General Synod
General Synod
The General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England. 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.
Find information about the General Synod here.
General Synod Election 2026
Full elections are taking place this summer for the 2026 – 2031 quinquennium. Five lay and five clergy representatives will be elected. Find more information here
Remaining Timetable
Monday 21st September
Invitations to vote are issued and the voting period opens
Monday 12th October
Voting period for voting by paper closes
Tuesday 13th October
Voting period for voting by using elections portal closes
Friday 16th October
Day of the count
Monday 19th October
Deadline for declaration of result
Voters and Candidates
For information about who qualifies as a voter and who can stand for election please follow this link Who can stand and who can vote in the General Synod election?
Clergy Candidates
Clicking on a candidate’s name will open their election address in a new window. Candidates have also been given the option and the opportunity to respond to 5 key questions (a strict maximum of 200 words per response). To see these for each person please click on ‘Questions and Answers Surname’
The Revd Preb. Rosie Austin Questions and Answers Austin
The Revd Matthew Cashmore Questions and Answers Cashmore
The Ven. Douglas Dettmer Questions and Answers Dettmer
The Revd Matt Gorton Questions and Answers Gorton
The Revd Graham Hamilton Questions and Answers Hamilton
The Revd Deborah Leighton Plom Questions and Answers Leighton Plom
The Revd Dr Emma Loveridge Questions and Answers Loveridge
The Revd Canon Prof. Morwenna Ludlow Questions and Answers Ludlow
The Revd James Moore Questions and Answers Moore
The Revd Tandy Ruoff Questions and Answers Ruoff
Lay Candidates
Clicking on a candidate’s name will open their election address in a new window. Candidates have also been given the option and the opportunity to respond to 5 key questions (a strict maximum of 200 words per response). To see these for each person please click on ‘Questions and Answers Surname’
Mr Richard Buzzacott Questions and Answers Buzzacott
Mrs Jill Caporn Questions and Answers Caporn
Mrs Anna Crabbe Questions and Answers Crabbe
Dr Richard Davis Questions and Answers Davis
Mr William Duncan Questions and Answers Duncan
Mr Simon Friend Questions and Answers Friend
Dr Kerry Gilbert Questions and Answers Gilbert
Mr Andrew Jenkins Questions and Answers Jenkins
Mrs Clare Lillington Questions and Answers Lillington
Dr Bijan Omrani Questions and Answers Omrani
Mrs Elizabeth Ann Pangbourne Questions and Answers Pangbourne
Dr Francis Hugh Sansbury Questions and Answers Sansbury
Mr Peter Sarjeant Not submitted
Mrs Karen Silcox Questions and Answers Silcox
Dr Vivien Southall Questions and Answers Southall
Conduct
Diocesan Synod has approved the following code of conduct for the elections to General Synod. It is for candidates and other participants in the electoral process – please do give it careful consideration.
Diocesan Code of Conduct for Elections
If you have any concerns about the conduct of any aspect of the elections, please contact the Presiding Officer at [email protected] A formal appeals process is available and details can be found in the election rules of each of the houses of clergy and laity, available on the national General Synod elections website.
For the Diocesan Privacy Notice, please click here
