General Synod Election Candidates 2026

1

Sonia Falaschi standing as
a Clergy representative for
General Synod

The Revd Sonia Falaschi M.A. B.Sc. Hons. C.Eng.
27 Church Lane, Barkway, SG8 8EJ
[email protected]

• 44(0)7747-844-265

Our situation: The Church of England has been a core element of our national identity for over 400
years. It seeks to be present in every community, offering support to all, irrespective of belief or
background. Its expression of Christian love, truth and values has shaped the country’s laws and civic
life for centuries, and the Lords Spiritual continue to contribute to national governance. For the most
part, the Church has been a force for good at both local and national levels.
The Church of England is facing challenging times. Secularisation and a growing trend towards
individualism — often amplified by social media echo chambers — mean that the Christian message is
now one voice among many. Failures of individuals and institutions, frequently linked to the misuse of
money, power or sex, have affected society as a whole, and the Church has not been immune.
Safeguarding, with which the Church has had a patchy record, has become a training-course-
attendance-fest, deterring many lay people from becoming involved. The amalgamation of rural
parishes as part of the Pastoral Reorganisation initiative in several dioceses, while selling off
parsonages, has resulted in priests being spread so thinly that they can barely cover the basics, let
alone the provision of pastoral care to their ‘flock’. Studies have shown that many of the clergy are
depressed by overwork and an underpaid existence and worried as to how they will fare in
retirement. Too many parishes are now being served solely by retired and voluntary priests.
Central Church funds currently stand at around £12 billion, supported in part by strong investment
decisions made in previous decades. Their custodians should now allocate sufficient resources to
support the Church on the ground, not simply provide grants for special projects while prioritising
long-term savings. This approach sits uneasily with Charity Commission guidance. If the present is not
strengthened by appointing more priests, supporting and paying them properly, and ensuring a decent
standard of living in retirement, the Church of England risks a future confined to a handful of successful
city-centre Minsters alongside an ever-growing financial reserve.
LLF meanwhile has been left languishing in the long grass. A missional own goal. The very public and
divisive discussions during the LLF debate have done a great deal of damage to the CofE’s reputation
and status, especially among young adults.
Background
My current role is as a Self-Supporting Minister with PtO in the Dioceses of St Albans and Ely. I initially
studied Mechanical Engineering at University and worked as a Design and Development Engineer for
the Metal Box company. I transferred to the world of finance as a Stockbroking Investment Analyst for

the paper and packaging industries, eventually running an award-winning global team for the Union
Bank of Switzerland.
Having been brought up as an Anglican, I stepped back from faith for a time after confirmation. Later,
at the height of my finance career and married to a Professor of Egyptology at Cambridge, I found
myself asking deeper questions about purpose as the world’s challenges pressed in. A friend
encouraged me to attend an Alpha course, and I rediscovered my faith at Holy Trinity Brompton.
This led me to leave The City and study Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Cambridge
— a demanding but rewarding shift, especially as someone with dyslexia and ADHD — undertaken
with no expectation of ordination. Yet the call to ministry became increasingly clear, and I trained for
the priesthood at Ridley Hall, being ordained in Ely Cathedral in 2005.
I now live in a rural Benefice of three active churches. I have covered several vacancies, one lasting a
couple of years, giving me experience across the full range of ministerial duties and the Occasional
Offices, and insight into the pressures faced by multi-parish rural teams working with a developing lay
ministry alongside one stipended minister. I have also helped run Alpha courses in the men’s and
women’s prisons at Haverhill, Suffolk. As an SSM, I have a roving ministry, filling Eucharistic gaps, and
am comfortable with a wide range of worship styles. I have additionally served as Day Chaplain in St
Albans Cathedral, which has strengthened my ministry since ordination. As a former Parish Councillor
and later Chair, walking my golden retrievers often brings me into contact with neighbours who might
not otherwise cross a church threshold, offering occasional opportunities for quiet, informal evangelism.
Publications:
• Harry Potter: A Christian Chronicle — written to engage readers in contemporary culture by
highlighting the Christian themes and moral imagination within the series, offering a way into Gospel
values for those curious or cautious about faith.
• Missing: Three Days in Jerusalem — an imaginative exploration of the Gospel’s central narrative,
drawing together the boy Jesus’ three missing days at Passover and the three days between the Last
Supper and the Resurrection, encouraging readers to encounter the story afresh. (Front-cover
endorsement from the Rt Revd Rowan Williams.)
• The Secret Scrolls — a mystery centred on long-hidden letters whose discovery opens up core
Christian beliefs, using narrative to invite readers into the depth and significance of the Gospel.
What I offer
I believe my pastoral, analytical and managerial experience, energy and commitment equip me to
contribute to the future wellbeing of the Church of England. I am not beholden to the Church’s hierarchy
for preferment. I am passionate about proclaiming the Gospel afresh to each generation, removing
blocks and strengthening engagement — supporting clergy and laity financially, spiritually and in
workload, enabling them to flourish, and recognising that parish churches and the communities they
inspire, are far more dynamic and valuable than is often assumed, while easing the time, energy and
financial burdens of maintaining historic buildings.
As a first action, I would propose a survey of all Dioceses to establish their absorption of parish property
assets and any recompense which may have been given, and to support parishes facing unwelcome
reorganisation plans to respond in ways which support parish-based growth.
I will fully engage with Synod business, offering teamwork, accountable leadership and decades of
corporate financial expertise to ensure key issues are brought forward and properly addressed in
service of the Church’s Christ focussed mission. I look forward to hearing from you regarding any
matters you believe should be raised in Synod and thank you for your support.

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