General Synod Election Candidates 2026

REVD ALISON INGRAM

Curate, St. Stephen’s, Ealing

[email protected]

Proposed by Revd Nicki Sudworth, Director
of Ordinands and Vocations, Diocese of
London

Seconded by Revd Andrew Dand, Rector of
St. Mary’s, Hanwell

ABOUT ME
I grew up in rural N. Ireland before coming “across the water” to study law at the University
of Nottingham. After legal training I felt called to social justice leading to a 20-year career in
the charity sector. Alongside this I spent 10 years at St. Gabriel’s, Cricklewood, a diverse (in
every sense!) evangelical church, including 4 years as Churchwarden. I then had a 3-year
stint as ordinand at St. Mary’s, Hanwell, a “middle-of-the road” church, while studying
Theology, Ministry and Mission at St. Mellitus College, where I enjoyed being Senior Student.
For 15 years I had adventures with the Brent Street Pastors team, serving some of the most
deprived areas in London. Following ordination in June 2026 I’ve settled into my curacy at St.
Stephen’s in leafy West Ealing, which offers both traditional and contemporary, informal
services.

WHAT I CAN BRING
• Legal background, which equips me to get to the heart of complex papers
• Recent experience of discernment and ordinand training, including as Senior
Student representative at St. Mellitus College
• Extensive understanding of how to identify local organisational and community need
(particularly where financial support will make a difference), and provision of
impactful national support through lead grant-making role at Age UK (c. £10 million
distributed pa)
• Deep understanding of local/national partnership successes and tensions in
federated models including Age UK, Citizens Advice and Samaritans
• Knowledge of ageing, older people and intergenerational work
• Experience and insight of staff and volunteer management and training

MY PRIORITIES
• Ensuring clear, effective and supportive processes for those going through
discernment and ordinand training (IME 1). Recent experience as ordinand and Senior
Student at St. Mellitus College provides the basis for this being my first priority. Every
aspect of the training process and environment must be oriented towards developing a
new generation of clergy who are fully prepared and confident to serve. Adequate
resourcing of dioceses, training institutions, local churches and students and a greater
degree of consistency across the country is needed.
• Adequate funding for local parishes and clergy to thrive, particularly in areas of
deprivation. Having served in a wide variety of contexts the disparity of resourcing is
startling and at odds with my experience of similar national/local models in the
charitable sector. As God’s people we seek to ensure fairness and justice in all we do,
including in how we steward and share the resources available to us
• Recognition of the need for deep trust and partnership between laity and clergy
including supporting church leaders (ordained and lay) in relation to staff and volunteer
management. This is a key element of developing individual discipleship, protecting
clergy wellbeing and ensuring future church resourcing, a learning that was made clear
to me in my time as Churchwarden.
• Focus on the building of relationships with external agencies (health, social care,
police etc.) at local level, facilitated and supported by conversations at national level.
Serving as a Street Pastor demonstrated to me the power of connection with police and
local authorities. This enabled a wider understanding of Jesus’s love being borne out in
a practical way, and the importance of serving the whole community in exercising the
cure of souls.
• Appreciation and care for older people within the Church alongside our efforts to
grow younger. My time at Age UK showed me that the intentional integration of
different age groups allows the sharing of wisdom, the nurturing of faith and the
flourishing of the community as a whole. Offering spaces to build connection helps to
avoid tension between generations and builds discipleship and friendships.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
• The Church has made significant progress on safeguarding. However, a trusted culture
that reflects John 13:35 remains some distance away. I support further efforts being
taken to strengthen oversight and a shift to a more unified national approach on
safeguarding
• I welcome the streamlining and simplification of central church structures based on my
experience of local/national contexts at Age UK, Citizens Advice and Samaritans
• Unity in Christ is vital to our mission and ministry and I am committed to finding a way
forward that enables all to be pastored well, including in the area of marriage and
sexuality.
Thank you for taking the time to read this statement. I would welcome your first preference
vote or as high a preference vote as possible. Feel free to contact me with any queries.

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