General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Election Statement by Paul Wigmore
General Synod Elections 2026 – House of Laity
My journey of faith
My journey of faith began in childhood, growing up in an active evangelical Baptist church on a council estate in Crawley, Sussex. I was baptised as a child and became involved in Sunday School, the Boys’ Brigade and Christian Endeavour. The encouragement and example of Christian leaders helped me to develop a personal faith and, as a teenager, I made a conscious decision to follow Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I was subsequently baptised by full immersion.
From an early age, I was encouraged to take responsibility and serve others. Through the Boys’ Brigade and other youth organisations, I developed as a Christian leader, working with young people and supporting them in their faith and personal development.
As my life changed and my family and I moved to different parts of the UK, my Christian faith remained a constant. Prayer and a desire to serve God and my local community have continued to guide me. Wherever we have lived, I have sought to become actively involved in the life of the local church and wider community, including serving in church leadership and youth ministry. At one stage, I was involved in the development and building of a new church near Plymouth.
My many years of working with young people also led me to return to further education later in life, eventually qualifying as a teacher (the first in my family to obtain a degree). This reinforced my commitment to helping young people recognise their potential, develop their gifts and experience something of Christ’s love through the support and example of others.
Serving the Church in France
My wife and I moved to France in 2017 and have worshipped at Eymet Temple, part of the Church of England’s Chaplaincy of Aquitaine in the Diocese in Europe.
I wanted to use my experience of leadership, education, safeguarding, pastoral care, governance and financial oversight to serve our local church. I was elected Local Church Warden; I serve on the Church Council and represent Chaplaincy of Aquitaine on the Archdeaconry Synod of France.
During this time, our congregation has experienced encouraging growth. Together, we have re-established regular prayer meetings and Bible study groups and have sought to strengthen both our worshipping life and our outreach to the wider community. These developments have been built on prayer, teamwork and a willingness among many people to share responsibility and serve together.
Serving on the Archdeaconry Synod has also given me a much broader understanding of the diversity of the Diocese in Europe. Our churches serve very different communities, often across considerable geographical distances, and face particular challenges as well as exciting opportunities for mission. This experience has encouraged me to look beyond the needs of my own chaplaincy and to consider how we can support the wider Church of England and its mission.
What I would bring to General Synod
I see General Synod as having a responsibility not simply to debate individual issues, but to help the Church of England respond faithfully and practically to the many challenges and opportunities before us.
I have followed the work and debates of General Synod with interest over recent years, including the Church’s continuing work on safeguarding and the protection of vulnerable people, discussions around reparation, and the changes taking place within the structures of the Church to respond to the changing needs of our communities.
I am particularly interested in how the Church can turn its Christian values into practical action. Through my own experience, and that of my wife, who works in social housing management, I have seen the importance of tackling poverty and inequality and of providing decent, affordable homes. I have been encouraged to see the Church working through its housing initiatives and the Church Housing Association (CHA) to address these needs, including new developments such as the project in Birmingham.
For me, this is an important expression of Christian mission: finding practical ways to demonstrate God's love, stand alongside those who are struggling and make a positive difference in our communities.
If elected, I would bring practical experience of:
church leadership and governance;
youth work and education (as a retired teacher);
safeguarding and pastoral care;
financial oversight and organisational management;
working collaboratively with people from different backgrounds; and
the particular perspective of the Diocese in Europe and its dispersed international communities.
I would seek to listen carefully, contribute prayerfully and thoughtfully, and work collaboratively with others in the interests of the whole Church.
I also see General Synod as an opportunity to strengthen the connection between the Church of England in England and the churches of the Diocese in Europe. Our experience may be different in some respects, but we share the same calling to worship Christ, serve our communities and proclaim the Gospel.
I would be honoured to serve on General Synod and to use my experience, faith and commitment to contribute positively to the life and mission of the Church of England.
Please do get in touch if you would like to ask me any questions.
I would ask you to consider giving me your first or high preference vote.
Paul [email protected]
1113 Avenue Joliot Curie, 47800 Miramont De Guyenne, Nouvelle Aquitaine, France.

baptist,chaplaincy,evangelical,gospel,housing,inequality,mission,outreach,poverty,prayer,safeguarding,social housing,sunday school,young people,youth,youth ministry,youth work