General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Dear Elector,
I am writing to you ahead of the forthcoming elections to the
General Synod, to ask for your vote to represent the Diocese
of Leeds in the wider Church of England.
About me … I am a local lad, born in Hemsworth, and proud
to have grown up in a Diocese that I remain deeply
committed to serving. My roots in this area continue to shape
both my ministry and my contribution to the wider Church.
I am married to Debbie, who is a Head Teacher of an
Alternative Provision School, working with some of the most
vulnerable young people in our communities, particularly
around safeguarding, behaviour, mental health, and
inclusion. We have two children who were educated at Holy
Trinity School (3 to 16) joint C of E and RC School before
going on to university in York. Our daughter is now studying
Mental Health Nursing, and our son has graduated and
works as a freelance Technical Officer with the BBC in Leeds.
Before ordination, I served for 16 years as a Police Officer
with West Yorkshire Police, where I worked as a Family
Liaison Officer and later as a Diversity and Equality Trainer. In
that role, I specialised in issues around disability, faith, and
inclusion, working closely with minority groups and helping
to shape training and mentoring programmes. That
experience gave me a deep and lasting engagement with
issues of mental health, trauma, and vulnerability, which
continues to inform my ministry today.
I continue to serve within policing as a Chaplain, supporting
officers and staff, particularly in areas of mental health,
wellbeing, and critical incidents. This ongoing ministry keeps
me grounded in the realities faced by those who serve on the
frontline.
My journey to ordained ministry was not straightforward. In
2008, just prior to ordination, I was diagnosed with
Leukaemia and underwent several courses of chemotherapy.
I am thankful to say that the treatment was successful, and I
was ordained later that year. That experience of serious
illness continues to shape my understanding of vulnerability,
resilience, and pastoral care, and remains an important part
of my ministry and identity.
I now serve as Vicar of the Priory Benefice, a group of
parishes situated on the border of West and South
Yorkshire, and as Area Dean of Pontefract. The Benefice is
located in a post industrial, former coal mining area, marked
by significant deprivation and poverty, but also by resilience,
strong identity, and deep community spirit. It is from this
context that I bring my voice to Synod.
Alongside parish ministry, I am passionate about mission and
evangelism, seeking to grow confident Christians, build
strong churches, and transform communities. I have also had
the privilege of helping to train and develop five curates,
and I continue to serve as a coach and mentor, supporting
others in their ministry and vocation.
My interests… I have a love of music, particularly brass band
music, and have played the Flugelhorn in the West Yorkshire
Police Band for many years. This has taken me across the
country and beyond, and continues to be an important way
for me to remain grounded and connected.
Family life is central to me, and I value time spent together,
particularly as our children have grown and moved into their
own vocations and careers.
Within the Diocese ... I have served in a range of diocesan
roles, including vocations work, supporting schools and
colleges, and helping others explore faith in a complex and
changing society.
I also serve as a Capitular Canon of Wakefield Cathedral,
where I sit on the Risk and Audit Committee, contributing to
the governance, accountability, and sustainability of
Cathedral life, as well as serving as Area Dean of Pontefract
and on the Diocesan Synod
Experience and Contribution to the General Synod… I have
now served on the General Synod for over sixteen years,
and I am proud of the work that Synod has achieved during
that time. I have sought to play a full and active role,
ensuring that my contributions are grounded in parish life
and the realities of the communities we serve.
In the past Synod, I served as Vice Chair of the Business
Committee, helping to shape the agenda and structure of
Synod’s work. As part of this role, I worked to ensure that
Synod is accessible and responsive, including helping to bring
about changes to meeting dates when they clashed with
school holidays.
“I have known Paul for 20 years and he has my confidence and
trust. I am always glad to find myself working alongside him
and particularly wish to commend him for re-election to
General Synod. Paul has worked tirelessly as a member of the
Business Committee and his presence for the next 5 years will
be an asset to that team and through them for the whole of
General Synod.” Revd Canon Rachel Firth, Chair of the House of
Clergy, Diocese of Leeds, General Synod member 2021-2026.
The Reverend Canon Paul Cartwright
Vicar of The Priory Benefice caring for the Parishes of St Luke’s Grimethorpe with St Paul’s Brierley
St James the Great Ryhill, Havercroft with Cold Hiendley & Wintersett,
Parish of All Saints South Kirkby, Area Dean of Pontefract and Chaplain to West Yorkshire Police.

Proposer:
The Venerable Cat Thatcher;
Archdeacon of Pontefract

Seconder:
The Reverend Tim Thomas;
Area Dean, Inner Bradford Deanery
General Synod
Election Address

I also represented the Business Committee on the Election
Review Group, contributing to amendments to the Church
Representation Rules, ensuring that our governance
structures remain effective and relevant.
My legislative experience includes serving on Steering
Committees, including for the Cathedrals Measure, and as a
Member of the Steering Committee for the Clergy Conduct
Measure, helping to shape important legislation for the life
of the Church.
I have also served on several Crown Nominations
Commissions, including:
•
The history making commission which discerned and
nominated the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury
•
The commission for the Diocese of Leeds
•
I am due to serve on the Diocese of London CNC.
In the commission for the appointment of the Archbishop of
Canterbury, I was proud to bring a distinct northern voice,
ensuring that the realities and needs of our communities
were represented at the highest level of discernment.
I also serve as an Assessor for the House of Clergy Standing
Committee of the Northern Province, contributing to the
governance and discernment of the wider Church.
I have contributed regularly to Synod debates, speaking on a
wide range of issues including poverty, clergy pensions,
safeguarding, vocation, racial justice, chaplaincy, funeral
poverty, clergy discipline and public policy. I have
campaigned for change in clergy pensions, recognising the
need for fairness and dignity, and have consistently argued
for a move towards independent safeguarding, to rebuild
trust and confidence. During my time on Synod I served for
11 years as the House of Clergy representative on the
Archbishops’ Council’s Committee for Minority Ethnic
Anglican Concerns (CMEAC), prior to the establishment of
the Racial Justice Unit.
I have also spoken clearly in opposition to assisted dying,
bringing a pastoral and theological perspective rooted in the
dignity of human life, and in favour of the Parish structure.
My understanding of poverty and deprivation is not simply
theoretical through my academic background in Social Policy,
but comes from sustained, lived experience of ministry in
some of the most deprived communities in the country.
Over the years, I have engaged fully in the Church’s shared
conversations, from the introduction of women into the
Episcopate through to the Living in Love and Faith process.
These experiences have deepened my understanding of
those who hold differing views, and I remain committed to a
Church in which all can flourish, upholding the Five Guiding
Principles with integrity and generosity.
My voting record and contributions over the past sixteen
years are publicly available and reflect a consistent
commitment to thoughtful, faithful, and engaged
participation.
What I bring…
•
A Commitment to Social Justice
Grounded in both personal experience and parish
ministry, I bring a deep understanding of poverty,
deprivation, and inequality. I will continue to ensure
that the needs of these areas and underrepresented
communities remain central to Synod’s work.
•
A Passion for Mission and Evangelism
I am committed to growing confident Christians,
building strong and sustainable churches, and
enabling our parishes to serve and transform their
communities with confidence and hope.
•
Experience in Governance and Legislation
Through my work on the Business Committee,
Steering Committees, and Crown Nominations
Commissions, I bring a strong understanding of how
the Church operates at a national level, and how to
shape policy and legislation effectively.
•
A Voice for the North
I am passionate about ensuring that the voice of the
North is heard at every level of the Church. My
ministry context and lived experience enable me to
speak with authenticity and credibility.
•
A Commitment to Integrity and Accountability
Through my work on safeguarding, clergy conduct,
and Synodical processes, I am committed to
ensuring that the Church operates with
transparency, accountability, and trust.
•
Experience in Leadership and Formation
As an Area Dean, trainer of curates, and mentor, I
bring experience in developing others, supporting
clergy, and enabling leadership to flourish.
Looking ahead … The next five years will be just as significant
as the last sixteen. The Church of England faces important
decisions around its response to issues of racism, clergy
remuneration and pensions, the reduction in stipendiary
clergy numbers, and the ongoing challenges of financial
sustainability, particularly in dioceses such as Leeds.
There is also important work ahead in relation to
safeguarding reform and greater independence, the
implementation of the Clergy Conduct Measure, and the
development of professional standards for clergy life and
ministry.
We must also continue to respond faithfully to the outcome
of the Living in Love and Faith process, loving and caring for
all God’s people, as well as engage with wider societal
challenges, including debates around assisted dying, poverty,
health, and social policy.
In Closing … I hope that when the election comes, you will
consider giving me your highest voting preference.
If you would like to know more about my views or my work
at General Synod, I would be very happy to hear from you.
You can contact me on 07852 174303, or via email at
[email protected].
My contributions to the business of Synod can be found in
the Reports of Proceedings by searching:
Cartwright 226 (2010 to 2015)
Cartwright 131 (2015 to 2021)
Cartwright 133 (2021 to 2026)

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