Bishop Of Lincoln arrested and suspended amid sexual assault inquiry
The bishop of lincoln has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and suspended from ministry while a complaint to the National Safeguarding Team is investigated, prompting a police inquiry and a temporary change in diocesan leadership.
Bishop Of Lincoln suspended from ministry
The Archbishop of Canterbury has suspended the Bishop Of Lincoln while the complaint to the National Safeguarding Team is assessed under the House of Bishops’ code of practice. The suspension has been accompanied by a referral to the appropriate statutory authorities and a formal pause in diocesan duties for the suspended bishop. The suffragan Bishop of Grantham, Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, will perform the functions of the diocesan bishop during this period, and the diocese has said support is in place for those affected, with the diocesan safeguarding team available for contact.
Arrest, allegation and bail details
Police arrested a 68-year-old man as part of an ongoing investigation following an allegation that a man was sexually assaulted between 2018 and 2025. The detained individual has been released on conditional bail while inquiries continue. The initial complaint was made to the National Safeguarding Team at the end of January and has been processed and referred to statutory authorities, triggering both an independent safeguarding review and criminal investigation.
Diocese actions and next procedural steps
Church leaders have moved to stabilise diocesan governance while investigations proceed. The acting diocesan bishop will continue oversight and pastoral arrangements, and a named visitor post associated with a national shrine has been relinquished by the suspended bishop following his removal from active ministry. The diocese stated there would be no further comment while processes continue and emphasised that specialist support is available to anyone affected.
Analysis: observable indicators point to a two-track process now under way: a safeguarding review by the National Safeguarding Team and involvement of statutory investigators. Both strands are active and likely to set the overall timeline; the existence of conditional bail suggests criminal inquiries will proceed but are not complete. If the safeguarding investigation and statutory processes remain active, diocesan leadership in its interim form is expected to continue until formal findings are reached or statutory action concludes.
Context on the suspended cleric from public statements notes he became Bishop of Lincoln in 2023 and has previously served in other episcopal roles; he is also a member of the House of Lords. Beyond immediate procedural steps, the pace and outcomes of the national safeguarding review and police inquiry will determine whether the suspension is lifted, extended, or followed by further disciplinary or legal action. At this stage, the complaint and investigations are ongoing and certain details remain not publicly confirmed.
Key takeaways:
- The bishop of lincoln has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and released on conditional bail.
- He has been suspended from ministry while a complaint to the National Safeguarding Team is investigated and referred to statutory authorities.
- The Bishop of Grantham is acting as diocesan bishop and support arrangements have been put in place for those affected.
