Key Points
- Rev. Stephen Conway has announced his resignation as Bishop of Lincoln, the Church of England officially stated on 21st September 2026.
- The See of Lincoln will be vacant as of 1st October 2026 and Bishop Nick Chamberlain will continue as the Acting Bishop of Lincoln.
- Conway, aged 68, was suspended from the clergy in February 2026 following a safeguarding case reported to the National Safeguarding Team of the Church of England.
- Lincolnshire Police arrested him in February for sexual assault in connection to the offence alleged to have been committed between 2018 and 2025, though no charges have been filed yet as the police investigation continues.
- According to the Church of England, its complaint process is ongoing and clergy will continue to be bound by disciplinary process even after resignation or retirement from service.
- A Crown Nominations Commission will be set up at an appropriate time to choose the permanent successor to Conway.
- Conway had been serving as the Acting Bishop of Lincoln since November 2021 and was appointed Bishop of Lincoln in July 2023.
- He was previously the Bishop of Ely.
Ely (Wales Times) September 24, 2026 — The Rt Rev Stephen Conway, the former Bishop of uk/local/cardiff/ely/">Ely, has resigned as Bishop of Lincoln after being suspended from ministry earlier this year following a safeguarding complaint and his arrest on suspicion of sexual assault, the Church of England has confirmed.
The Church of England announced on Monday that Conway had resigned as Bishop of Lincoln. It said the See would become vacant on 1 October 2026. As reported by Reuters, the Church said Conway resigned after being suspended from ministry following his arrest earlier in the year on suspicion of sexual assault.
The resignation does not end the matters under examination. The Church of England said that the complaint process remains ongoing and that clergy continue to be subject to church disciplinary procedures following resignation or retirement. As reported by the BBC, the Church stated: “The complaint process is ongoing. Clergy remain subject to church disciplinary procedures following resignation or retirement.”
Why has Stephen Conway resigned?
Conway’s resignation follows his suspension from ministry in February 2026, after a complaint was made to the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team. The Church said the complaint was handled in accordance with the House of Bishops Code of Practice and included a referral to the police.
Lincolnshire Police arrested Conway in February. As reported by ITV News, a Lincolnshire Police spokesperson said: “Our investigation remains ongoing. No charges have been laid.”
The allegations concern an alleged sexual assault against a man between 2018 and 2025. As reported by the Religion Media Centre, Lincolnshire Police said at the time of the arrest that it was investigating an allegation that a man was sexually assaulted during that period.
It is important to distinguish between the police investigation and the Church’s internal process. The police matter remains ongoing and no charges have been brought. Separately, the Church of England’s safeguarding complaint process is also continuing, even after Conway’s resignation.
What did the Church of England say?
In its official statement, the Church of England said:
“The Rt Rev Stephen Conway has resigned as Bishop of Lincoln. The See will become vacant on October 1.”
The Church also confirmed that Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, the Bishop of Grantham, will continue as Acting Bishop of Lincoln until a permanent replacement is chosen.
According to the Church of England’s statement, a Crown Nominations Commission will be convened in due course to discern the next Bishop of Lincoln. That body is responsible for identifying and nominating a successor for the diocesan bishopric.
Who will lead the Diocese of Lincoln?
Bishop Nick Chamberlain will continue to carry out the duties of the Diocesan Bishop. He had already been performing that role after Conway was suspended in February.
The Diocese of Lincoln covers a large part of Lincolnshire and serves Church of England communities across the county. The immediate leadership arrangement is intended to maintain diocesan oversight while the process to appoint a permanent bishop proceeds.
Conway had been Acting Bishop of Lincoln from November 2021 and was formally appointed to the role in July 2023. Before moving to Lincoln, he served as Bishop of Ely, the position referenced in reports of his resignation.
What happens to the investigation?
Neither the police investigation nor the Church of England’s complaint process has concluded. Lincolnshire Police has said its investigation remains ongoing and that no charges have been laid.
The Church of England has separately confirmed that its complaint process is ongoing. It has also made clear that resignation does not remove a member of the clergy from the possibility of church disciplinary action.
At the time of his suspension, the Guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham said Conway had resigned from his role as Visitor to the Shrine. As reported by the BBC, the Guardians accepted his resignation following news of his suspension.
Background of the development
Stephen Conway was suspended from ministry on 20 February 2026 while the Church responded to a complaint made to its National Safeguarding Team. The complaint was referred to police as part of the process under the House of Bishops Code of Practice.
Lincolnshire Police subsequently arrested a 68-year-old man on suspicion of sexual assault in connection with an allegation relating to the period between 2018 and 2025. Conway was later released on conditional bail.
The Church of England’s announcement of his resignation came on 21 September 2026. It confirmed that the See would become vacant on 1 October and that Bishop Chamberlain would remain Acting Bishop while arrangements are made to select a successor.
Prediction: how may this affect Anglicans in Lincoln?
For clergy, parishioners and diocesan staff in Lincoln, the immediate effect is likely to be a continued period of interim leadership under Bishop Nick Chamberlain. The Diocese will need to manage routine episcopal duties, parish support and appointments while the Crown Nominations Commission considers a permanent successor.
For members of the Diocese of Lincoln, the development may increase attention on safeguarding procedures and the Church’s handling of complaints against senior clergy. The Church has said that disciplinary procedures can continue after resignation, which means the matter may remain relevant to the diocese even after the See becomes vacant.
For the wider Church of England, the case is likely to keep focus on the relationship between police investigations, internal safeguarding processes and clerical accountability. The outcome of the police inquiry and the Church’s complaint process will determine what further steps, if any, follow.
