This summer, elections will take place for the next General Synod of the Church of England.
General Synod brings together bishops, clergy and lay people from across the country to help shape the life, mission and governance of the Church of England. Members elected this year will serve for the next five-year Synod.
For the House of Laity elections, voting is carried out by members of Deanery Synods. If you are a Deanery Synod member, please look out for further information later in July when the formal election process begins.
Standing for election
If you are interested in standing for election, it is worth noting that you do not need to be a member of a Deanery Synod to be nominated as a candidate for the House of Laity. Any lay person who meets the eligibility requirements may stand.
For the House of Laity elections, voting is carried out by members of Deanery Synods. If you are a Deanery Synod member, please look out for further information later in July when the formal election process begins.
The diocesan register of electors for the General Synod elections will be determined on 14 July. Deanery Synod members are encouraged to ensure that their details have been submitted to the Diocese of London Governance Team via their Deanery Secretary before this date. If you have any questions about your electoral status, please contact governance@london.anglican.org.
Nominations and timetable
The formal call for nominations will be issued in August, with nominations closing in early September. In the meantime, further information about the General Synod elections, including eligibility requirements and the national timetable, is available on the Church of England website. The Diocese of London will share further details when the formal election process begins.
Key dates for the election are:
- 14 August 2026 – nominations open
- 7 September 2026 – nominations close
- 21 September 2026 – voting opens
- 19 October 2026 – results declared.
Next steps
Please keep an eye on diocesan communications over the coming weeks if you are interested either in standing for election or participating as an elector.