General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Nigel Sarjudeen
Candidate for the House of Laity · Diocese of Chichester
“I’m unholy — that’s why I go to church.”*
Dear Elector,
I am standing for election to the General Synod because I love and follow (albeit failingly) the Lord Jesus Christ
and care deeply about the Church of England, wanting to serve its life, witness and renewal.
Bishop Hannington Church in Hove has been my church home for more than 40 years. I was first elected to a
PCC in London at the age of 17, and the years since have given me broad experience of parish, deanery,
diocesan, charitable and financial responsibility. Rooted in prayer and Scripture, I would bring practical
experience, careful preparation and independent judgement to Synod.
Experience I would bring
•
Parish and deanery life: at Bishop Hannington church I have served in many ways these five decades
including as small group leader, churchwarden (4 years, plus 3 currently), paid church administrator (16
years) and member of the parish Patronage Board. I have also served for the past nine years on Hove
Deanery Synod, including time on its Standing Committee.
•
Schools, governance and patronage: Chairing the governors at Aldrington CE Primary School led me
into the role of Diocesan School Governor Officer for nine years, work that took me into every deanery
and many linked parishes. Together, that experience has given me a real appreciation of the breadth of
the Diocese of Chichester. I also currently serve on the Diocesan Board of Patronage.
•
Finance, housing and practical responsibility: I have more than 30 years’ experience helping small
charities and church-related bodies use money carefully and well. This has included 30 years as director
and treasurer of a small housing association, trustee of St Bernard’s charity supporting women in
financial difficulty because of ill-health, and Finance Officer for Off The Fence, seeking an end to social
and spiritual poverty in Brighton and Hove.
•
Homelessness and care for people on the edge: My 10 years with Off The Fence, including eight years
in the Antifreeze homelessness service, deepened my concern for people who are often unseen or
unheard.
•
Teaching and lifelong learning: In my fifties I trained as a maths teacher, and I now teach maths part-
time to adults, helping learners gain confidence, skills and fresh opportunities (FSUK).
•
Young people and shared faith: CYFA Ventures have been part of my life across six decades, including
more than a decade on the catering team at Orwell. It remains one of the places where I
have seen faith, friendship and service grow together.
•
Running, fundraising and local community life: I enjoy running, have completed more
than 400 parkruns and all 16 Brighton Marathons, and have raised more than £21,000 for
the Martlets Hospice. I also enjoy being part of the local community as a windmill guide, live
music enthusiast and volunteer at Love Supreme Jazz Festival.
•
Family: I am married, with three married children who grew up at Bishop Hannington and
are all involved in leadership in their respective Anglican churches, and two grandchildren,
with two more due imminently.
•
Background and perspective: Born in Britain to Guyanese parents and of Indian ancestry, I value the
varied stories people bring to the Church and want all to be treated with dignity, opportunity and care. I
know minority ethnic experiences and hopes are diverse and should be heard carefully rather than
assuming any one narrative speaks for everyone from a minority ethnic background.

• The sub-heading refers to my 2002 TV appearance on The Weakest Link, where I won while

briefly becoming a waistcoat-wearing local celebrity. When asked by Anne Robinson whether
churchgoing meant I was especially holy, I replied, “I’m unholy — that’s why I go to church,”
though only “I’m unholy” survived the edit; the full answer still matters, namely that the Church is
not a club for the perfect, but a community of grace for those who know their need of God.

My priorities
•
Safeguarding and accountability: I want the Church to listen more deeply to survivors, strengthen
independent scrutiny, and make sure failures lead to honest learning and real change.
•
Mission and parish life: I want local churches to be encouraged in worship, evangelism, pastoral care
and service, with proper attention to the different pressures facing rural, urban, coastal and estate
communities.
•
A welcoming and faithful Church: The Church should speak and act with dignity, compassion and
faithfulness, including in disagreements about marriage and sexuality, upholding its traditional teaching
graciously, honestly and fairly while listening well to others.
•
Wise stewardship: I care about the transparent and sustainable use of money, buildings and national
resources, so that clergy, lay leaders and local churches are well supported and trained for future
ministry.
•
Truthful and gracious debate: I believe conviction and charity belong together. I will try to address
difficult questions plainly, avoid caricature, and work for unity without pretending that real
disagreements do not exist.
•
The persecuted Church: I want the Church of England to remember, pray for and stand with Christians
and churches globally facing pressure, violence or discrimination because of their faith.
•
Public witness: I want the Church to speak and act with those affected by poverty, injustice, conflict
and environmental harm, while keeping the good news of Jesus Christ and his offer of salvation central.
How I will serve
If elected, I will do the work carefully: reading papers thoroughly, asking constructive (sometimes awkward)
questions, helping on committees where I can be useful, and voting according to prayerful judgement rather
than factional loyalty. I will do my best to stay accessible to electors, to communicate regularly about Synod’s
work, and to bring the concerns of our diocese into national discussions. I will also report back honestly,
including when outcomes are complex or disappointing.
As the General Synod makes and scrutinises ecclesiastical legislation, considers worship and doctrine, debates
issues affecting Church and nation, and approves national budgets, I am aware that this careful, sometimes
demanding work needs humility, courage, preparation and a willingness to work well with people who do not
always agree. These are the qualities I will seek to bring to General Synod.
Why I am asking for your vote
I offer long experience of governance, finance, education, housing, homelessness services and parish life,
together with a deep knowledge of the diocese and its deaneries. These roles have taught me to work
constructively with people from different backgrounds, to look carefully at budgets and decisions, and to keep
the focus on the people our institutions exist to serve. I bring an independent mind, a collaborative spirit and a
willingness to do the detailed work well. I will not promise easy answers; I will promise to listen, prepare, pray,
speak plainly and serve faithfully – as I trust you will pray for all candidates.
I would be honoured to receive your first-preference vote and to represent the Diocese of Chichester in the
House of Laity.
Nominated by
Martin Lloyd, Lay Chair of Worthing Deanery and a former colleague in the Diocesan Schools Team
Jonathan Cooke, Deanery Treasurer for Hove Deanery.

Grace be with you,
Nigel Sarjudeen
[email protected]

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