General Synod Election Candidates 2026

CANON ROBERT HAMMOND
GENERAL SYNOD 2026
Dear Deanery Synod Member
Why am I asking for your first preference vote, again?
It has been a huge privilege to have represented you for 26 years on
General Synod and to help enable the Church to bring the Good
News of the Gospel to a world that has never needed it so badly. In
that time I’ve spoken about and voted for many things including
Safeguarding, full inclusion of everyone in all aspects of Church life,
the need for a better process to appoint Bishops, the importance of
increasing the number of young people in our Churches and on
Synod and a better, fairer way of distributing historic funding to our
Parishes. I have enjoyed reporting back to Diocesan Synod and my link
Deaneries and discussing Synod with you. I was particularly pleased to
have ensured that the recent Chelmsford Diocesan Motion requesting
an increase to property financial limits was achieved quickly without
the need for a lengthy Synodical process.
I understand the Church of England, its structures and how to get
things done. I attend all Archbishops’ Council meetings as a
Participant Observer and am the appointed Vice Chair of the Dioceses
Commission which reviews diocesan boundaries and approves
suffragan bishop vacancies. I know our Diocese well, have been
involved in almost all senior diocesan appointments, am a Bishop’s
Advisor in the discernment process and, as Diocesan Lay Chair, I take
time to listen to the concerns of all the laity.
I have the time, knowledge and experience to continue to represent
Chelmsford Diocese diligently and effectively. If elected again I will
continue to represent the laity of Essex and East London on General
Synod and take important decisions to revive our church and make
Christ known to everyone. It would be an honour to continue to
represent you and to continue in the Lord’s service.
A Strong and Effective Voice for Chelmsford Diocese, Parishes and Inclusion
I’m very grateful to Canon
Caroline Harding (Diocesan Lay
Vocations Advisor and Warden of
Readers) for proposing me and to
Adrian Smith (Lay Chair Maldon
and Dengie) for seconding me.
What do I bring from my
working life?
I recently retired from paid work as Deputy
Director of Estates after 35 years in the
Civil Service. I have set up and led an
Organisation Design function so
understand governance, legislation and
delivering policy. I’m an effective
committee member and chair. I know how
to get things done and have a track record
of delivery through consultation.
I am an independent member of
Southend City Council’s Standards and
Conduct Committee advising on
complaints against serving councillors.
My Church Involvement
Lifelong Christian, worshiped and fully
involved in Church life at Chelmsford
Cathedral then the Parish Churches where
I have lived.
• PCC Secretary of St Alban’s Westcliff-on-
Sea in Southend Deanery
• Lay Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral
• Lay Chair of Chelmsford Diocesan
Synod and Trustee of the Diocesan
Board of Finance
• Past Lay Chair of Chelmsford Deanery
• Significant Synod experience over 26
years serving on many Boards, Councils
and committees including chairing the
Cathedrals Measure 2021 Steering
Committee
• First lay person to be elected by
General Synod as Chair of the Business
Committee
• Member of the Society of the
Resurrection, Mirfield.

MY PRIORITIES:
Finances
Many Parishes in our Diocese, especially rural and inner city ones,
are struggling financially and many of you have already told me
this is your key priority. It is ridiculous that the National Church
allocates half a billion pounds a year from its £11bn assets which is
bid for and generally goes to large ‘growth’ projects at the expense
of paying the stipends of Vicars in ‘ordinary’ Parishes. If distributed
directly, it would almost pay the stipend of every clergy person in
the Church each year. We will soon start another National Triennium
Funding Review and I will represent the views of the Diocese back to
Archbishops’ Council and Synod. I agree with Save The Parish that
the Church Commissioners should directly support Parish
Ministry. I will argue for that so that Parish Share can be kept as low
as possible and more of your giving and parish money be freed up
to support our buildings and local parish ministry decisions.
The Parish
The Parish is the foundation of our Church, where Mission and
Ministry happens, with a Parish Priest supported by countless
volunteers. I agree with Save the Parish that we need a ‘Charter of
Care’ for Clergy, to properly resource Parishes from historic funds
and not constantly increase Parish Share, to honour and resource the
volunteers who hold parishes together and to reform the Mission
and Pastoral Measure. New ‘projects’ seldom deliver the growth
expected and often undermine our traditional parish system.
Inclusion
I am fully committed to equality for everyone, at all levels and
roles within the Church, regardless of disability, economic power,
ethnicity, sex, gender identity, learning disability, mental health,
neurodiversity or sexuality. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are all one
in Jesus Christ” (Gal 3:28).
Safeguarding
This is an absolute priority for our Church. We need to implement
the Independent Safeguarding Structures, (although I have deep
concerns about the current proposals), have clarity for our parishes
and improve our credibility with the Charity Commissioners whist
making the burden on our volunteers and paid staff manageable.
Children and Young People
It’s vital that the Church continues to engage with and bring the
Gospel to Children and Young People; as a previous Youth Group
Leader I know that. But we also need to value the experiences of
Young People in our structures and Synods. I’m pleased to have
spoken about this at Synod and then arranged for five Young People
to be co-opted onto General Synod, bringing their important voice
and experience to our discussions and debates.
I would really appreciate your 1st, or a high preference vote, to enable me to continue to represent
Chelmsford Diocese at all levels and to help make the Church fit for God’s purpose.
I’M CONCERNED ABOUT:
Our National Structure and Cost
Nationally, I continue to believe we have
too many dioceses and too many
bishops, especially suffragan, costing us
too much money. Smaller Dioceses
should be joined together, reducing
overall costs and the number of staff,
including bishops. I served on the
Dioceses Commission when the Diocese
of Leeds was created which has resulted
in significantly reduced costs. Now, as
Vice Chair of the Dioceses Commission I
will actively look for opportunities to join
smaller dioceses and reap the benefits of
collaboration and efficiency. I have
recently been appointed by the Church
Commissioners to the ‘Bishops and
Archbishops Ministry Savings Steering
Group’ which is tasked to reduce costs by
10% , something that must happen
quickly.
Representation
General Synod members represent their
diocese. They will show the theological
differences across our Diocese, but
members should represent the agreed
views of, for example, Diocesan Synod,
even if they don’t agree and vote against
motions. I moved the motion at
November 2025 Diocesan Synod, which
was overwhelmingly carried, to request
General Synod members to represent
the views of our Synod on finance and I
will do that. I listen to what matters to the
laity and I do something about it!
Evangelism and Growth
In the midst of concerns about finance,
structure and organisation we mustn’t
forget what we are here for: to bring
God’s Kingdom to everyone. We must
grow more disciples, lay and ordained,
properly finance their training and equip
our leaders to Grow the Kingdom.
Thank you for reading this address.
I am always happy to discuss Synod
matters and answer any questions:
Canon Robert Hammond
35 Avenue Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
[email protected]
Tel 07711 672308

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