church commissioners,environmental,pcc,save the parish,stipendiary

Richard Woods CNZM
Address for election to the House of Laity
at General Synod 2026

If I am elected, this will be my first experience of General Synod, but I have had
considerable involvement in parish and other church affairs. My professional career
required me to make decisions on many difficult and contentious issues, including under
complex legislation, often in the face of public and media criticism. The Synod considers
and makes decisions on a variety of difficult and sensitive issues. My background should
help me to make a useful contribution to its discussions.

My father was a vicar and archdeacon in New
Zealand and I am a New Zealander by birth.
But my late brother was a parish priest on
Merseyside for over 25 years. One of his
daughters, my niece, is rector of a parish in
Cumbria.

In my diplomatic career, I was New Zealand
ambassador in Tehran, Athens, Moscow and
Paris. I was then appointed head of the New
Zealand Security Intelligence Service for five
years, extended to seven. This was followed
by board roles in
environmental risk
management (chairman) and investigation of
complaints about police conduct. Outside
public service, I was a trustee of a trust whose
object is the promotion of Anglican ministry
among indigenous people in New Zealand
and elsewhere. I also served on the vestry
(PCC) of Wellington Cathedral.

In 2013 my wife and I moved to London to be close to our sons and their families who
live here. We joined the parish of St Peter’s Hammersmith and both became involved in
voluntary parish activities. I was a member of the PCC and served as a warden for six
years; this included leading an emergency effort to raise £50,000 for new downpipes,
achieved in three months. Currently I bank cash and cheques for the parish. For nine
years I was a trustee of the Overseas Bishoprics Fund, based at Church House,
Westminster. I am a Friend of the Diocese of Iran (FDI), having lived in Iran for seven
years and been active in the church there when that was still possible.

Through family connections and my own involvement, I am interested in parish affairs.
In that context I support the goals of the Save the Parish movement. For many years my
own parish paid more than its assessed diocesan share but currently, like many others, it
has had to reduce its payment below the assessed share. Other parishes are in much more

difficult positions. Without functioning parishes it is difficult to see how the church can
stem the decline in its membership. Therefore I would like to see more resources
allocated to parishes and less to diocesan and other overheads. Specifically I would like
more stipendiary priests to be financially supported from Church Commissioners’ Funds.

I realise that General Synod has many important items on its agenda. But I hope it will
give proper attention to the various thoughtful proposals in the Save the Parish Manifesto.

Richard Woods
[email protected]