We are delighted to share the announcement from Downing Street that His Majesty the King has approved the nomination of the Right Reverend Sarah Clark, Acting Bishop of Durham and Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow in the Diocese of Durham, for election as Bishop of Ely.
Bishop Sarah succeeds the Right Reverend Stephen Conway who moved to be Bishop of Lincoln in July 2023. We give thanks to Bishop Dagmar who has served as Acting Bishop and who will return fully to her role as Suffragan Bishop of Huntingdon once Bishop Sarah has taken up her role in the diocese.
Bishop Sarah says of her appointment:
“I feel such a sense of joy, vocation and thankfulness to God about coming to the Diocese of Ely. I am deeply honoured by this opportunity to serve as your Bishop and I am so looking forward to joining you, getting out and about throughout the whole diocese, hearing your stories and learning from them and about the communities you love and serve.
When I came to explore the diocese before my interview I was captured by the sculpture of Mary the mother of Jesus in the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral, arms raised in Magnificat, in praise of what God was doing. I am full of hope that as we journey together into the future, embracing our rich diversity of tradition, theology, and place, we will write together the next chapter of the Diocese of Ely in such a way that it is shot through with that same spirit of thanksgiving to God. It is God’s Holy Spirit who will enable us to grow in faith and number, in our witness to Jesus Christ and our service and care of others.”
Welcoming Bishop Sarah to the Diocese, Bishop Dagmar adds:
“The Diocese of Ely warmly welcomes Bishop Sarah. I am excited by the leadership, energy and vision she will bring and I am very much looking forward to her joining us.”
Throughout the day (27 January), Bishop Sarah will travel across the Diocese, beginning her journey in school with staff and pupils and ending with Evensong at the Cathedral. She will visit churches, businesses and community groups, meeting clergy, lay ministers and diocesan staff and listening to local stories, seeing at first-hand the breadth of ministry and mission taking place.
Bishop Sarah was educated at Loughborough University and before being ordained worked as a civil servant within the Department of Employment. She trained for ministry at St John’s College in Nottingham, before undertaking her curacy at St James Porchester in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. She was ordained Priest in 1999.
In 2002, Sarah was appointed Rector of the United Benefice of Carlton-in-Lindrick and Langold with Oldcotes, and from 2009 she served as Team Rector of the Clifton Team Ministry in Nottingham. In 2011 she became an Honorary Canon of Southwell Minster while also taking on the additional role of Dean of Women’s Ministry. From 2014 she served as Archdeacon of Nottingham before being consecrated Bishop of Jarrow on 27 February 2019. She took on the responsibilities as Acting Bishop of Durham in early 2024 following the retirement of the former Bishop.
With deep pastoral care and a vision for nurturing faith and inspiring mission, Bishop Sarah will guide our Diocese, honouring Ely’s rich heritage and supporting our varied and vibrant communities.
It is anticipated that Bishop Sarah will be welcomed and installed at Ely Cathedral in early summer 2026. Further details about this service will be shared as soon as they are available.
Please pray for Bishop Sarah as she prepares to take up her post:
We praise and thank you, God of the journey, for all your gifts to us in the past.
We look to you as fellow traveller and faithful companion on the way ahead.
Strengthen, bless and guide Bishop Sarah by your Holy Spirit
as she prepares for this calling
that with her we may serve you
as generous and visible people of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A welcome from Bishop Sarah
Notes to Editors
- Please note that media interviews will not be arranged until Bishop Sarah has been installed at Ely Cathedral in early summer 2026.
- Media enquiries for the Diocese of Durham should be directed to the team here - https://durhamdiocese.org/parish-support/communications-and-digital/
- Media enquiries to the Diocese of Ely can be directed to communications@elydiocese.org