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 in early August 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.
Qualification for inclusion in the diocesan register of electors for the General Synod elections was fixed on 14 July. If you have any questions about your electoral status, please contact
governance@dioceseofnorwich.org
Nominations and timetable
The formal call for nominations will open on 14 August, with nominations closing on 7 September. Eligible electors will be able to nominate and second candidates for election, and are encouraged to consider standing for election themselves or to consider who else might be able to represent the Diocese most effectively at General Synod.
In the meantime, further information about the General Synod elections, including eligibility requirements and the national timetable, is available on the Church of England General Synod Elections page. The Diocese of Norwich will publish further details as the formal election process proceeds.
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.
If you are an elector in the General Synod elections click here for further information.