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Last updated 29th October 2026

General Synod Elections 2026

Election results for the 2026 elections.

Following the election count, the following people have been elected to General Synod to serve for the 2026-2031 term. Our Diocese has been allocated five seats in the House of Clergy and seven seats in the House of Laity.

House of Clergy

Paul Benfield
Katherine Gregory-Witham
Jonny Wei Sing Lee
Joanne Smith
Tom Woolford

House of Laity

Stephen Boyall
Margaret Carr
David Gascoigne
Hannah Lockwood
Paul Hannah
Rosemary Lyon
Paul Ronson

 

The election addresses of the selected candidates are found below, along with the full results sheet. Should a casual vacancy arise amongst the elected members during the first two years of the Synod's life, the vacancy may be filled through a countback of these election results.

HOUSE OF CLERGY

Paul Benfield - election address Paul Benfield - photo
Katherine Gregory-Witham - election address Katherine Gregory-Witham - photo
Jonny Wei Sing Lee - election address Jonny Wei Sing Lee  - photo
Joanne Smith - election address Joanne Smith - photo
Tom Woolford - election address Tom Woolford - photo

Results Sheet-House of Clergy

Results-Order of Election

HOUSE OF LAITY

Stephen Boyall - election address Stephen Boyall - photo
Margaret Carr - election address Margaret Carr - photo
David Gascoigne - election address David Gascoigne - photo
Paul Hannah - election address Paul Hannah - photo
Hannah Lockwood - election address Hannah Lockwood - photo
Rosemary Lyon - election address Rosemary Lyon - photo
Paul Ronson - election address Paul Ronson - photo

Results Sheet-House of Laity

Results Order of Election

General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England. It considers and approves legislation affecting the Church, agrees forms of worship, debates matters of national and international importance, and approves the budget for the Church’s work at national level.

 

Meetings of the General Synod

Blackburn General Synod Members Expenses Policy

General Synod Elections Timetable

Method of Voting in Elections to the General Synod

 

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