General Synod Election Candidates 2026

James Cary - General Synod Election 2026 Address
House of Laity, Diocese of Bath & Wells

James Cary
Proposed by Katherine Cannell
Seconded by Rob Dean
I’m 50. Born in Frome. Raised in Beckington.
Married Melissa at St Mary’s, Mudford. We now
attend St John’s Church in Yeovil with our two
daughters (18 & 16) where I help lead the
Pathfinders group (11-14s).
I’m a BBC comedy writer, having worked on
Miranda, My Family, Milton Jones’ radio shows,
co-created Bluestone 42 and even ended up co-
writing an episode of Death in Paradise! I’ve
written two books on comedy and religion, The
Sacred Art of Joking and The Gospel According To A Sitcom Writer (SPCK).
I’ve toured numerous churches in the UK with one-man “stand-up theology”
shows like God, the Bible and Everything (in 60 minutes). I have also written and
produced plays about faith including The God Particle which is about to be
revived by Riding Lights Theatre in York.
I believe the Church of England is uniquely positioned to serve and bless our
nation through the proclamation of the gospel, the discipleship of followers
of Jesus Christ and the formation of communities. I am keen to play my part
and use my time and experience to continue to serve on the General Synod.
11 Years of Experience on General Synod
I was honoured to be elected to represent the Diocese of Bath & Wells in the
House of Laity at General Synod in 2015. Since then, I have spent 11 years
learning the ropes and understanding how the Church of England works (and
doesn’t work).
6 Years of Experience on the Archbishops’ Council
In 2019, I was elected to represent the House of Laity on the Archbishops’
Council, where I had to learn how all of the National Church Institutions operate
and profoundly affect life in the parishes. I also gained invaluable experience
working across various traditions, which is where the vitality of the Church of
England comes from.
Please vote for ‘James Cary’ for General Synod. Thank you.

James Cary - General Synod Election 2026 Address
House of Laity, Diocese of Bath & Wells
This is why I remain committed to the Five Guiding Principles and am proud to
chair the 1990 Group on General Synod, so that all can remain within the Church
of England and work together to be a source of unity and blessing for our nation.
Commitment to Children and Young People
My work on the Archbishops’ Council contributed to the focus on resourcing and
equipping for children and young people who are turning to the Church for roots,
stability and guidance in ever greater numbers. I’ve seen this firsthand at my own
church through the groups for children and young people, as well as in the lives of
the friends of my teenage daughters. I have also been encouraged by responses to
the Faith in Families podcast I co-host and produce for Faith in Kids.
To this end, we need to ensure that our churches are truly wonderful places for
children to come, where they feel safe and welcome. To help make this possible, I
have served on the National Safeguarding Steering Group, as well as being a
member of the Redress Scheme Board.
Commitment to Local Churches & Parish Ministry
If you watch my YouTube channel, you will see how excited I am by the historic
presence of parish churches in the heart of every community. These places must
be cherished, protected and resourced. Parish churches are beacons of hope at the
heart of communities, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, expressed in a way
that is local and relatable, as well as historic. Chaplaincy has its place, but parishes
must be the main place where the majority of discipleship happens.
I would, therefore, really value a first or high preference for me, JAMES
CARY, in this election. Thank you.
For more information:
If you have any questions for me at all, please email me at
[email protected]
You could also watch some of my videos on my YouTube channel by searching for
“James Cary”.
Please vote for ‘James Cary’ for General Synod. Thank you.

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