General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Richard Arens
Proposed by Emma Newton, Framland Deanery
Seconded by Les Mitchelmore, City of Leicester
Deanery

My priorities in short:
•
Resourcing parishes
•
Supporting young people
•
Encouraging vocations
My background:
I am 23 years old and, having grown up as a clergy child, have 23 years’ experience
of the Church of England across different contexts.
I sang as a chorister at Leicester Cathedral, and in
2020, we moved to St Andrew’s, Jarrom Street,
which I represent on Deanery Synod. Over the last
five years, until the devastating fire earlier this
summer, we have experienced strong growth in a
highly diverse area.
Since graduating from Durham University, I split
my time between Leicester and London working as
a Political and Legislative Adviser in the House of
Lords. I feel confident drafting amendments to
legislation, and hope this will be of use when
scrutinising measures in Synod.
When in London, I attend Our Most Holy
Redeemer, Clerkenwell, where I have helped run the Alpha course and volunteered
as their representative for Fidelium, a lay-led young adults network.
My contribution so far:
Since 2024, I have served on Leicester’s Diocesan Synod and become familiar with
the challenges our Diocese faces, particularly in supporting parish ministry and
stipendiary posts in the rollout of Minster Communities.
On a national level, I am on the Steering Committee of Save the Parish, which seeks
to resource the parish system and ensure the poorest communities are not
abandoned. The Church was left a £11.6 billion endowment for ‘the cure of souls in
parishes where such assistance is most required’, yet Church Action on Poverty
shows that 40% of church closures occur within the 10% most deprived parishes.

None of this is just a hobby either. At work I have sought to raise awareness in
Parliament about the new Places of Worship Renewal Fund. This replaced the Listed
Places of Worship Grant Scheme, and for most churches who previously benefitted,
will likely result in building repairs becoming 20% more expensive.
My priorities:
I am committed to the causes set out in the Save the Parish
Manifesto and resourcing the parish system. Whatever our
disagreements on other issues, the parish system enables
there to be diversity of traditions. Only 8% of the Church
Commissioner’s planned annual distribution is ringfenced
for parish ministry, and dioceses have been left unable to
pick up the bill.
Given my experience of Fidelium, I can
offer meaningful insights as to how we
can better support young people
coming to church. The Church’s recent
report, ‘Understanding Young Adult
Journeys to Faith in the Church of
England’, demonstrates that parishes
are effective units of mission, and offer
a sense of belonging which is otherwise
so lacking.
Bringing these two things together is the urgent need to attract new vocations.
Currently, more clergy are resigning than retiring. By encouraging new ordinands,
supporting proper training, and improving existing clergy well-being with a new
covenant of care, the Church can supply our parishes with priests long-term.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions ([email protected]).
I would be very grateful for your support – a first or high preference vote would
make all the difference – and for your prayers for all those of us who are standing.

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