Welby suspends bishop over sex abuse ‘failings’

thE archbishop of Canterbury yesterday suspended a senior bishop over allegations he failed to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse.

the Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Christopher Lowson, has been removed from office for the duration of an inquiry.

the Most Reverend Justin Welby said he wanted to make ‘absolutely clear’ there was no allegation that the Rt Rev Lowson, pictured, had abused anyone himself.

But the archbishop added: ‘If these matters are found to be proven I consider the bishop would present a significant risk of harm by not adequately safeguarding children and vulnerable people.’

the bishop’s suspension, unprecedented in modern times, comes after the Church of England was last week accused by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual abuse of putting its own reputation above victims in the case of former Bishop of Gloucester Peter Ball. he was jailed in 2015 for 32 months for the abuse of teenagers and young men.

the removal of the Rt Rev Lowson, 66, who is married with two children, also comes after two other senior members of his diocese stood down, including the cathedral’s dean, the Very Reverend Christine Wilson. Clergy in Lincoln have been under severe pressure in recent weeks following the disclosure of a long-term cover-up of past sexual abuse.

In april, the BBC’s Panorama programme alleged that the names of 53 clergy and staff linked to complaints going back to the 1950s had not been handed to police until 2015, despite a Church of England review announced in 2007. the police investigation led to the imprisonment last year of Roy Griffiths, former deputy head teacher at Lincoln Cathedral School, for six years for the abuse of six boys. One year earlier, the ex- director of education for the diocese, John Bailey, admitted 25 counts of indecent assault against three girls over four decades. the 78-year- old was jailed for six years.

the diocese acknowledged last month that ‘past matters have not been handled well’.

In a statement yesterday the Most Rev Welby said: ‘the Bishop of Grimsby, David Court, will take on episcopal leadership of the diocese. It should be noted that suspension is a neutral act and nothing further can be said at this stage while matters are investigated. I ask for prayers for all affected by this matter.’

the Rt Rev Lowson, who has been Bishop of Lincoln since 2011, said: ‘I am bewildered by the suspension and will fully co-operate in this matter. For the sake of the diocese and the wider Church, I would like this to be investigated as quickly as possible to bring the matter to a swift conclusion.’

the suspension follows the sudden departure on leave last month of Mrs Wilson and Lincoln’s chancellor, the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Overend. a cathedral spokesman said at the time they had ‘agreed to step away for different reasons, connected to one issue’.

the Rt Rev Lowson is believed to be the first senior bishop to be removed, however temporarily, in modern times.

he was removed from office under rules passed in 2016, known as the Clergy Discipline and Safeguarding Measure.