Bishop of Lincoln arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, suspended from ministry

The Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Stephen Conway, has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault following a complaint to the Church of England's national safeguarding team, Lincolnshire Police confirmed Saturday. The 68-year-old was arrested as part of an "ongoing investigation following an allegation that a man was sexually assaulted between 2018 and 2025." He has been released on conditional bail.

Church Suspension

A statement on the Diocese of Lincoln website confirmed the bishop has been "suspended from ministry" following the complaint. "Support is in place for those affected," the statement said, adding that a referral had been made to "appropriate statutory authorities." No details of the complaint were provided. The diocese acknowledged "this will be a deeply unsettling time." The Bishop of Grantham, the Right Reverend Dr. Nicholas Chamberlain, will stand in during the suspension.

National Significance

Conway, who has served as Bishop of Lincoln since 2023, is a senior Church of England leader responsible for overseeing churches and clergy across eastern England. The position also carries national significance as the bishop sits in the House of Lords, helping to review and debate UK laws. The arrest marks another safeguarding crisis for the Church of England, which has faced repeated scrutiny over its handling of abuse allegations.