General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Revd Canon Rachel Firth
Nominated by: The Revd Fr Gary Waddington, Harrogate Deanery, Team Rector, Harrogate
St Wilfrid.
Seconded by: The Revd Julie Anderson, Area Dean Almondbury & Kirkburton, Team Vicar,
Emley, Flockton & Kirkburton.
Thank you for taking the time to read this election statement and to find out a little about me
and how I hope to serve if re-elected to General Synod.

I am currently the Vicar of Huddersfield, Area Dean of the Huddersfield Deanery and Chair of
the House of Clergy for our Diocese. I’ve been married to Simon for 25 years and we have
three children and two granddaughters. I have lived and worked in West Yorkshire for most
of my life, with sojourns in France, Wales and London. I am passionate about people, music,
faith, church, community and liturgy – not necessarily in that order!

Skills & Experience
Parish work: As a priest of the central Anglican tradition I hope to be part of a Church of
outward looking mission focussed parishes, refreshed and invigorated by pioneering thinking.
I have served in the Huddersfield Deanery for fifteen years. My first role was as Vicar of a
densely populated suburban area with a focus on community outreach and work with schools.
For the last six years I have served in a town centre parish with an important Civic life and a
distinctive ministry to highly diverse communities. I am an experienced training incumbent. I
am active in ecumenical relationships through Churches Together in Huddersfield, which I
currently Chair, and Interfaith relationships through my involvement in the establishment and
development of South Kirklees Interfaith and Belief Forum. From 2019 to 2023 I held the role
of Bishop’s Officer for community Engagement in Kirklees which involved significant liaison
on behalf of the Bishop Jonathan with different parts of the local Council where agendas
overlap with the concerns of the faith communities in the area. In these groups I represented
the Church of England and the voice of faith communities, bringing that voice to areas such
as inclusive economy, poverty reduction, and the Council’s Third Sector strategic planning. I
was also fortunate to serve on the Area Bishop’s staff team from 2014-2024 as Women’s
Ministry Advisor. This reflected my passion for meaningful inclusivity and promoting diversity.
I believe intentionality and fairness benefit everyone. Despite significant progress barriers
remain to equal participation within our Church. There is a powerful intersection between
this work and the Church’s wider concern for inclusion around issues of race, economic
inequality, gender identity and sexuality, disability and other areas of historic and present
exclusion.
Area Dean: I have served as Area Dean for eight years. It is a privilege to work alongside and
support colleagues of all traditions and stages of ministry, learning and praying together, and
supporting parishes facing both unique and common challenges. I hope to make our Deanery
life together one that values the voices of all and helps us all see God’s bigger picture.
Chair of the House of Clergy: I have been Chair of the House of Clergy in the Diocese of Leeds
since 2021 (most recently re-elected in 2024) and as such sit on the Leeds Board. This gives
me connections across the whole of our large Diocese, bringing my everyday experience of
Parish, Deanery and civic engagement into the room where our Diocesan decisions are
debated. I have learned a lot in my time as Clergy Chair about governance and process which
benefits my service on General Synod and enables me to contribute better on all our behalf.

Synod Experience: I served on General Synod from 2021-2026. I Chair Deanery Synod (8
years) and serve on Diocesan Synod (18 years, 5 as Clergy Chair). During my time on General
Synod I have served on one legislative committee and as part of the Working Groups on the
Prayers of Love and Faith, and spoken in debates on statutory parish fees and Israel/Palestine.

Why I want to serve on General Synod - Synod needs experienced Northern voices, rooted
in a broad Anglican tradition and with a creative, open outlook.
I believe that General Synod needs the input and commitment of people who are on the
frontline of ministry, with daily experience of our diverse contexts (as a Diocese and a
national Church) - who listen to diverse voices and acknowledge their value. Our life
together is sometimes complicated – but should be framed by our understanding of God’s
love for all and lived in our embracing of our diversity and our determination to be listening,
prayerful and compassionate. We need members who resist conflict rooted in simplistic,
divisive binaries. We need to insist, beside sisters and brothers with whom we disagree, on
dialogue rooted in respect and shared goals. In Genesis 32.26 we hear Jacob say “I will not
let you go unless you bless me.” This was the phrase that I was carrying in my heart in the
last 2026 session of General Synod and it guides me in my approach to serving for another
term. I believe that it is in “not letting go” that we work through the significant missional,
practical, financial and safeguarding challenges that the next 5 years of Synod will hold. If
we want to be brave and do things differently – increase clergy numbers, secure better
funding for parishes, address injustices and inequalities in our church - we need to build
trust, and risk trust. Nothing is impossible with God. I believe our Synod system always has
the potential to work with simplicity and integrity, thereby liberating parish communities for
mission and growth, for worship, for prayer, for healing and reconciliation. I believe the
parish system remains our greatest strength, and we need to work quickly towards new
funding models and investment in clergy. I would hope to contribute constructively to this.
I am passionate about safeguarding at all levels within our Church and believe we have
made good and in some cases exemplary progress in this area in recent years, despite
setbacks. We must remain steadfast and realistic, prioritising the voices of victims and
survivors. I hope to support and contribute to the Synod’s work in this area should I be re-
elected.

Supporting statements:
The Revd Canon Paul Cartwright - General Synod member, 2010–2026
"I have known Rachel for two decades, and throughout that time we have supported one
another in our respective ministries. She has a heart for mission and is a highly skilled and
trusted friend and colleague, and it is always a pleasure to work alongside her. During her
first five years on General Synod, Rachel has brought the considerable skills she uses within
the Diocese of Leeds into the Synod arena with great effect. She has been a superb member
of Team Leeds and a joy to serve alongside, and I wholeheartedly commend her for re-
election.”
Hugh Lorimer –Leeds CNC Rep and Member of Diocesan Synod.
“Having recently worked alongside Rachel on the Crown Nominations Commission, I greatly
valued her support throughout the process of selecting a new Bishop of Leeds. She brings
energy and insight to church bodies such as Diocesan Synod, representing the grassroots of
the church and wider community. Rachel listens carefully, values others’ views and makes a
valuable contribution at many levels. I warmly commend her as a clergy representative on
General Synod.”

churches together,clergy numbers,crown nominations,crown nominations commission,disability,ecumenical,faith communities,gender identity,inclusive,inequality,interfaith,israel,liturgy,mission,missional,outreach,palestine,poverty,prayer,prayers of love and faith,safeguarding,sexuality,survivors,tradition,victims