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GENERAL SYNOD
ELECTION ADDRESS 2026
Under God, General Synod now needs new members who will see things
with fresh eyes, and it needs old members who bring experience and
memory of how we got to where we are. Both are required for the
Church to move forward under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
I will bring to General Synod thirty-two years’ experience as a parish
priest, nearly ten years’ experience as an archdeacon, and over thirty
years’ experience as a synod member.
Parish ministry is the heart and soul of the Church of England’s life.
Parish ministry has always changed with changing times. The present
times have been moving us into new ways of revitalising parishes, and renewed models of ministry.
Whether it’s church grafting, focal ministry, cell groups, BMOs, or inherited models, I’ve seen all of
them work well, and we need every tool in the toolkit. I will take part fully in exploring all the ways
that we can apply these tools to promote healthy growth.
Archdeacons’ ministry is an important tool in supporting growth with functional structures. I have
sought to give strong pastoral support for parish ministers, both lay and clergy, and to develop
effective policies and procedures to undergird local energy. I will provide that vital link between
synodical legislation and practical application in the diocese.
I have a love/hate relationship with synod – and I would be suspicious of any member who has only
one or the other. I don’t love the divisive and angry rhetoric that we have sometimes experienced in
recent debates. I don’t love synod’s occasional forays into grandstanding on complex political issues.
But I do love the Church, the Church needs governance, and there is no such thing as a perfect
system. So we need to work through synod, and we need to ‘keep the main thing the main thing’.
The main thing is talking about Jesus Christ - to each other and to our nation. That is what I will
continue to promote at every opportunity.
So I would be very grateful if you would place me high up on your voting preferences, and I promise
that I will ensure that I serve the Lord by serving you and by keeping our focus on Jesus.
I am very happy to answer questions from electors. Please email me at
[email protected]

CV
Born 1961. Educated Bradford Grammar School; St Peter’s College, Oxford (BA Hons Theology);
Trinity College, Bristol (Postgraduate Diploma). Deacon 1985; Priest 1986. Assistant Curate St John
the Baptist, Clayton 1985-1988. Assistant Curate St Andrew, Keighley, 1988-1991. Vicar St Cuthbert’s,
Wrose, 1991-1997. Vicar St Lawrence and St Paul, Pudsey, 1997-2017. Archdeacon of Leeds 2017-
present.
Formerly member of Diocesan Interfaith Working Group; Diocesan Theological Group for the Decade
of Evangelism; member of Advisory Council for Parish Mission and Development; Diocesan
Evangelical Fellowship to 1997; Pudsey Community Involvement Team; Outer West Area Committee
(Leeds City Council); Revision Committee for Clergy Terms of Service (Common Tenure); secretary to

Tribunal under Incumbents (Vacation of Benefices) Measure; Diocesan Property Committee; elected
Diocesan member of Crown Nominations Commission for Bradford and Leeds.
Member of General Synod since 1995.
Interests include: music (composition), drawing and painting, dog walking, keeping fit, languages,
cooking curries.