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Election for lay representatives for the General Synod of the Church of England 2026
Blackburn Diocese
Stephen Boyall

Dear Elector,
I am writing to ask for your number 1 preference vote as I seek re-election to
General Synod.

My name is Stephen Boyall. I am 39 years old and have been married to Lucy
for 15 years. Since my last election address for election to General Synod we
have been wonderfully blessed with another two children to add to our first three
children
I have served on General Synod for the past 11 having served two terms now
since 2015. I have enjoyed my time on General Synod and I’ve attended each of
the sessions in person except the November 2023 sessions where I engaged
online as my wife and I had just expanded our family through adoption in the
August a few months earlier. And it was too soon to have left everyone for 2
nights.
It’s a privilege to serve on General Synod, having the opportunity to listen to
debates and conversations and have input into Synod formally through speeches
and, more informally, over tea, coffee and in small group work.

Over the next 5 years there is much to be done. There are plenty of issues to be
tackled and worked through under God: -
• Church unity – and how we seek to hold the church together.
• Safeguarding and ensuring the Church of England is a place where all can
hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• a financial crisis for the dioceses, Archbishops’ Council, Church
Commissioners, not to mention parishes with the blessings and challenges
of historic buildings
• Reducing clergy numbers and declining attendances.
• Leadership and governance.

564 Blackpool Road,
Ashton-on-Ribble,
Preston,
PR2 1JA.
Mobile No - 07729454251
Email - [email protected]

Please contact me whenever you
like about any issue you’d like to
talk about.

Election for lay representatives for the General Synod of the Church of England 2026
Blackburn Diocese
Stephen Boyall

I do not pretend I have all the answers, but I would seek to continue to be a
constructive and a helpful presence at Synod to mean that the Church of England
flourishes and to help safeguard the parish system. We need a Christian
presence in every community, and I would want to preserve and support that in
whatever way I can. Supporting and increasing the numbers of vicars serving in
our communities is crucial for a Christian presence in every community to be a
reality.

I work for United Utilities as part of the training team. I train staff on wastewater
treatment and biosolids treatment and recycling back into the environment. I
really enjoy my job as it enables me to help those working in United Utilities to
run our treatment plants in the most environmentally friendly and beneficial way
for our waterways.
I’ve also recently been elected a parent governor at my eldest daughters Church
of England secondary school. This is something that I have enjoyed being part of
the team of governors impacting and furthering the school’s aims - to nurture
everyone’s God given gifts so that God’s light may shine through Christ like
service. I’d love to be able to bring this new experience to bear as General Synod
potentially debates how we make the most of this mission field our church
schools are to share the good news of Jesus.

I love the Lord Jesus, and I want to see him glorified and for the Church of
England to be a place where everyone can have an opportunity to come to know
about Jesus. I would like to ask you for your Number 1 vote, or other high
preference vote as you feel able, so I can be elected to General Synod. I would
like to be elected to General Synod so that, as a younger man with a family, I can
serve the Church of England by helping it to address the issues faced by young
families, while also thankfully caring for the faithful older generation and through
the Gospel bringing as much glory to Jesus as possible. I think that this can be
best done by the Church of England holding to the historic teachings of the
church which I think the Bible clearly teaches, in everything we do as a
denomination for the flourishing and good of the nation that desperately needs
the good news of Jesus.
Please do consider giving me your number 1 preference vote.
Yours in Christ,
Stephen Boyall