Police arrested a 68-year-old man on suspicion of sexual assault on February 19.

A former Cambridgeshire bishop has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault. Lincolnshire Police arrested a 68-year-old man on suspicion of sexual assault on February 19.

The man arrested is Bishop of Lincoln the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, former Bishop of Ely. The arrest forms part of an ongoing investigation following allegations that a man was sexually assaulted between 2018 and 2025.

A police spokesperson said: “On Thursday, February 19, we arrested a 68-year-old man on suspicion of sexual assault. The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation following an allegation that a man was sexually assaulted between 2018 and 2025. The man has since been released on conditional bail.”

The Diocese of Lincoln confirmed Conway has been suspended since his arrest. A spokesperson for the Diocese of Lincoln said: “The Bishop of Lincoln, The Rt Revd Stephen Conway, has been suspended from ministry while a complaint made to the National Safeguarding Team is responded to according to House of Bishops Code of Practice. This includes referral to the appropriate statutory authorities.

“The Bishop of Grantham, The Rt Revd Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, will be performing the function of the Diocesan Bishop during this period. Support is in place for those affected and there will be no further comment while the process is ongoing. We understand that this will be a deeply unsettling time.”

The Diocese of Ely also released a statement. A spokesperson said: “The Diocese of Ely is aware of reports regarding the Bishop of Lincoln, The Rt Revd Stephen Conway, who served as Bishop of Ely until his departure in May 2023. We understand that this will be a deeply unsettling time for many and wish to reiterate that support is in place for those affected.”