Christopher Lowson

Christopher Lowson (called Chris until 2011; born 3 February 1953) is a British Anglican bishop. Since 2011, he has been the 72nd Bishop of Lincoln.

Lowson was educated at Newcastle Cathedral School, Consett Grammar School and King's College London where he was awarded an Associateship of King's College qualification in theology in 1975. He then studied at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California (as a World Council of Churches' scholar), where he received a Master of Sacred Theology degree in theology before being ordained in 1977. During his work Lowson studied part-time at Heythrop College, University of London where he obtained a Master of Theology degree in pastoral theology in 1996 and, in 2003, he completed a Master of Laws degree in canon law at Cardiff Law School.

Lowson was ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Southwark in 1977 and as a priest in 1978. He began his ordained ministry as an assistant curate in Richmond, Surrey. He was successively priest in charge and vicar at Holy Trinity, Eltham. From 1982 to 1985 he was a chaplain at Avery Hill College and then of Thames Polytechnic to 1991 when he became vicar of Petersfield and rector of Buriton. He held this appointment for eight years, for the last four of which he was also rural dean of Petersfield. In 1999 he became Archdeacon of Portsmouth, which soon after was divided into the archdeaconries of The Meon and of Portsdown; Lowson remained, becoming the Archdeacon of Portsdown until 2006. In that year he was appointed director of the Ministry Division of the Archbishops' Council and a priest vicar at Westminster Abbey, posts he held until the confirmation of his election to the See of Lincoln.

Lowson's election as Bishop of Lincoln was confirmed at Lambeth Palace on 19 July 2011. He was consecrated as a bishop on 21 September 2011 in Westminster Abbey and enthroned in Lincoln Cathedral on 12 November 2011. He is believed to be the only steel worker ever to have been appointed a bishop.

He is a member of the Athenaeum Club and the Royal Automobile Club.

• The Reverend Chris Lowson (1978–1999)
• The Venerable Chris Lowson (1999–2011)
• The Right Reverend Christopher Lowson (2011–present)

• St Peter's Petersfield — The History of St Peter’s Church (Accessed 21 December 2015)
• Southern Daily Echo — Archdeacon Peter is man for new era (Accessed 21 December 2015)
• Diocese of Portsmouth — New Archdeacon for Portsmouth and Havant (Accessed 21 December 2015)
• The Telegraph — Church to tackle shortage of vicars (Accessed 21 December 2015)
• The Telegraph — Women priests to match males by 2025 (Accessed 21 December 2015)
• Lindisfarne Regional Training Partnership — Visit from Director of the Ministry Division (Accessed 21 December 2015)