General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Theo Antonov
I believe a thriving cradle-to-grave
parish system is the bedrock of the
Church of England. If elected, I would
vote for measures that financially
support this system, that provide
greater support for our clergy, and
improve the cure of souls provision for
local communities.
Who I am
I am 27 years old, meaning I am in a
generation that is often underrepresented in the Church's governance. Whilst I have not
yet served on deanery or diocesan synod, I bring professional governance experience
primarily from my day job at the Bank of England and as a Treasurer of a theatrical
society for two years at the University of Bristol. I am currently a member of St Peter's
Church, Shipley, having moved here from the parish of West Tarring in Worthing, West
Sussex. I was brought up attending church once a year for Christmas Eve Midnight Mass
– at the time, my family and I were more interested in the hot pork baps and mulled
wine that we would have after the service! I was first called to faith shortly after my son
was born when he was hospitalised with acute bronchiolitis, and I was baptised and
confirmed in May 2024. I have been exposed to a rich variety of worship styles, liturgy
and music, where all those diverse people are united through the one flesh, truth, way,
and life of Jesus.
What I have noticed
In my experience, when churches are adequately resourced and clergy not stretched
across vast numbers of parishes, communities often appear better able to flourish in
their living out of the body of Christ, regardless of the church’s tradition. The Church of
England's broad base and rich array of traditions mean it is best placed to be the central
point for local communities all over England. As a trade union workplace
representative, I know that the face of the union for members is not someone at the top
of the hierarchy, but their local rep. In the same way, local church leaders, lay and
ordained, are pillars and the face of the Church to their local community. Church
buildings also play a key role in the core of a community. Think of all the youth groups,
classes, and bereavement programmes that take place in these buildings, and how
people’s lives are transformed through the provision of a well-maintained local
communal meeting place such as a church. There is an adage that says 'where you
spend your time is where your priorities are'; it is clear to me that greater time needs to
be spent by the Synod how we can further support these pillars of community, physical

and human, to address the growing issues of parish church financial difficulties and
church leader burnout. I am not trying to harken back to a past time of mythical origin,
but I am looking at the problems of today, the declining resilience of the parish and
priest system, and what we can do to fix it.
Why I am standing
I am strongly persuaded by analysis and proposals in the Save The Parish manifesto,
and if elected, my voting record would likely align with it. From my experience, I believe
that these measures would strengthen the Church's ability to fulfil its duty in the cure of
souls. I am interested in evidence-led solutions, and the Church's own research has
shown that the more numerous the funding of churches and clergy, the less likely they
are to decline (From Anecdote to Evidence, 2013 and Going Deeper, 2016). I am most
concerned with the worsening social justice of the creeping hand of patchy provision. In
Church on the Margins, 2023, Church Action on Poverty found that 40% of closed
churches fell within the 10% of the most deprived parishes. The Church must not
abandon the disadvantaged and those living in poverty, and well-resourced churches
play a key role in the local delivery of the Christian mission to bring good news to the
poor.
Likewise, mega-benefices place unsustainable demands on clergy and inevitably
constrain the provision of pastoral care. The restoration of the Church Commissioners'
funds to its founding purpose of funding stipendiary parish ministry would devolve
money back to the local level and tip the scales to help to start to fix these issues. The
introduction of a Charter of Care for clergy would start to unravel years of inbuilt
cultural neglect of them, enshrining their right to a safe workplace guarded from
physical and mental exhaustion. There is more that could be done on top of this, but
these would be two solid touchpoints that would meaningfully affect local churches
across England, enabling them to be properly resourced and with less risk of burnout.
Closing Statement
General Synod must never lose sight of its purpose: resourcing and strengthening the
Church's mission to proclaim Christ and care for souls in every community in England. I
believe that this mission is best served by strong parishes, supported clergy, and local
churches that are empowered to be places of worship, prayer, and servants of their
local community. If elected, I will seek to be an independent-minded, transparent, and
conscientious representative. I will listen carefully to those who elect me, engage
seriously with evidence, and vote according to what I believe will best serve the cure of
souls, the flourishing of parish life, and the long-term mission of the Church of England.
I would be honoured to receive your support and one of your higher preferences in this
election.

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