates they would be new to General Synod
North East : Durham, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, York
Regional candidate video – North East
Durham
Clergy
- Chantal Noppen
- Donna Robinson*
- Simon McMurtary*
Laity
- Adam Ellison*
- Cate Mayes*
- Frances Stenlake*
- Tim Packer*
- Richard Scothon*
Leeds
Clergy
- Catherine Shelley
- Debbie Nash*
- Joanne Medhurst*
- Rachel Firth
- Robb Sutherland
- Wendy Dalrymple
Laity
- Catherine Stephenson
- Diana Tremayne
- Hilary Paxton
- Hugh Lorimer*
- Jo Beacroft Mitchell*
- Judith Osborne
Newcastle
Clergy
- Catherine Sourbut Groves*
- Zoe Heming
Laity
- Charlotte Clarke*
- David Julian Casati*
- Izzy McDonald-Booth
- Nic Denyer
Sheffield
Clergy
- Claire Dawson*
- Jacqui Jones*
- Sarah Maughan*
Laity
- Cathy Rhodes
- Christine Batchford*
- Sue Shirt*
York
Clergy
- Cate Turner*
- Liz Hassall
- John Hoyland*
- Mel Burnside*
Laity
- Celia Oldroyd*
- Gerald Fox*
- Heather Baker
- Sammi Tooze
- Sue Pascoe*
- Tim Moore*
North West: Blackburn, Carlisle, Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, Sodor & Man
Regional candidate video – North West
Blackburn
Clergy
- Calum Chrome-Frisbie
- Kat Gregory-Witham*
Laity
- Margaret (Mags) Carr*
- Matthew Smith*
- Paul Hannah
- Paul Ronson
Carlisle
Clergy
- Andrew Burrell*
Laity
- Charlotte Lait*
- Christine Burgess
- Rachel Rose*
Chester
Clergy
- Emma Speake
- Hannah Harvey*
- Jenny Bridgman
- Liz England*
Laity
- Alan Dowen
- David Hermitt
- Janette Allotey
- Jason Clarke
- Jonny Masters*
- Sam Wilson
Liverpool
Clergy
- Kimberley Mannings*
- Miranda Threlfall-Holmes
- Philip Anderson
- Ravinder Sangra*
- Rebecca Lloyd*
Laity
- Nadine Daniel
- Tobias Threlfall-Homes*
- Warren Bohan*
Manchester
Clergy
- Andy Salmon
- Gareth Thomas
- Kenson Li
- Liz Rowles*
- Marie Pattison*
- Paul Pritchard*
Laity
- Abby Ogier
- Christine Sharp*
- James Wilson
- John Hobson
- Rob Chilton*
Sodor and Man
Clergy
- Liz Hull
Laity
- Linda Mann
East Anglia: Chelmsford, Ely, Norwich, St Eds & Ips, St Albans
Regional candidate video – East Anglia
Chelmsford
Clergy
- Jane Richards
- Neil Dalley*
- Neil-Allan Walsh*
- Sarah Moss*
- Sue Lucas
Laity
- Gill Ball
- Kat D’Arcy-Cumber
- Robert Hammond
Ely
Clergy
- Diane Kutar*
- Nick Moir
- Paul Hutchinson*
- Sarah Gower*
Laity
- Andy Gordon*
- Kirsten Watson*
Norwich
Clergy
- Charles Read*
- Graham Kirk-Spriggs
- Hannah Morris*
- Simon Ward
Laity
- Alex Perry*
- Helen Grogutt*
- Pam Spychal*
St Albans
Clergy
- Anne-Marie Kramer*
- Lucy Davis
- Rachel Wakefield
- Sara Batts-Neale
- Tim Bull
Laity
- Becky Mynett
- Elizabeth Hedison*
- Sheila Bissell
St Eds & Ips
Clergy
- Ben Edwards*
Laity
- Alexander Berry
- Helen Clarkson-Fieldsend*
- Chris Findlay*
East Midlands: Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Peterborough, Southwell & Notts
Regional candidate video – East Midlands
Derby
Clergy
- Bryony Taylor*
- Julian Hollywell
- Sarah Watson*
Laity
- Emily Brailsford*
- Kat Alldread
- Louisa Wass Griffiths*
Leicester
Clergy
- Clive Watts
- Emma Davies*
Laity
- Carys Underdown*
- Charlotte Dodson*
- Joel Plant
Lincoln
Clergy
- Stuart Cradduck
- Rowena King
Laity
- Neill Hepburn*
- Nigel Bacon
- Paul Brewster
Peterborough
Clergy
- Andrew Birks*
- George Brett*
- Rowan Williams
Laity
- Corinne Stefanowicz*
- Natalie Watson
- Vicky Brett
Southwell & Notts
Clergy
- Tim Fox*
Laity
- Callum Parr*
- Ian Boothroyd
- Peter Harris
West Midlands: Birmingham, Coventry, Hereford, Lichfield, Worcester
Regional candidate video – West Midlands
Birmingham
Clergy
- Douglas Machirizda
- Jenni Crewes*
- Theresa Morton*
Laity
- Dawn Brathwaite
- Rachel Jepson
Coventry
Clergy
- Claire McArthur
Laity
- Blessing Alayande*
- Katie Hartless Rose*
- Sarah Matthews*
Lichfield
Clergy
- Abbie Walsh
Laity
- Deborah Alero King*
- Jessica Holmes*
- Joe Porter*
Worcester
Clergy
- Adam Hadley*
- Becky Elliott*
- Claire Lording
Laity
- Hannah Barlow*
- Kashmir Garton
- Lynn Nichol
- Robin Lunn
London & Europe: Europe, London, Southwark
Regional candidate video – London & Europe
Europe
Clergy
- Fiona Jack
- Jeremy Auld*
- Tuomas Mäkipää
Laity
- Lester Carissimi*
- Ludovic Claude
- Ruth Leach*
London
Clergy
- Andy Haith
- Ann Lynes*
- Brandon Fletcher-James*
- Francesco Aresco
- Jody Stowell
- Martine Oborne*
- Robert Thompson
Laity
- Charles Edward Lord*
- Fiona MacMillan
- Josile (Jo) Munro
- Philip Baldwin
- Robert Zampetti
- Shaun O’Brien*
Southwark
Clergy
- Andrew Mumby
- Anna Norman-Walker
- Antonio García Fuerte*
- Calum Zuckert*
- Charlie Bączyk-Bell
- Jenny Walpole*
- Jonathan MacNeaney
- Melanie Harrington-Haynes*
Laity
- Alison Tomkins*
- Cheryl Bartels*
- Ethan Glackin-McColgan*
- Eve Bradshaw*
- Grahame Woods*
- Jim Nurton*
- Paul Waddell
- Piotr Bączyk-Bell*
South East: Canterbury, Chichester, Guildford, Oxford, Portsmouth, Rochester
Regional candidate video – South East
Canterbury
Clergy
- Rachel Webbley
- Ravi Holy
Laity
- Judith Andrews*
- Shannon Short*
Chichester
Clergy
- Caroline Armitage*
- Daniel Valentine*
- Jack Dunn*
- Jo King*
- Martin Poole
Laity
- Florence Sparham*
- Gilli Howarth*
- Mark Gill*
- Martin Auton-Lloyd
- Richard Soppitt*
Guildford
Clergy
- Barnaby Perkins
- Jo Winn-Smith
Laity
- Donna Miller*
- Judy Young*
- Leslie King*
Oxford
Clergy
- Chris Dingwall-Jones
- Mark Bennet
- Sam Tanna-Korn*
- Steve O’Connor*
- Sue Booys*
- Val Plumb
- Will Lamb*
Laity
- Alexandra Scott*
- Deborah Kidd*
- Helen King
- Jeremy Lasman*
- Julie Dziegiel
- Nathaniel Miles*
- Peter Barrett
- Rosemary Newman*
Portsmouth
Clergy
Laity
- Steven Smart*
- Vanda Leary*
Rochester
Clergy
- Allie Kerr*
- Trudi Oliver
Laity
- Gill Cain
- Jane Rosam
- Tim Harrold*
South West: Bath & Wells, Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester, Salisbury, Truro, Winchester
Regional candidate video – South West
Bath & Wells
Clergy
- Helen Drever*
Laity
- Alison Horsey*
- Christina Baron
- Eleanor Motion*
- Peter Skett*
Bristol
Clergy
- Adam Beaumont
- Alice Kemp
- Kat Campion-Spall
Laity
- Auriol Britton*
- Brendan Biggs
- Toni Glazzard*
Exeter
Clergy
- Emma Loveridge*
- Morwenna Ludlow
- Rosie Austin
Laity
- Kerry Gilbert*
- Simon Friend
- Vivien Southall
Gloucester
Clergy
- James Turk
- Katrina Scott
- Natalie Jennings*
Laity
- Hannah Leckebusch*
- Margaret Sheather
- Nic Tall
Winchester
Clergy
- Charlie Salmons*
- Rachel Noel*
Laity
- Morgan Llewellyn-MacDuff*
- Tim Nickels*
Salisbury
Clergy
- Lesley Jones
- Ruth Howlett-Shipley
Laity
- Jason Wyles*
Turo
Clergy
- Andrew Yates
Laity
- Diana Favell
Universities & TEIs: clergy candidates
Universities & TEIs
Clergy
- Helen Dawes*
- Steffan Mathias*
- Angela Sheard*i
The conversation doesn’t end with the ballot.
General Synod elections are important, but they’re not the whole story. There are inclusive voices widely spread across the Church, including some who may not appear on our lists for all sorts of reasons. Some may not have publicly signed the joint campaign statement; others may be serving in contexts where publicly declaring their position is complicated. We don’t want to lose sight of those voices either.
The election is an opportunity to start talking, not a reason to stop. Whoever gets elected, there will still be questions to ask, relationships to build, churches to resource and exclusion to challenge. That’s what Inclusive Church is here for. Not just for three Synod groupings a year, but for the other 365 days too.
The election will be over soon. The work won’t.
Keep asking questions. Keep having conversations. Keep listening to people whose experiences are different from your own. And keep talking to us.