General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Revd William Warren Standing for General Synod

Proposed by Revd Canon Stephen Thorp
Seconded by Revd Ian Dyble
I would like to offer myself to serve the Diocese of Norwich,
and the wider Church, by standing for election to General
Synod.
I was ordained in 2013 and have served throughout my
ministry within the Diocese of Norwich. I served my title at
Holy Trinity, Norwich, followed by ministry at St Andrew’s,
Norwich, and then Costessey. In 2018 I was appointed Vicar
of Cromer, where I currently serve.
My heart is for the local church and, in many ways, I would
rather not stand for Synod! But several people have
encouraged me to consider whether experience of ordinary
parish ministry is precisely something Synod needs more of. I therefore put myself
forward to serve in this way, recognising that this is a significant moment for our Church
and for our nation.
There is plenty about the Church of England that frustrates me, but much more that I love.
I am an Anglican by conviction rather than convenience. I grew up in a Baptist manse, but
it was through experiencing vibrant parish ministry in the Church of England as a student
that I discerned a call to ordained ministry.
By God’s grace, I have been privileged to see slow and steady growth in every church in
which I have served, much of it through the unspectacular and unobtrusive work of
faithful weekly parish ministry. I still believe that God wants his Church to flourish. Jesus
said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
I am confident that the Lord is able to bless the Church of England and to use us,
together with other churches, to reach our nation afresh with the good news of Jesus. But
if that is to happen, I believe we need to remain faithful to Scripture, love one another, and
follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
It also requires the Church of England to give real priority to resourcing and encouraging
the local church. If elected, I would do all I can to ensure that the mission and ministry of
the parish remain central to Synod’s debates, decisions and use of resources.
Other responsibilities
Assistant Rural Dean of Holt and Repps, 2019–21
Rural Dean of Repps, 2022–25
Member of Diocesan Synod
Previously Vice-Chair of Norwich Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship
Family and wider interests
I am married to Claire, a teacher at Norwich School, and we have three children aged 11,
9 and 6. When I am not standing for General Synod, I can usually be found playing or
watching sport. Although my rugby days are over, I represent Cromer in the Norfolk
Squash League and remain a passionate cricketer when time and opportunity allow.

In a rash moment, I have also signed up to run the Marriott’s Way Marathon in February
2027 in aid of Ovarian Cancer Action.
What are the issues facing Synod, and what do I think?
There are many significant issues and challenges facing General Synod during this
quinquennium, but three stand out to me.
Mission and the local church- As I hope is clear, I am a passionate supporter of the
local church. I long to see churches in every context reaching people with the good news
of Jesus and making disciples. Having served as a rural dean in a predominantly rural
deanery, I am also well aware of the challenges many churches face in sustaining mission
and ministry. I believe we must do all we can to strengthen and encourage local churches,
while being realistic about changing patterns of life and open to new forms of church and
church planting where these genuinely serve the mission of the gospel. At a time when
many parishes and dioceses face significant financial pressure, I want Synod to be
rigorous in asking whether our structures, priorities and spending are genuinely enabling
frontline mission and ministry. The national Church should serve the local Church, not the
other way around.
Trust and accountability- High-profile safeguarding failures across different parts of the
Church have caused profound harm to victims and survivors and have rightly led many
within the Church and beyond it to question aspects of our culture, leadership and
accountability. We must continue to do all we can to ensure that our churches are safe
places, where abuse is taken seriously, victims and survivors are heard and supported,
and those in positions of authority are properly accountable. More widely, I believe the
Church should model governance that is transparent, comprehensible and accountable at
every level, reflecting the character of the Christ in whose name we serve.
Human sexuality- I remain personally committed to the Church of England’s
longstanding teaching on marriage and sexual relationships, as expressed in Canon B30.
At the same time, I believe the gospel of Jesus is good news for every person, and I long
for our churches to be places of genuine welcome, where all are treated with love and
with the dignity that belongs to those made in the image of God. There are no easy
solutions to the profound disagreements within the Church of England on these
questions. I believe we need to be honest about the depth of our theological differences,
resist solutions which simply ignore them, and seek a way forward that is faithful to
Scripture, gives proper space to conscience, and enables Christians who disagree
profoundly to treat one another with grace.
I hope this gives you a flavour of how I would approach Synod if elected. If you would like
to know more, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
I would be very grateful for your support in the election, whether as your first preference
or further down your ballot.
[email protected] (01263) 511 474

Cromer Vicarage
42 Cromwell Road
Cromer
NR27 0BE

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