General Synod Election Candidates 2026

House of Laity

drianatodd

General Synod Election Address 2026

Henry Cole - Cheltenham Deanery

Proposer: lan Todd, St Barnabas Gloucester
mail.com

Seconder: Becca Horton, St Matthews Cheltenham
[email protected]

About me

I’m a 28 year-old Maths teacher here in
Cheltenham. I’m unmarried, blessed to be
living close to my kind parents, some
brilliant friends, and my vibrant church. In
my spare time, | like playing accordion,
making mead to give to friends, cramming
in trivia for quizzes, and going for long
cycles.

I’ve been at St Matthew’s church in
Cheltenham since | left university and
teacher training, though growing up I’ve
been part of the Church of Englandina
variety of contexts. I’m now standing for
General Synod as | want to help ensure the
Church | love continues to be a place where
all people can come to know the saving
gospel of Jesus.

My experience

e By God’s grace and with thanks to
my parents, | grew up a member of
the church, though my faith became
my own after working through Youth
Alpha at the Holy Apostles Church
youth group.

e | was exposed to more liturgical
traditions as a chorister at
Gloucester Cathedral, later singing
professionally for St John’s College
choir in Oxford and occasionally at
Holy Trinity, Minchinhampton.

e Whilst studying Maths at Oxford, |
helped run the St John’s College
branch of the Oxford Intercollegiate
Christian Union, leading Bible
studies and outreach events.

e During my five years studying, |
attended St Aldates and later St
Ebbes churches, where the
undergraduate Bible studies taught
me to appreciate the necessity and
sufficiency of God’s word.

e Thanks to a church partnership, I’ve
had some amazing opportunities to
visit the Anglican Diocese of Lake
Rukwa in Tanzania. With the
generosity of Bishop Ephraim
Ntikabuze hosting me, | was able to
see how the Holy Spirit is growing
the church explosively in East Africa.

e Inthe last five years while teaching
in Cheltenham, | have continued to
lead some small group Bible studies
and have also served my church as a
member of the PCC.

Why I’m standing

In Jeremiah 1:7, God tells Jeremiah to go
and speak his message, despite Jeremiah’s
concerns about his youth and inexperience.
While these words are of course not about
me, they reminded me that God will use
whoever he chooses, often those the world
would not expect; the young, the weak, the
inexperienced. In that light | am standing,

not as the most qualified, but as one who is
ready to answer the call, eager to see the
Church of England welcoming freely,
governed faithfully, and evangelising
fervently.

e Welcoming freely: Jesus welcomed
the outcast, the sick, and the
overlooked, we must too. Our
churches must be a place where
everyone can feel like what they are:
cherished and valued image-bearers
of God. While | hold the historic view
on sexuality, | strongly believe God
welcomes all, regardless of
sexuality, relationships, age, status,
or anything else. Our mission is not
complete until every last person
knows that they will be greeted like
family at church.

e Governed faithfully: The Church
faces many different challenges;
ensuring proper safeguarding
practices and training especially
after the Makin Review, maintaining
and growing both congregations and
clergy numbers in an increasingly
secular nation, stewarding our
environment carefully while avoiding
unnecessary burdens on smaller
struggling parishes, and the list
could go on. While the challenges
are great, | believe that with God’s
help, and with considerate, careful,
but decisive governance, these can
be overcome.

e Evangelising fervently: We cannot
as achurch simply tread water or
maintain “business as usual”! If the
church fails to evangelise for even a
single generation, it will cease to
exist. Psalm 78 gives us the solution
—we must reach young people with
the gospel. | believe this must be a
major priority for the church,

evangelising effectively in schools,
youth groups, and universities.

My commitment

My commitment to you is this, if you choose
to vote for me for General Synod | will

e Be prayerful and diligent in service,
reading, and voting.

e Listen and communicate with the
local parishes to ensure local
concerns are heard.

e Actively pursue the priorities laid
out above.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Please do contact me if you have any
questions or comments, and | would be
very grateful for your highest available
preference vote.

Yours in Christ,

Henry

Contact:

Tel: 07577909340

Email: [email protected]

28b London Road, Cheltenham, GL52 6DX

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