The Bishop of Ely, Stephen Conway, has written to parishes in the Diocese of Ely following the announcement by Downing Street that he will leave Ely to take up the position of Bishop of Lincoln later in the year.
In his letter (copied below) Bishop Stephen says; “I have loved the nearly thirteen years I will have served the gospel with you. It will remain my most sustained commitment in ministry, a time of great fruitfulness for me and, I trust, a time of shared purpose and love in Christ Jesus. I have a whole mixture of feelings as I face the prospect of the move. I am profoundly grateful for the support I have received from immediate colleagues, from parishes, chaplaincies, clergy, lay ministers, church wardens and from the colleges where I have served as Visitor. I have thoroughly enjoyed my close engagement with our schools. It has been a privilege to have shared my commitment to the people of Cambridgeshire and West Norfolk with many community leaders, ecumenical partners and friends of other faiths. I have sought to lead and to teach by word and example. I am sorry where I have failed or fallen short. I am deeply grateful, my sisters and brothers, for all I have learned from you about our shared faith in Jesus and our eternal salvation in him. It has been a huge privilege to have baptised and confirmed so many people embarking on the journey of faith and discipleship. I shall take all this learning and encouragement with me to Lincoln. Please pray for me.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury had invited Bishop Stephen to take charge of the Diocese of Lincoln as Acting Bishop in addition to his role as Bishop of Ely, which he did from the beginning of January 2022 until 1st March 2023.
Archbishop Justin now writes: “Bishop Stephen moves to become Bishop of Lincoln after nearly 13 distinguished and fulfilling years as Bishop of Ely. His call to move was discerned while he covered the vacancy in Lincoln, and he takes up this new role with my full support. My prayers continue for all in the Diocese of Ely as the search begins for their next bishop.”
After an extended period of discernment culminating in Bishop Stephen meeting the Crown Nominations Commission, he has accepted the invitation from the Crown to serve the last season of his apostolic ministry as a bishop with the clergy and people of the Diocese of Lincoln and the whole community of Greater Lincolnshire.
Bishop Stephen has consulted Archbishop Justin about the episcopal vacancy created by his departure. Bishop Dagmar will be appointed by Bishop Stephen as the Acting Bishop of Ely and she will serve in that capacity until his successor takes up the office of Bishop of Ely. Bishop Stephen has every confidence in the smooth transition into the vacancy given how much responsibility Bishop Dagmar has been exercising while he has been dividing his time between the two dioceses.
Bishop Dagmar adds: “The news of Bishop Stephen leaving the Diocese of Ely is very sad for us indeed. When I first arrived in the Diocese, I was struck by the warm and generous relationships and this is in no small part due to Bishop Stephen’s leadership. Many of us will feel his loss keenly. However, he is leaving us in a good place, giving us confidence for the vacancy and beyond. We wish him every blessing in his ministry in the Diocese of Lincoln”.
Now that the appointment has been made public, the Lincoln College of Canons will proceed to elect Bishop Stephen and that election will be confirmed at a ceremony in London presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The date for that is yet to be fixed but is likely to happen before the end of July.
There will be a leaving service for Bishop Stephen at the Cathedral at 4.30pm on Sunday, 16th July straight after the annual children’s party in the Bishop’s garden.
Further Announcements
- View the Announcement from Downing Street – here
- View the Announcement from the Church of England – here
- View the Announcement from the Diocese of Lincoln - here
Bishop Stephen’s letter to parishes in the Diocese of Ely following the announcement by Downing Street that he will leave Ely to take up the position of Bishop of Lincoln.
Dear Friends,
It has been announced from Downing Street this morning that I have been chosen to be the next Bishop of Lincoln. I have gone through an extended period of discernment about this calling as you can imagine. The vocation was confirmed by the comprehensive testing of the Crown Nominations Commission which put my name forward to the Crown. At some point in the autumn I shall pay homage to the King, after which I shall be installed as Bishop of Lincoln for the five years before I retire.
Looking back, it was likely from the outset that I would fall in love with the people of Lincolnshire as I sought to encourage and guide the diocese through various challenges. Thankfully, God has blessed me with a big heart and I have experienced throughout my life that love multiplies love. I hope to become part of the embrace of God around the people of Lincoln as I continue to hold all of you in deep affection and prayer.
I have loved the nearly thirteen years I will have served the gospel with you. It will remain my most sustained commitment in ministry, a time of great fruitfulness for me and, I trust, a time of shared purpose and love in Christ Jesus. I have a whole mixture of feelings as I face the prospect of the move. I am profoundly grateful for the support I have received from immediate colleagues, from parishes, chaplaincies, clergy, lay ministers, church wardens and from the colleges where I have served as Visitor. I have thoroughly enjoyed my close engagement with our schools. It has been a privilege to have shared my commitment to the people of Cambridgeshire and West Norfolk with many community leaders, ecumenical partners and friends of other faiths.
I have sought to lead and to teach by word and example. I am sorry where I have failed or fallen short. I am deeply grateful, my sisters and brothers, for all I have learned from you about our shared faith in Jesus and our eternal salvation in him. It has been a huge privilege to have baptised and confirmed so many people embarking on the journey of faith and discipleship. I shall take all this learning and encouragement with me to Lincoln.
I have consulted Archbishop Justin about the episcopal vacancy created by my departure. He has made clear his support for my appointing Bishop Dagmar to be the Acting Bishop of Ely. She will serve in that capacity until my successor takes up the office of Bishop of Ely. I have every confidence in the smooth transition into the vacancy given how much responsibility Bishop Dagmar has been exercising while I have been dividing my time between the two dioceses. I have also recently appointed the Bishop of Ebbsfleet and the Acting Bishop of Peterborough as Assistant Bishops.
Now that the appointment has been made public, the Lincoln College of Canons will proceed to elect me, and that election will be confirmed at a ceremony in London presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The date for that is yet to be fixed, but is likely to happen before the end of July. I shall lay down the bishop’s pastoral staff at the end of Evensong at the Cathedral at 4.30pm on Sunday,16th July straight after the annual children’s party in my garden. I do hope that as many of you as possible will join me then.
I shall go on praying for the flourishing of the mission and ministry of all our churches, schools and chaplaincies, and for the well-being of their ministers. Please continue to pray for me.
+Stephen