Day 3
General Synod 2025 Draws to a Close
The General Synod of the Church of Ireland 2025 has drawn to a close. The final session took place online this evening (May 13).
Honorary Secretary, Canon Gillian Wharton, gave the attendance figures for each of three days.
Friday – 151 clergy, 252 laity – 403
Saturday – 132 clergy, 228 laity – 360
Tuesday – 132 clergy, 218 laity – 350 (this figure includes staff)
She said the trial of scanning the QR code for attendance on Saturday worked very well. It was possible verify attendances, she stated. Canon Wharton reminded members that the pin number they received for online attendance needed to be kept for all of the triennium until immediately prior to General Synod 2027.
On behalf of the Honorary Secretaries she thanked the Dioceses of Meath and Kildare, Bishop Pat Storey and all the team, and Naas Union and Canon David McCauley who made Synod so welcome. She also thanked Archbishop McDowell and Bishop Burrows for their chairing of the various sessions.
The Journal Motion was passed by members of Synod.
Archbishop McDowell thanked the Honorary Secretaries who had an enormous amount of work to do in organising General Synod. He stated that it had been a very good Synod and commended the venue, Lawlor’s Hotel in Naas. He thanked the Dioceses of Meath and Kildare for hosting Synod. He paid tribute to the DCO for Armagh who worked exceptionally hard on the technical provision to make sure everything ran smoothly; and the Synod Department, particularly Janet, Nicole and Aisling, for their work. He thanked the Assessor for keeping him right on procedural matters.
Synod closed in prayer.
General Synod 2026 takes place in the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, County Down from May 7 to 9.