Lincoln Cathedral has welcomed the news that The Rt Revd Stephen Conway is to be the next Bishop of Lincoln following an announcement from 10 Downing Street.

The Revd Canon Simon Jones, Interim Dean of Lincoln said “I am thrilled that Bishop Stephen is to be the next Bishop of Lincoln. His wisdom, energy and passion for the Christian faith will be a great blessing to the Diocese. Bishop Stephen is already a good friend of the Cathedral. We look forward to strengthening that relationship and to supporting him in his new ministry.”

The Revd Canon Simon Jones with the Rt Revd Stephen Conway at Lincoln Cathedral

The Diocese of Lincoln released the following statement confirming the news:

The Diocese of Lincoln is pleased to confirm that 10 Downing Street has today named The Rt Revd Stephen Conway as the next Bishop of Lincoln.

Bishop Stephen is already a well-known face in parishes across the Diocese of Lincoln, having been appointed Acting Bishop of Lincoln in November 2021, alongside his current role as Bishop of Ely. He remained as Acting Bishop until Easter this year.

On Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 May, Bishop Stephen will tour parts of the diocese, visiting parishes, schools, businesses and churches throughout Greater Lincolnshire to explore the opportunities and understand the issues being faced by the diverse communities across the county.

Bishop Stephen said that he is very much looking forward to the opportunity to continue his ministry in Lincolnshire. “It is a great pleasure and a privilege to be able to support and serve the people of Lincolnshire. This vast county known for its wide skies and fertile fields is home to a rich and diverse population. I am excited to listen and learn alongside you as I seek to build upon the friendships and partnerships that I have begun to build across the diocese.

“There are many opportunities ahead of us all and I look forward to working and praying with you as we come together and build strong, resilient faithful communities which flourish in the love of Christ Jesus.”

The Rt Revd Dr David Court, Bishop of Grimsby and The Rt Revd Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, Bishop of Grantham said, “The fourteen months that we have already worked with Bishop Stephen are a wonderful platform on which to build when he comes to join the diocese as the seventy-third Bishop of Lincoln. We have deeply valued his experience, companionship and warm faith and very much look forward to serving God’s people alongside him.

“All at the Diocese of Lincoln offer our prayers to Ely as they begin their search for a new Bishop.”

Stephen Conway grew up in London, before moving to Oxford to study modern history at Keble College. Following this he completed a PGCE becoming a teacher at Glenalmond College in Perth, Scotland. In 1983, Stephen began training for ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge and was ordained as a priest at Durham Cathedral in 1987. Following time as a priest at churches in the Diocese of Durham, in 2006 Stephen was announced as Bishop of Ramsbury, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Salisbury, and in 2010 he became Bishop of Ely – the post he has held for the 13 years since. Bishop Stephen became one of the Lords Spiritual of the House of Lords in 2014.

Following a wide-ranging consultation across the Diocese of Lincoln and beyond, Stephen accepted the invitation from the King to become Bishop of Lincoln, after interviews by the Crown Nominations Committee. Following the announcement, a series of formal proceedings will now commence. The College of Canons in Lincoln will proceed to elect Bishop Stephen and that election will be confirmed at a ceremony in London presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Following this Bishop Stephen will pay homage to King Charles III and he will then be installed in a service at Lincoln Cathedral in the autumn when he will begin his ministry with us; the date, time and full details of the service will be announced in the coming months.