General Synod election 2026

In Autumn this year, elections are taking place to elect new General Synod members and the following nominations for election have been received.

Click on the candidate’s name to download their election address.

Nominees and election addresses

Clergy
Candidate (click on the candidate name for their election address)	Nominator 1	Nominator 2
Helen Drever	Tobias Charles Osmond	Elizabeth Anne Dudley
Roger Driver	Jane Durham	Caroline Deakin
Richard Miles	Susan Osmond	Jonathan Ball
Benjamin Notley	Tim Lewis	Laura Doe
Joanna Stobart	Charles Peer	Rob Eastwood Dewing
Cathie Watson	Nigel Williams	Caroline Deakin
Lay
Candidate (click on the candidate name for their election address)	Nominator 1	Nominator 2
David Akerman	David Walker	Christopher Chanter
Christina Baron	Steven Pugsley	Valerie Barker
Peter Blair	Dr Mary Udale-Smith	Mr Peter Bossom
Elizabeth Brierley	Nigel Bennett	Diana Brown
James Cary	Katherine Cannell	Rob Dean
Christopher Chanter	Chris Steel	David Akerman
Maureen Ellis	Jean Sellick	Nicola King
Joseph Hardin	Barney Frith	Doreen Maitland
Mike Hodson	Sally Bult	Margaret Tatham
Alison Horsey	Kathryn Louise Slader Tucker	Mal Lee
Richard Meryon	Rob Dean	Jane Bradby
Eleanor Motion	Christina Baron	Christine Rickard
Sarah Packman	Dr Caroline Mason	Captain Christopher Hughes
Peter Skett	Doug Fraser	Angela Fraser
Rhoda Wilson	Christopher Harris	William John Gregory Osmond

Key dates

• 21 September to 13 October: Voting period (postal vote closes 12 October). 
• Zoom Hustings (Lay), to which all lay electors and candidates are invited: Monday 21st September between 7.00pm and 9.00pm
• Zoom Hustings (Clergy), to which all clergy electors and candidates are invited: Tuesday 22nd September between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
• 19 October: All results declared.  
• 16-18 November: New members take part in November 2026 Synod.  

Electors

An elector in the Church of England is a qualified voter who belongs to either the laity or the clergy. They have the power to nominate candidates and vote for members representing their diocese in the national assembly.

Electors are members of a Deanery Synod. They will be able to nominate candidates for election when nominations open on 14 August.

If you are not an eligible elector but meet the qualifications to stand as a candidate and wish to do so, please refer to the guidance available on this page and email presiding.officer@bathwells.anglican.org.

The election process will be run by Civica Election Services using an online portal; however for those who wish to use a paper-based system this will still be possible. Voting will take place using the single transferable vote (STV) system.  Electors will be notified of the arrangements separately.

What is General Synod?

General Synod is the Church of England’s national assembly, bringing together bishops, clergy and laity from across the country to make decisions about the Church’s life and work. It approves legislation, shapes national policy, authorises new forms of worship and agrees the annual budget. Members are a mixture of bishops, clergy and lay people.

This video explains all about General Synod and how it works. More information about the role of General Synod is available on the Church of England’s website.

In the Diocese of Bath and Wells we have 4 members of clergy and 5 members of laity. General Synod members represent the whole range of people and churches in the Church of England.

What does a General Synod member do?

• They represent the concerns of their community and their diocese at a national level.
• Members speak in debates, propose and vote on motions, serve on committees and review legislation.
• They have a say in national legislation that affects all parts of the Church of England.
• Can raise issues and contribute to debates on social and policy matters.
• Are involved in the national governance of the Church.

Who can stand as a lay member of the General Synod?

Almost anyone who attends a Church of England church regularly is eligible to stand as a candidate for the General Synod. You do not need to be a member of your deanery synod or diocesan synod to stand as a candidate. You need to be aged 18 or over, confirmed, on the electoral roll and have taken communion at least three times in the past year. The Church of England website has a quick eligibility checker as well as more in-depth information about eligibility to stand.

Who to contact

or Peter Evans, email: Presiding.Officer@bathwells.anglican.org, telephone: 01749 685108 

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