General Synod Election Candidates 2026

André Wright
General Synod 2026 Election Address

ABOUT ME
I am 35, married to Stephanie, and we have three young
daughters aged 5, 3, and 1. For the last two years, we have
been active members of St Peter & St Paul, Swanscombe,
and I currently serve on the PCC.
Professionally, I have a 1st Class degree in Mathematics
from Brunel University and now serve as the Chief Data
& Technology Officer for Ice Travel Group, running the
tech behind Travelsupermarket.com and Icelolly.com.
Outside of church, work and family life, I have a passion
for athletics and was a British silver medallist in the
200m indoors and the 200m British University
Championship Indoor record holder. I also enjoy the
strategic focus of chess and playing the guitar, bass, and
drums.
I am standing for General Synod because I want my
daughters, and their generation, to inherit a Church of
England that is confident in the gospel, growing in faith
and able to pass that faith on to those who come after us.
My experience in technology, data and strategic
leadership is something I hope to bring in service of that
mission.
KEY PRIORITIES
Nurturing Children and Young People’s Ministry​
I want to see the Church pass on the Christian faith
confidently to the next generation. As a father, I live out
the weekly joys and trials of family discipleship, and it
breaks my heart to see young people who have grown up
in church drift away from faith. The Church’s strategic
priority to become 'younger and more diverse' is vital,
and having been raised in a strong Christian home, I
know that nurturing a faith that lasts into adulthood
requires teaching, discipleship, prayer and Christian
community.
Evangelism, Church Growth, and Revitalisation​
The Church must equip parishes to proclaim the gospel
clearly and reach the communities they serve. Good data
can help us understand those communities better,
identify where ministry is bearing fruit and make wiser
decisions about church planting and revitalisation. For
many young families, a church’s website and online
presence are now its front door. We should help parishes
use technology well so that people looking for a church
can find a welcoming and accessible way in.
Securing the Financial Viability of the Church​
The burden of funding local ministry currently falls too
heavily on ageing congregations. The long-term answer
cannot simply be to ask ageing and shrinking
congregations to give ever more. A financially
sustainable Church will ultimately depend on healthy,
growing local churches, alongside wise stewardship of
the considerable resources held nationally.
Encouraging and Supporting Vocations​
The shortage of clergy is a serious challenge for the
Church’s mission. We need to encourage people from a
wide range of ages, professions and backgrounds to
explore God’s call to ordained ministry, while making sure
our discernment and training processes are rigorous,
accessible and no more bureaucratic than they need to be.
Marriage and Relationships​
I am committed to the Church of England’s historic
teaching on marriage and sexual relationships. I also
want our debates about these questions to be marked by
grace, clarity and genuine pastoral care for everyone.
Representation​
If elected, I would seek to listen carefully to the concerns
of lay people and parishes across the Diocese of Rochester
and to bring those concerns constructively to Synod.
I would be grateful for your support and, if you feel able,
for your first-preference vote. If you have any questions,
feel free to email me at [email protected].

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