General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Revd Steve Rees - Candidate for House of Clergy
If you have any questions, please be in touch.
Email [email protected]
Proposer: Revd James di Castiglioni – Chanctonbury Church, Ashington
Seconder: Revd Lisa Fairman-Brown – All Saints Church Wick, Littlehampton

This is the first time I have offered myself for election to General Synod. I do so because I love the
Church of England and long to see it grow and flourish as we work together to help more people know,
love, and follow Jesus.
I am married to Jenny, and we have five children. Our eldest three are married, and we recently
welcomed our first granddaughter. Our youngest two are still at home. Family life is full and joyful—
with a dog and some chickens. I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home, where my
parents faithfully prayed with us and taught us the Bible. I came to faith in Jesus as a child, and
through all the joys and challenges of life I have discovered Him to be a faithful Shepherd and
wonderful Saviour.
When Jenny and I married, her Anglican church became our spiritual home. We served together in
children’s and youth ministry while teaching in primary schools, and it was during those years that
God called me into ordained ministry.
I served my curacy in the Cotswolds in the Diocese of Gloucester, travelling between five rural
churches. I then served as Vicar of a parish in Potters Bar, Diocese of St Albans, before becoming
Vicar of All Saints, Crowborough, in the Diocese of Chichester, where I have had the joy of serving for
the past ten years. I serve on Rotherfield Deanery Synod and Diocesan Synod.
Parish ministry
While parish ministry is often challenging and complex, one of the greatest privileges has been seeing
people of all ages and backgrounds gather to worship Jesus and then serve Him in church and in the
community.
At All Saints, I have particularly valued:
•
Seeing people come to faith through our outreach Life Series course, held in our local
Wetherspoons, with many going on to be baptised and becoming active members of the
church family.
•
Developing a ministry among asylum seekers at the Crowborough accommodation centre,
where I lead a weekly Bible study, welcome people into church life, and help connect them
with churches when they move on.
•
Building strong links with our Church of England primary school, welcoming children into
church worship and sharing regularly in school life.

Priorities for General Synod
Evangelism, discipleship and leadership
The Church of England exists to help people discover the love of Jesus Christ and grow as his
disciples. Across our nation there are encouraging signs of hope: people coming to faith, lives being
transformed, and churches finding new ways to share the good news.
I want to encourage a Church that is confident in proclaiming the Gospel, committed to helping
people grow as disciples, and intentional about developing leaders who serve with humility and
courage. We should also seek to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy so that our time and energy are
focused on mission and serving our communities.
Adoption, fostering and vulnerable children
Following the Church of England’s apology for its historic role in the forced separation of unmarried
mothers and their children, we have an opportunity to demonstrate practical compassion for
vulnerable children and families today.
As an adoptive parent, this is deeply personal to me. I want to see the Church become an even
stronger advocate for adoption and fostering; encouraging, equipping, and supporting those who
offer loving homes to children in need. Because we have been adopted into God’s family through
Christ, we should be a Church that stands with vulnerable children, supports families in difficulty,
and offers practical love and hope.
Human sexuality and marriage
The years ahead will require us to continue the important conversations emerging from the Living in
Love and Faith process. These are deeply significant issues that require humility, compassion and
careful listening.
My own convictions remain rooted in the traditional teaching of the Church on marriage and
singleness. I hope that we will seek to be faithful to Scripture, attentive to the Holy Spirit, and shaped
by the love and grace of Christ.
Safeguarding
As a parish minister, I know that nothing is more important than ensuring our churches are safe
places for everyone. Failures in safeguarding cause deep harm and damage the Church’s witness.
I am committed to helping the Church become a model of best practice, where the vulnerable are
protected, survivors are heard, and every person is treated with dignity and care.
A hope-filled future
As an evangelical Christian, I believe the future is full of opportunity. Parish by parish, we can make
Jesus known and see lives, families, and communities transformed by the hope and salvation He
brings. General Synod has a unique opportunity to help drive the re-evangelisation of our nation, and
that is something that genuinely excites me.
Thank you for reading this election address. I would be most grateful for your vote.

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