General Synod Election Candidates 2026

General Synod Election 2026
The Rev’d Andrew Wilkinson
Standing for the House of Clergy, Diocese of Blackburn

Proposed by The Rev Canon Peter Lillicrap, Vicar of The Trinity
Benefice, Area Dean of Blackpool and Chair Of Blackburn
Diocesan Synod (House of Clergy)

Seconded by the Rev’d Canon Brian McConkey, vicar of
Ribchester, Hurst Green and Mitton and Asst Area Dean of
Preston

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I am standing for election to the General Synod because the
Church is at an important moment. After years of wide-ranging
debates and major central initiatives, many clergy and parishes
are looking for greater stability and a renewed focus on the
Church's core responsibilities: mission and pastoral care.
My roots are firmly in this part of the country. I was brought up in
East Lancashire and attended St Wilfrid’s School in Blackburn,
converting to christianity from my family’s Unitarianism in my
youth. Over the course of my ministry, after studying at
Nottingham, Lancaster and Sandhurst, with degrees in theology
and religious studies, I have served in a variety of settings,
including eight years with a Church of England Mission Society, as
an army chaplain, in Urban Priority Areas, on a housing estate in
the East Midlands and more locally in Morecambe and Longridge.
I now serve as Vicar of Garstang St Helen’s, Churchtown, and St
Michael’s on Wyre.
I have worked across a broad range of church traditions and
have always sought to ground my ministry in consistency of
belief, orthodox theology and the proclamation of the Gospel.
Outside ministry, Rosemary (a nursing sister) and I have been
married for 35 years and have two children living here in the
vicarage and at university.

Having 24 years of experience as an Area Dean, I have seen at
first hand the pressures facing clergy and parishes, whether
financial, organisational or personal. I also understand how the
synodical process works and how concerns raised locally can be
taken into the national conversation. One example was my
involvement in bringing the issue of the redistribution of Church
Commissioners' funds to be passed at Garstang Synod and from
there to be successfully passed by Blackburn Diocesan Synod
through the Hereford Motion. This was then debated at General
Synod in July 2025, but questions around the almost £12 billion
of resources and lack of financial support for parish ministry
remain critically important for the future and should continue to
be addressed for the next funding triennium, I can only do this if
you vote for me as a member of General Synod.
As a member of the Save the Parish network, I support its 2026
principle that parish ministry should remain at the heart of the
Church's mission, a vision of a priest in every community. It has
matured into an organisation that brings together frontline clergy,
senior staff and laity in consultations such as that on vocations
recently at St George’s House Windsor. If elected, I will work to
ensure that, staying true to the Archbishops’ vision, local churches
are properly resourced, that parish ministry remains the primary
focus of evangelism, and that any changes to church structures
strengthen rather than weaken the parish system. I also believe
we should invest in strong theological education. Bearing in mind
all those in this diocese who are currently facing almost
impossible financial challenges to maintain their church fabric we
need to develop a long-term strategy to help protect and maintain
our historic church buildings.
Alongside this, I remain committed to clergy welfare. Through
my national role with the Church of England Employees and
Clergy Association (CEECA), part of Unite, I advocate regularly
for you and all clergy with national church bodies on matters such
as stipends, pensions and clergy terms of service. As an example,
issues such as the future of the Heating, Lighting and Cleaning
allowance (HLC on our stipends) may seem technical, but they
have a direct impact on clergy households and well-being and

deserve careful attention. Many of us won’t even know that it is
under threat from HMRC, which is why people like me need to
have a voice on General Synod. The Clergy Conduct Measure also
requires very close scrutiny in the next Synod..
My interests include being a non-executive director (“expert by
experience”) for Safe Spaces England and Wales, I support victims
of abuse and believe the Church must continue to strengthen
independence, transparency and accountability in safeguarding
practice at every level, not just with parish clergy.
There has been significant debate in recent years on subjects such
as Project Spire and Living in Love and Faith. Whatever our
individual and political views, those discussions have occupied a
great deal of time and energy. They have had a good airing and I
don’t propose to further them in this synod because the church
now needs breathing space and unity to face the challenges of the
future. We have an opportunity for the next Synod to place
greater emphasis on the core principles of unity, supporting
clergy, sustaining parish ministry and sharing the Gospel
effectively in our communities.
These are just some of the issues which will be important over the
next five years. What I can offer you is a strong voice that isn’t
afraid to speak up, publicly, on issues, and a pledge to represent
you, diligently and vocally. As decisions are taken which will
shape how the Church of England engages with the remaining
three quarters of the 21st century, it is hugely important that
General Synod has people in it who aren’t afraid to challenge, test
and
(at times) contest proposals from the central church. Should I be
elected, I promise to be one of those representatives.
I would be grateful for your first preference vote in this year's
election.
Yours in Christ,
Rev Andrew Wilkinson

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