General Synod Election Candidates 2026

GENERAL SYNOD ELECTION ADDRESS

MRS REBECCA HILL

WHO AM I?
I am a church warden in the rural
parish of Barningham Winter in
North Norfolk which is part of the
Maltase Benefice and near where
I live with my husband and two
sons. As a barrister in London,
where I have practised in
property and agricultural law for
over 20 years, I also enjoy
attending St Bartholomew the
Great when I am able. I
embarked on the part- time MA
in Church Law last year and have
recently been elected as a trustee
of the Ecclesiastical Law Society.

REASON FOR STANDING
➢ Our benefice is blessed to have a dedicated and enthusiastic
rector where the individual churches have, as Lord Williams
described, “a rooted presence…in every community.” My first
foray into church politics, however, came about a decade ago
in a different diocese. I was asked to assist a group of
parishioners troubled by the intended creation of a benefice
from 2 small parishes to 6 following the retirement of the
incumbent. Compared to other multi parish benefices the
figures may appear relatively small, but for a rural parish that
had up to that point a parish priest who was present daily and
integral to parish life this marked a dramatic change. The
loosely veiled threat of church closure led to a breakdown of
trust between diocese and the parish. Whilst closure was
averted and a smaller benefice was achieved, the interregnum
lasted over a year, leading to a decline in attendance. The
subsequent appointment of a priest who did not conform to
many of the traditions of the parish led to further departures.

➢ More recently, the drive for multi parish benefices to form
joint councils has presented a further headache. Whereas the
promise of easing the administrative burden appeared at first
blush attractive, I spent some time considering the difficulties
it posed (not least the loss of control by PCCs, parish identity
and the ability to reverse the position).

There are two main reasons why I wish to stand
First, we need to focus on the presence of a parish priest in every
parish. This is not borne out of nostalgia. Rather, I have been
concerned for some time that the priest is there to have cure of the
souls, preach and administer the sacraments.
Secondly, I am fully aware we are facing a crisis in the discrepancy
of numbers between those coming forward for ordination and those
departing. According to the Church of England 2016 report, Going
Deeper, “an increase in clergy is associated with the likelihood of
growth in attendance, while a decrease in clergy is associated, on
average, with a decline in attendance.” Yet only 37% of all active
clergy are in stipendiary roles, and there has been a 25% reduction in
new ordinands between 2020 and 2025.
We need to find a way not only to stem the tide but to
increase numbers of priests.

WHAT I WILL DO
It is for those reasons that I support Save the Parish
and stand with its commitments for the next Synod.
A copy of the manifesto may be accessed here
https://www.savetheparish.com/general-synod-
manifesto-2026/.
I would like to highlight the following.
Parish:
• Restore Church Commissioners funds to their
founding purpose: stipendiary parish
ministry
◦ In 2024 the Church Commissioners held £11.1
billion in endowment which generated a
distributable income of £491 million.
◦ During the last Synod, the National Church
Governance Measure was amended so that
the income paid out must have “particular
regard to the requirements of section 67 of the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840 relating
to the additional provision of the cure of souls
in parishes where such assistance is most
required”. Since then, the entire Measure was
withdrawn (the Ecclesiastical Committee
having deemed it inexpedient). This will
need to be fought again at the next
Synod.
• Return to Formula Funding: The Archbishop’s
Council was established to “co-ordinate, promote,
aid and further the work and mission of the
Church of England” (National Institutions
Measure 1998, s1). The move from a formula
(funding going to dioceses determined by need
and poverty in the parishes and dioceses) to
grants for projects reflecting “Vision and
Strategy” in 2017 has not had the anticipated
outcome and has contributed to a growing
bureaucratic burden at the diocesan and national
level.
Priest:
• A twinned approach is called for:
◦ Training: Theologically rich, ordinand-
centred education which is fully funded so that
our priests have a strong theological training
and understanding what it is to be an Anglican
priest. The recommendations set out in the
Save the Parish led consultation at St George’s
House on Parish Ministry involving
participants representing the breadth of
Anglian traditions are to be welcomed.
◦ Support: we need to protect our valued clergy
from the physical and mental exhaustion and
the administrative burden they labour under. I
support the proposed Clergy Charter of Care
which advocates, inter alia, an immediate halt
to clergy cuts (which have resulted in part due
to the change in funding from the Archbishops’
Council), and manageable benefices.
• A joyful, supported priest is the most effective
vocations officer for the Church.
People
• Churchgoers’ charter. We need to honour
volunteers who hold the parishes together. Much
work has been undertaken in that regard in my
own diocese. But there is an acute concern that
many are burdened by complex compliance rules
and procedures, some of which are not even
statutory. It is deterring volunteering and lowers
morale in a dwindling volunteer base. Steps to
reduce that burden, or use of exemptions,
particularly in smaller parishes, must be
considered together with caps on the period of
vacancies.

WHAT I WOULD BRING
• Legal issues: I am perturbed by hearing
anecdotally of members leaving the chamber
when important legal issues are to be discussed.
This is an area in which I hope my training as a
lawyer will be an advantage. In the next
Quinquennium, the revision of the Mission and
Pastoral Measure will be critical. Moreover, in
my role as church warden over the years I have
had to grapple with multiple Church Law
matters, ranging from chancel repair liability,
disputes over selection of clergy, faculty
applications, and pastoral restructuring which
has involved a detailed analysis of the legislation.
Being able to understand that legislation had
been critical where clergy were being coerced in a
particular direction. And my desire for a more in-
depth understanding of Church Law led me to
study for the Masters.
• Rural Churches: I grew up in a rural parish,
and I returned to one when I had my own family.
Together with my practice in agricultural law
(where I frequently undertake pro bono cases), I
am acutely aware of the problems faced by these
parishes and small communities. Sunday
attendance is not always reflective of the
importance of the Church to the local
community.
There will be other issues which will be
more important for others. And I will listen
to the debates and pray about them.
VOTING
Please consider giving me your first or high
preference vote. I am, of course, very happy to
answer any questions so please feel free to contact
me.

[email protected]

agricultural,archbishop,archbishops,archbishops' council,benefice,church commissioners,dioceses,interregnum,mission,ordinands,ordination,pccs,poverty,retirement,save the parish,stipendiary,vocations