The General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England. The General Synod considers and approves legislation affecting the whole of the Church of England, formulates new forms of worship, debates matters of national and international importance, and approves the annual budget for the work of the Church at national level.
There are 483 members of General Synod. Members are arranged into three Houses: Bishops, Clergy and Laity.
House of Bishops – Diocesan bishops, along with a few suffragan or assistant bishops, make up the House of Bishops. The House also regularly meets separately from the Synod to discuss issues of episcopal ministry, mission and national issues affecting the Church of England.
House of Clergy – Excluding bishops, all ordained members of the General Synod form the House of Clergy.
House of Laity – The House of Laity consists of lay members from every diocese of the Church of England. Nearly all lay members of Synod are elected by deanery synods (or annual meetings of the chaplaincies, in the case of the Diocese in Europe) or are chosen by and from the lay members of religious communities.
Current members from the Diocese of Worcester
Elections to General Synod took place over the summer of 2026 with results announced in October. The following candidates were successful and will be the Diocese of Worcester representatives for the next five years. (Click on their name to read their election addresses.)
House of Laity
House of Clergy
Read our news report on the announcement of the results
Member reports
Read a report on the July 2026 group of sesions from Lay Member Lynn Nichol
Read a report on the July 2026 group of sesions from Lay Member Robin Lunn
Find out more about the work of General Synod on the Church of England website.