Bishop of Lincoln Stephen Conway Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges from 2018-2025

Stephen Conway, the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln, has been detained by police on suspicion of sexual assault. Lincolnshire Police reported that a 68-year-old man was arrested as part of an "ongoing investigation into an allegation that a man was sexually assaulted between 2018 and 2025". Conway was released on bail under specific conditions that have not been disclosed.

Lincoln Cathedral, where Conway is bishop, was completed in 1311 and is one of the most important examples of Gothic architecture in England. The Diocese of Lincoln, historically the largest in England, has its roots in the 7th century. In the Church of England, bishops are appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister, following a recommendation from a church commission. The decision to suspend the bishop from his duties was made by the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally. The complaint that led to the suspension was reported to the Church of England's National Safeguarding Team. The Diocese of Lincoln issued a statement confirming that the complaint had been referred "to the appropriate church and secular authorities". This means that, alongside the police investigation, a church disciplinary proceeding is underway. Safeguarding policies in the Church of England have been significantly tightened in recent years following numerous past scandals that revealed systemic failures in protecting victims.true: The fact of Bishop Stephen Conway's arrest and his suspension by the Archbishop of Canterbury has been confirmed by official statements from the police and the diocese. (Lincolnshire Police, Diocese of Lincoln) The source materials contain no speculation about the identity of the victim or the details of the alleged act, which could lead to premature conclusions. The case represents another shock for the Church of England, which in recent decades has grappled with the revelation of sexual abuse cases within its ranks and criticism for the way they were covered up. In practice, this means Bishop Conway cannot perform pastoral functions, administer sacraments, or represent the diocese until the proceedings are concluded. The Diocese of Lincoln covers the counties of Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire, and the bishop is its spiritual leader and administrator. „"The Diocese of Lincoln confirms that a complaint regarding Bishop Stephen Conway has been referred to the appropriate church and secular authorities. The bishop has been suspended from his duties. We cannot comment further while proceedings are ongoing."” — Statement from the Diocese of Lincoln No information was provided on who will temporarily assume the duties of the Bishop of Lincoln. The police did not specify whether the alleged incident occurred within the diocese or elsewhere.