baptism,cost of living,dioceses,environmental,evangelism,gospel,marriage,mission,pcc,sunday school,witness

Candidate for the House of Laity, General Synod — Diocese of Lichfield

David Chetta

| am standing for election to the General Synod because | believe
deeply in the mission, heritage, and future of the Church of England.
My family and | worship at St George’s, Frankwell, Shrewsbury where
we have both found renewed faith, community, and a growing

congregation across all age groups. As an active member of the PCC, |
am currently involved in the refurbishment of our church building jy i
and in strengthening our parish life. i

| believe the Church of England’s priorities should be:

Expanding worship and strengthening parish life across all dioceses
Encouraging confident, faithful evangelism rooted in the gospel
Being a visible church with an active presence in society
Caring for God’s creation through sustainable maintenance and management of our

estates and resources

Across many parishes, attendance has declined, and this is a cause of sadness for us all. Yet in
our own church we have witnessed a quiet revival with a renewed joy in worship, a return to
true congregational community with a sense of belonging that draws people in from the noise
and confusion of modern life. | want to help nurture this revival across the wider Church,
turning quiet growth into confident, Spirit-filled renewal.

| am offering myself for Synod because many in our
congregations share concerns about the direction and
confidence of our Anglican witness. | believe | can
represent these views with humility, clarity, and
commitment. My professional background as a consultant
engineer specialising in hospital ventilation and heritage
building refurbishment gives me practical insight into the
environmental, energy, and maintenance challenges
facing our churches.

| would like to contribute to discussions on sustainable
heating and carbon reduction (such as bespoke solar
shingles which can be made to look like existing slates)
and carefully considered rewilding opportunities.

| would also like to encourage discussion on the future use
of church land such as the opportunity for community-
based food growing and mission-focused allotments
which would support positive wellbeing and connection in
local communities whilst reducing the cost of living.

Diocese of Lichfield - General Synod Election 2026 — David Chetta
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lam 47, married to Michelle, 41, and together we have a blended family with three young
children from our marriage and one teenager from Michelle’s previous relationship. Our four
children are aged from 16 years to under 6 months; one of whom has autism and requires
additional support.

We believe that we should all care for the planet that God has provided for us to live in. We live
on the Welsh border where we are developing a smallholding with a market garden, orchard,
and conservation areas with meadow land and native trees, all based on permaculture and
agroforestry principles.

| was a choirboy at St Matthews, Criftins (near Ellesmere) and attended Sunday school at St
Mary’s, Market Drayton. We feel that we are very much part of a quiet revival of church
attendance and we like to instil this joy wherever we are; we have abandoned many past sins
and would like to share this love that Jesus provides for all: that all are welcome and that
newcomers should feel changed by the Holy Spirit. Our faith was rekindled from our own
childhood attendance when we brought our daughters for baptism. Since then, we have
become committed members of St George’s, have both been recently Confirmed and are very
active in parish life.

Debate is the lifeblood of the Church, and | would welcome hearing the views of all members of
the diocese. If elected, | will represent Lichfield with humility and openness, ensuring that
concerns raised with me are brought faithfully to Synod.

lam grateful to my proposer, Katriona Ainslee Wade, and seconder, lan Francis Peake, both
members of Shrewsbury and Wrekin Deanery Synod.

Thank you for reading this address. If you feel able to support me, | would be honoured to
receive your highest preference vote.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 07773 372624

Address: 13 Falstaff Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 2QN

Diocese of Lichfield - General Synod Election 2026 — David Chetta
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