anglo-catholic,catholic,disability,eucharist,inclusive,inclusive church,mass,outreach,parish share,pcc,rural communities,sexuality,tradition,young people

My name is Moira-Ann Grainger, a grandmother, an active member of All Saints PCC and
a former Mayor of Warwick. I have spent much of my adult life serving my local
community, both through local government, through community work and through the
Church. For nearly twenty years All Saints, Emscote has been the place where I have
found my spiritual home. I am standing for General Synod because I care deeply about
the future of the Church of England, about a Church that is welcoming and inclusive, that
works together rather than becoming divided into factions. A Church that remains rooted
and supportive of the parish communities it exists to serve.

I have been an active member of All Saint Church in Warwick having worshipped in a
number of local churches until I felt settled at All Saints. It is a church that offers a
wonderful welcome to everyone, and it is that inclusivity which make All Saints such a
happy place to worship. Everyone is welcome. We embrace all worshippers whatever
their ethnicity, sexuality, gender, disability - knowing we all God’s children. This warm
welcome and informality is balanced with our Eucharist services deeply rooted in the
Anglo-Catholic tradition, and the courses we offer to study the Bible and discuss our
faith.

Being a member of All Saints has also strengthened my belief in the importance of the
parish church. Although one of several Church of England churches in Warwick, All
Saints is very much a parish church, embedded in the community and locality it serves.
We know one another, support people in need, support our Church of England school
and community school, and engage with the wider community, while also supporting
missionary work both at home and abroad. I believe strongly that the parish church is
something we need to preserve and support across the country. Communities need to
know their parish priest, and their parish priest needs to know them. It is a unique
relationship, rooted both in the life of the community and in our relationship with God.

This is why I believe we need to be funding our parish churches and parish ministry, in a
far more equitable and sustainable way. How can we expect one person to be
responsible for both a parish and its buildings, while other churches are well funded and
have numerous members of staff? This is particularly important in poorer, deprived and

ELECTION TO THE GENERAL SYNOD 2026
For Diocese of Coventry

NAME Moira-Ann Grainger
CHRUCH All Saints, Emscote, Warwick
DEANERY SYNOD Warwick & Leamington

Nominator 1 by Sarah Boad
St Mary Magdalene, Leamington

Nominator 2 Gill Frigeio
All Saints, Emscote, Warwick

rural communities, where churches can struggle under the pressure of meeting their
parish share; this cannot be just. A full church on Sunday should not be the only measure
of a Parish Church’s success, how it delivers God’s work to the wider community must
count too.

Along with my belief in the importance of the parish church and to an inclusive church, I
bring practical experience of governance and decision-making. I have been a District and
Town Councillor for over 14 years, representing the All-Saints’ ward. I have therefore had
considerable experience of how policy is formed and delivered, how arguments are
developed and tested, and how decisions are made when people have very different
priorities.

The council chamber is, I suspect, is not that different from the General Synod in some
respects! Being a politically elected councillor also makes you very aware that different
groups will seek to influence and direct discussion. I recognise that similar dynamics will
exist in the General Synod, and I believe that being able to listen carefully, assess
arguments and ask questions is an important part of making good decisions. However, I
am no academic and live very much in the real world and am more than happy to ask
questions to fully understand more complex issues.

I am not afraid to say when I do not understand something, and I am more than happy to
ask questions until I do. I believe that is an important quality in any decision-making body,
particularly when the issues being discussed are complex and could have lasting
consequences for the life of the Church.

On the practical level I am currently a member of the church PCC and regularly assist
with ‘Messy Mass’. I am chairman of the St Ediths Charity; a large former church building;
adjacent to All Saints Church, that provides homes for adults with learning disabilities. I
am vice-chairman of the Trustees for The GAP, a community centre which provides
activities for all ages and needs within the community, including direct, specialist
outreach work for the local authorities. I am also a trustee for Warwick Apprentices; a
charity which awards small grants to young people entering higher education or training
within Warwick. These roles have given me a broad understanding of the ways in which
churches, charities, local government and communities work together, and of the
practical challenges faced by people and organisations trying to make a difference.

If elected to the General Synod, I would bring a strong commitment to the parish church,
a belief in an inclusive Church where everyone knows they are welcome, and practical
experience of governance and community life. I would listen to the people I represent,
ask questions when things are not clear, and be prepared to challenge where I believe it
is necessary.

I therefore feel I have a great deal to offer this Diocese at the General Synod, and I would
be very grateful for your support.