April 15, 2011 2.19 pm This story is over 155 months old

Queen approves new Lincoln bishop

Appointed: Christopher Lowson will follow John Saxbee as the Bishop of Lincoln after the Queen approved his nomination.
Susan Lowson and the new Bishop of Lincoln, Ven Christopher Lowson

The Queen approved the nomination of the Venerable Christopher Lowson, the Director of Ministry at the Archbishops’ Council, for election as Bishop of Lincoln.

The nomination is in succession to the Right Reverend John Saxbee, following his resignation and retirement earlier in January after ten years in the post.

Lowson (58) has been Director of Ministry for the Archbishops’ Council since February 2006, and will be the 72nd Bishop of Lincoln.

He advises the House of Bishops, the Archbishops’ Council and the General Synod on ministry matters

Lowson is married to Susan Lowson and they have two grown up children. His interests include contemporary literature, the theatre, watching cricket and cooking.

He trained for the ordained ministry at King’s College, London and then spent a year studying within the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.

Lowson then served his title at Richmond, Eltham and From 1991 to 1999 he was Rector of Buriton and Vicar of Petersfield in the diocese of Portsmouth.

Susan, his wife, is a registered general and paediatric nurse who now works as a lead clinician for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

She is also churchwarden of St Matthew’s Church, Westminster. Christopher and Susan have two grown-up children.

James (31) now married to Katie (also the child of an archdeacon) who works for Dow Jones in London – Katie works for the BBC – and Rebecca (29) who is a History graduate and who now lives and works in Manchester.

“It was a great honour to be invited to be Bishop of Lincoln, and my immediate instinct was to accept,” said Christopher Lowson.

“It is daunting to be part of a great tradition of people who have all left their legacy in the Diocese, and I pray that I can live up to this great challenge.

“We’re very much looking forward moving to Lincoln, and exploring the wonderful diversity in the Diocese, and to leading God’s work here.

“Being a bishop is about supporting and encouraging the clergy and laity of the Diocese at the grass-roots. It’s about mobilising the people of the Christian community to engage with the life of the world in order together to uncover and build God’s Kingdom.

The Lord Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James, who is also chair of the Church of England’s Ministry Division, said: “Christopher Lowson has the gentle authority of a fine pastor and the clarity of mind of a superb teacher.

“He’s been greatly appreciated as a parish priest, archdeacon and most recently as Director of Ministry Division. Lincoln will soon count itself fortunate to have Christopher as its bishop.”

Sources: Number 10, Diocese of Lincoln