Kevin to head up new research centre at Lincoln Cathedral

The Rev Canon Dr Kevin Walton is to become Canon Chancellor at Lincoln Cathedral.

Kevin (pictured) is currently Canon Chancellor at St Alban’s Cathedral, and before that he was a parish priest in Sunderland and a curate in Hartlepool, both in the Diocese of Durham where he was ordained. He comes to Lincoln with his wife Linda.

The Rt Revd Stephen Conway, Bishop of Lincoln said, “I am delighted to be welcoming Kevin to our Cathedral and Diocese as Canon Chancellor. Over many years in different contexts, it has been a privilege to observe Kevin’s fine ministry as a parish priest and community enabler. In the parish and in his significant ministry at St Albans Abbey, he has ably sustained academic engagement with Old Testament studies and wider ecumenical theological work, enabled by his gift for languages. He comes to us as a wise pastor and collaborative spiritual leader. One of my priorities for the Diocese of Lincoln is to ‘raise the spiritual temperature’ in our hearts and in our churches. As a centre of Christian learning and formation, the Cathedral has an important role to play in this, and so I am praying for Kevin and the whole Cathedral community, as we work together for God’s kingdom.”

The Chancellor is responsible for developing Lincoln Cathedral as an outward-facing place of lifelong learning and research, and will deliver a new, creative programme of activities and events. He also has responsibility for the Cathedral’s library and archives, and for the care, conservation and display of the Cathedral’s artefacts. As part of this role, Kevin will lead the development of a new research centre at the Cathedral.

Kevin said, “It is with deep gratitude and much excitement that I look forward to coming to Lincoln and sharing in its mission to be beacon for all in its diocese and region. What particularly drew me was the opportunity to start and grow in partnerships a new programme of lifelong theological learning to help more people encounter God and deepen their discipleship. St Albans and its people have become very dear to us, so moving on will be a wrench, but my experience of ministry and learning in that place with its own deep and lively roots of faith, makes me ready and eager to welcome this new challenge in Lincoln.”

The Very Rev Dr Simon Jones, Dean of Lincoln said, “I'm delighted that Kevin has accepted the Bishop's invitation to become the Cathedral's next Canon Chancellor. Kevin brings a wealth of experience to this role. He is joining us at an exciting time as we look forward to the reopening of the Medieval and Christopher Wren Libraries next year, and to the setting up of the new Library, Archive and Research Centre.  Please join me in praying for Kevin and Linda as they prepare to move to Lincoln.”

Kevin will be installed during Choral Evensong at 5.30pm on Saturday, April 25, 2026.