Diocese of Chichester

New members are being elected to General Synod this year – and you are invited to stand.

Watch this short explainer from the Church of England.

General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England, commonly referred to as the Church’s Parliament. Together with the Westminster Parliament, it is the only body in the land which is entitled to make national law for England. Synod considers and approves legislation affecting the whole of the Church of England, authorises new forms of worship, debates matters of religious and public interest, and approves the annual budget for the work of the Church at national level.

Members of General Synod are arranged into three Houses: the House of Bishops, the House of Clergy (all ordained members, excluding bishops), and the House of Laity, the lay (not ordained) members from every diocese of the Church of England. Members of the Houses of Clergy and Laity are elected by the clergy and lay members respectively of the Deanery Synods (Link to Deanery Synod - Diocese of Chichester). Chichester has been allocated six clergy seats (+1) and seven laity seats (-1).

2026 election timetable for parishes

The next election to General Synod takes place in 2026.

In the Diocese of Chichester, the electorate for this election will be the Deanery Synod representatives elected at parish APCMs in 2026. As local Deanery Synod elections are taking place in the same year, the timetable is tighter than usual.

What happens next:

• Parish records and representative details will be gathered from PCC secretaries following APCMs.

• Tuesday 14^th July - Deadline for qualifying as an elector. General Synod is dissolved marking the end of the current quinquennium.
• Wednesday 29^th July – The Presiding Officer will write to electors with next steps for the election
• Friday 14^th August - Invitations to nominate are issued
• Monday 7^th September - Closing date for receipt of nominations and deadline for receipt of election addresses
• Monday 21^st September - Invitations to vote are issued and the voting period opens
• Monday 12^th October - Voting period for postal vote closes
• Tuesday 13^th October - Voting period for voting by using elections portal closes
• Wednesday 14^th - Friday 16^th October – Counting takes place
• Monday 19^th October - Deadline for declaration of result