On 2 March 2026, the College of Canons gathered in Ely Cathedral to elect the Right Reverend Sarah Clark as the next Bishop of Ely, following her nomination by the Crown.
This election is the first formal stage in the appointment of a diocesan Bishop. As part of the process, the Bishop‑Elect then makes homage to His Majesty the King - a tradition dating back to the reign of Elizabeth I - which affirms loyalty to the Monarch.
The wider appointment process includes several steps: the diocesan Vacancy‑in‑See Committee prepares a Statement of Needs; the Crown Nominations Commission discerns and recommends a candidate to the Prime Minister; the Monarch formally nominates; the College of Canons elects; the Bishop‑Elect pays homage; and the Confirmation of Election, which for Bishop Sarah will take place on Friday 17 April and the Dean will be present, legally makes the Bishop‑Elect the Bishop of the Diocese. If the person is not already a bishop, consecration follows; the final stage is the installation service, which for Bishop Sarah will take place at Ely Cathedral later this year, with the date to be confirmed.