General Synod Election Candidates 2026

John Chilver

Diocese of Peterborough

About Me
I live in a small village in north Buckinghamshire near Winslow and am a retired charity
Finance Director and elected member of Buckinghamshire Council.
I have regularly attended St Peter and St Paul’s King’s Sutton for over 30 years and am
currently a member of the PCC and Parish Safeguarding Officer.
I am a former member of the Brixton (Southwark Diocese) Deanery Synod, representing St
John the Divine Kennington where I was the parish treasurer for 5 years.
I am a qualified accountant (FCCA) and company secretary (ACIS) and specialised in
international development and humanitarian response work for several NGO’s including
World Vision, Oxfam, Save the Children and Tearfund.
I have two daughters and two dogs. My late wife was Indian and my father in law was an
Anglican priest in the Church of North India, living in Pune.
My recreations include singing in the local village choir, opera, football, playing the organ
regularly in my local village Church, and enjoying the local countryside with my two dogs.
Mission
Christ Church Anglican Cathedral Zanzibar, built on the site of the
former slave market

My first experience of international mission work was as a Student Assistant with the
Mission to Seafarers in Dunkirk and Dar Es Salaam. Later I returned to Dar Es Salaam for
three years as Diocesan Treasurer through USPG, followed by three years as Diocesan
Secretary in Belize. I was also a part time Tutor in Church History at St Mark’s Theological
College in Dar Es Salaam and in Belize.

After returning to the UK I was a Trustee of USPG and member of the USPG Finance
Committee for 6 years. I have regularly attended the USPG Annual Conference, and am very
grateful for the opportunity to hear the testimony and witness of our global Anglican
partners.
If elected to General Synod I will do all I can to promote and encourage parish and diocesan
links, the work of our Mission Societies, participation and engagement with the next
Lambeth Conference, and champion those globally who suffer persecution for their faith.
The Church is growing fastest outside the UK and we need to listen to their voices.
Finance, Resources and Safeguarding
St Peter and St Paul’s Kings Sutton where I am on the PCC and
Safeguarding Officer

As a qualified accountant I will actively engage at General Synod on financial matters. I have
been a Parish Treasurer for 5 years (St John the Divine Kennington, Southwark) and was the
first lay Bursar of the Community of the Resurrection (CR) Mirfield.
We need to direct more resources to the parish front line rather than centralised
bureaucracy.
I was the USPG representative on the Church Investors Steering Group and will actively
engage in discussions on responsible investment.
Stewardship also involves property assets; the Church holds in trust a great heritage of
buildings which we must cherish and protect.
Having served for eight years as a Parish Safeguarding Officer I am aware of the need to face
Safeguarding issues openly, transparently and with a zero tolerance approach.
The new General Synod will have a vital part to play in all these matters and it would be a
great honour and privilege to be involved.
Thank You
John Chilver
[email protected]

       01296-711974

countryside,finance,mission,pcc,persecution,safeguarding,safeguarding officer,stewardship,witness