Four senior figures have now stepped back amid investigations
The Lincolnite can reveal that a fourth senior figure at Lincoln Cathedral has stepped aside amid a police investigation into safeguarding issues.
Chapter Clerk and administrator of Lincoln Cathedral William Harrison was among those to step back in April.
He was responsible for the direction of operation management and administration at the cathedral.
A cathedral spokesperson said: “We confirm that the Chapter Clerk has temporarily stepped aside from his duties while the investigation relating to the Dean and Chancellor of Lincoln takes place.
“We can provide no further comment.”
William Harrison is Chapter Clerk and Administrator of Lincoln Cathedral. Photo: Lincoln Cathedral
The Diocese of Lincoln has been rocked by allegations of abuse and high level ‘cover ups’ by senior clergy across decades.
The leave of absence taken by Lincoln’s first female Dean Christine Wilson and Chancellor Paul Overend in April were connected to non-recent allegations of abuse, which took place outside of Lincolnshire.
The two figures are reportedly connected to alleged failures to report issues relating to vulnerable adults.
Dean of Lincoln Cathedral Christine Wilson and Chancellor Paul Overend
At the time, the Very Reverend Christine Wilson was said to have stepped down “for personal reasons”.
The simultaneous move from Paul Overend was explained by the cathedral as “for different reasons, connected to one issue”.
Christine Wilson was the 81st Dean of Lincoln and took up her position in 2016. Before this, she was the Archdeacon of Chesterfield in the Diocese of Derby since 2010.
Christine has also been a non-executive director of Ecclesiastical Insurance, the insurer trusted with advising the Church of England’s compensation claims, since 2017.
Lincoln Cathedral and the Church of England did not comment when asked if the company was providing services in relation to the investigation.
Revd Dr Paul Overend led the Cathedral’s work of public theology and Christian education. He came to Lincoln from Norwich, where he was the Lay Development Officer and Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands, and also a tutor in spirituality and ethics with the Eastern Region Ministry Course.
Dean of Lincoln Christine Wilson and Bishop of Lincoln Christopher Lowson. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
He faces allegations that he failed to protect children and vulnerable people, but peers clarified he is not accused of committing abuse.
Lowson is the first bishop to be suspended over safeguarding issues.
He said he was “bewildered”, and would fully cooperate with investigations.
His position has been taken over by the Bishop of Grimsby, Right Reverend Dr David Court.
Church of England officials have declined to provide details about the allegations which led to the suspension.
Operation Redstone
Roy Griffiths was jailed for six years.
It also comes during an ongoing Lincolnshire Police investigation codenamed Operation Redstone, though it has not yet been confirmed if recent allegations are part of the Lincolnshire Police investigation.
Operation Redstone previously uncovered shocking abuse at the hands of Diocese of Lincoln clergy and staff.
Three men have been convicted by Lincolnshire Police, Roy Griffiths, John Bailey and Stephen Crabtree for historical sexual offences against children and vulnerable people.
John Bailey walking to court to be sentenced. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Former clergyman Stephen Crabtree has been jailed for three years
The trials highlighted a culture of coverups in the church.
Investigations found decades of allegations had been ignored by former Bishops of Lincoln.
Abuse cases were not referred to police until decades later, it was revealed in the Church of England Past Cases Review.
Operation Redstone investigations are still ongoing.
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The 32-year-old man and 30-year-old woman arrested in the murder probe of an 11-year-old boy in Lincoln have both been released on police bail, without any charges.
The man was arrested on suspicion of murder and the woman on suspicion of manslaughter after an incident at a house on Geneva Street on St Giles in Lincoln.
Police were called to the house at 10pm on Friday night, January 22.
The 11-year-old boy was found unwell at the scene and was taken to hospital for treatment.
He was pronounced dead a short time later.
At the time Lincolnshire Police said the death was unexplained and it was treated as murder.
The man and the woman arrested at the weekend were released on police bail on Monday evening.
Lincolnshire Police said in a statement on Monday night:
“Once again, we’d like to remind people that this is an active investigation and that an 11-year-old boy has sadly lost his life.
“Speculative comments are not only deeply upsetting to those involved but can potentially undermine our investigation.
“If you have any information that can help, call 101 or email [email protected] quoting incident 472 of January 22.”
Ten people from Boston have been given fines for breaching COVID-19 regulations by driving dangerously in supermarket car parks.
Officers were called after three separate reports of dangerous driving in the car parks of Lidl and Tesco in Wyberton Fen, as well as on Marsh Lane Industrial Estate in Boston.
All three incidents took place and were reported to police between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday, January 24, though it is unsure if they were connected at all.
When officers arrived, the drivers were seen doing donut manoeuvres and racing in the snow.
A total of 10 people were given £200 fines for breaking lockdown guidelines, but this will be reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days, due to all being first time offenders.
As well as the COVID-19 fines, two of the vehicles were also seized as a result of being uninsured, with drivers reported.
A traffic offence report was also submitted after one driver was seen to be driving not just dangerously but out of control.
Inspector Fran Harrod of Lincolnshire Police said: “We would like to thank the public for bringing these incidents of dangerous driving to our attention.
“This is not only extremely dangerous to those taking part but to others in these areas.
“While we continue to engage and explain with the public, this was a blatant breach of the restrictions which will not be tolerated.”
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