General Synod Election Candidates 2026

AIDEN HARGREAVES-SMITH • GENERAL SYNOD ELECTION 2026

AIDEN HARGREAVES-SMITH
GENERAL SYNOD | STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION

All Saints’, Margaret Street - Westminster (St Marylebone) Deanery

EM: [email protected] Tel: 020 7833 9182

WHY AM I STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION?

I am deeply committed to the Church of England – to its sacramental and missional life, working for the
advancement of God’s Kingdom; and to its Christian witness as part of the worldwide church.
It has been a privilege to serve since 2000 as an elected representative of the Diocese in the General Synod.
I take that responsibility seriously and believe I have made a positive contribution at the national level.
I offer myself for re-election to provide continuity at a time of significant change for the Synod; and to make
my varied background, professional legal expertise and synodical experience available for the wider work
of the Church. I believe I still have a distinctive contribution to make, and seek your support to continue this
work on your behalf: listening carefully, engaging constructively and discerning prayerfully.

COMMITMENT TO A BROAD CHURCH

My professional life as a church and charity lawyer has brought me into regular contact with parishes and
church bodies from every part of the Diocese and of every tradition. I remain convinced of the importance of
maintaining the rich and lively diversity which characterises our Diocese.
Like many members of Synod, I am a member of a Synodical group (in my case, the Catholic Group).
However, I have never worked in a partisan way. I firmly believe that our common identity in Christ calls us
to have a genuine care for every member of the Body, and show God’s redeeming love for all.
I have actively encouraged people from under-represented groups, including younger people and those
from diverse backgrounds, to become more involved in the synodical life of the Church. I have spoken to
many groups about General Synod and the bodies on which I have served, and I am always happy to discuss
synodical business. Some questions I have tabled arose from those conversations.

GENERAL SYNOD EXPERIENCE

Since being elected, I have attended every group of
sessions except one, when I was ill. I have served on
legislative and other committees, spoken in debates
and tabled questions on a wide range of issues,
including:
•
Mission and evangelism
•
Church investments policy
•
The impact of tax changes on parishes
and dioceses
•
Higher Education
•
The Assisted Dying Bill
•
Hospital chaplaincy
•
Fostering diversity in church appointments
•
Children’s Society’s campaign
• Ecumenism and Church Unity

NATIONAL CHURCH RESPONSIBILITIES

My extensive experience over 20 years on national
church bodies includes:

Senior Appointments Review

Fees Advisory Commission

Appointments Committee of the Church of
England

Standing Committee of the House of Laity

Legal Aid Commission – legally qualified
member

Chair, Crown Nominations Commission
Elections Review Group
I have also served as a Chair of the General Synod
(for 8 years) and as a central member of the Crown
Nominations Commission (for 10 years).

AIDEN HARGREAVES-SMITH • GENERAL SYNOD ELECTION 2026
MISSION – OUR URGENT PRIORITY

Living and proclaiming the Gospel together must
be our priority. We must be clear and confident
about our fundamental purpose: to love God and
our neighbour; nurture vocations; and equip lay
and ordained ministers through proper formation.
The focus should be on parishes and local
communities as the primary vehicles for mission.
SUPPORT FOR PARISHES

Our parishes are the lifeblood of the Church, yet
many feel under intense financial and
administrative strain. I have supported changes
to make increased funding available to poorer
dioceses and parishes, and it is vital that further
work is done to support parishes with the
resources necessary for their local ministry and
mission.
THE FIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES

I wholeheartedly support the House of Bishops’
Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests
and the Five Guiding Principles.
We must work hard to promote genuine mutual
flourishing and ensure that relationships with
those with whom we fundamentally disagree are
characterised by prayerful generosity and charity.
LIVING IN LOVE & FAITH

The LLF process has caused confusion, hurt and
mistrust. I remain committed to engaging
sensitively in these conversations and debates. I
accept the Canonical understanding of marriage
as a sacrament. The Church’s pastoral response
should be gracious, generous and authentic. Any
new proposals must avoid further division.
YOUNG PEOPLE & EDUCATION

I have a long-established commitment to the
Church’s role in education and work with young
people. Before legal practice, I was a university
tutor in an Anglican foundation and I served for 18
years as a Governor of Pusey House, Oxford.
My maiden speech was in a Youth Strategy
debate. I have called for Government recognition
of the importance of the spiritual and moral
development of young people, and for teaching to
be valued more highly as a Christian vocation.
SAFEGUARDING

Safeguarding is a fundamental Gospel
imperative. Much work has been done, but more
is needed – especially in supporting parishes in
promoting a healthy safeguarding culture. Faced
with long and complex policies and guidance,
parishes need simplicity, clarity and certainty
about expectations and processes.
I have both wide experience and relevant
expertise through my professional work as a
diocesan registrar, including dealings with the
Charity Commission in this area.
CHRISTIAN WITNESS & ETHICAL ISSUES

We live in a society where Christianity is often
misunderstood, marginalised or attacked. The
Church must witness sensitively but boldly to the
Faith, and should not be afraid to be distinctive or
to take a lead on important ethical and moral
issues.
I believe we should resist dangerous moves on
assisted dying, while promoting a compassionate
understanding of the dignity and sanctity of all
human life. I have also supported ethical
investment policies and responsible stewardship
of the earth’s resources.
GOVERNANCE & CHURCH ORDER

Governance issues are likely to occupy a
significant amount of the next Synod’s time.
Good governance in an Ordered Church must be
based on structures and processes which are
clear and accountable, and which enable the
Church to live out its calling effectively and
confidently. I have many years of both personal
and professional involvement, as a charity trustee
and as an adviser, in promoting good governance.
For pastoral, theological and ecumenical
reasons, I do not support a change to the
Church’s Canon Law in relation to the seal of the
confessional.
ECUMENISM

The Body of Christ remains wounded as long as
the scandal of the disunity of the Church
subsists. We must engage with renewed vigour in
pursuing that unity which Our Lord wills for the
Church - or we undermine the Gospel message.
PRAYER

All our Synodical endeavours are in vain if we are
not rooted in prayer and attentiveness to the Holy
Spirit, and nourished by Word and Sacrament.

assisted dying,broad church,canon law,canonical,catholic,chaplaincy,crown nominations,crown nominations commission,dioceses,ecumenical,ecumenism,evangelism,generosity,gospel,guiding principles,house of bishops,llf,marriage,mission,missional,prayer,sacrament,sacramental,safeguarding,safeguarding culture,seal of the confessional,stewardship,tradition,vocations,witness,young people,youth