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Coptic Orthodox Church in Britain and Ireland

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The Coptic Church of St Mark in Kensington, London, opened in 1863 at St John's Presbyterian Church, reconsecrated as a Coptic Orthodox church in 1979.

The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria has several churches in Great Britain and Ireland under the jurisdiction of four diocesan bishops.[1]

The first liturgical service prayed in the British Isles took place in London on 10 August 1954, officiated by delegates attending the general assembly of the World Council of Churches. The foundation of the church and its establishment of a parish started with a liturgical service held in London in February 1969, prayed by the Bishop of Christian Education, Shenouda (later Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, the 117th pope of the church).[2] Regular services only began in 1971 when the first resident Coptic priest, Father Antuniyus al-Suryani (later Metropolitan Pakhomious of Beheira), celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St Andrew's Church, Holborn, London.[3] In 1976, the church council purchased a building in Kensington, establishing the Coptic Orthodox parish of St Mark; this was served by three monastic priests, who later on became members of the Holy Synod of the mother church in Egypt.[4] Pope Shenouda III consecrated St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church in Kensington, London in 1979.[5]

By 1981, other communities had been established around Britain and Ireland, with regular services at which visiting priests officiated, including Fr Bishoy Boshra and Fr Antonious Thabet.[6] In April 1985, St Mary & St Antony's Coptic Orthodox Church in Birmingham was consecrated by the first resident bishop sent to Britain, Bishop Missael, making it the second church to be established in England and the first outside London.[7]

Following the establishment of St Mary & S. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Centre in Birmingham, Bishop Missael was consecrated on 26 May 1991 by Pope Shenouda III as the first bishop of the first Coptic Orthodox diocese in the British Isles, the Diocese of Birmingham,[8] which became the Diocese of the Midlands.[9] In 1995, Bishop Antony was consecrated with the formation of the Diocese of Ireland, Scotland, North East England and its Affiliated Regions. Fr Angaelos Anba Bishoy (now Bishop Angaelos) of Archangel Michael & St Anthony Coptic Centre in Stevenage was consecrated in 1999 as a general bishop and patriarchal exarch for youth ministry at the Patriarchal Centre and the Coptic Orthodox Theological College.

The Coptic Orthodox Church and congregation has continued to grow and expand in various parts of Britain and Ireland.

Historical background

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It is known in the ecclesiastical history of the Church of Alexandria that the church had sent missionaries in the 3rd or 4th century to the Celtic lands, especially monks.[citation needed]

It is also known within the Celtic tradition, especially in Ireland, that the foundation of the monastic system among the Celts was either based in portion on or inspired by the Egyptian monastic system, and there are many traces of Alexandrine theology embedded in Celtic theology.[citation needed]

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands

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Further information: Diocese of the Midlands
Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, U.K.

Bishop Missael is the bishop of the Holy Diocese of the Midlands. The Diocese was established in 1991 by Pope Shenouda III, making it the oldest diocese in the United Kingdom for the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate. The Diocese is currently based at the Coptic Orthodox Centre in Lapworth, Warwickshire, where Bishop Missael resides. Its territories include North Wales and the English regions: West Midlands, East Midlands, North West and parts of the South East, South West and East of England.

Churches

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Source:[10]

Birmingham

  • St. Mary & St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Centre (includes St. Mary & St. Abu-Sefein's Church)
  • St. Mary & Archangel Michael's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Solihull
  • St. Mary and St. Antony's Coptic Orthodox Church

Bolton

  • St. Mary & St. Philopater's Coptic Orthodox Church

Liverpool

Nottingham

North Wales (Llandudno)

  • St. Mary & St. Abaskhyron's Coptic Orthodox Church [11]

Stockport

  • St. Mary & St. Mina's Coptic Orthodox Church

Stoke-on-Trent

  • St. Mary & St. John's Coptic Orthodox Church

Communities

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Websites

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Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Ireland, Scotland, North East England and its Affiliated Regions

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Bishop Antony, bishop of the Diocese of Ireland, Scotland and North East England. The diocese was established in 1995.

Churches

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Source:[12]

Ireland

Scotland

North East England

Affiliated regions

Communities

  • Hull – St. Joseph
  • York – Contemporary Coptic Martyrs
  • Ipswich – St. Mary & St. Sishoy
  • Hastings – St. Mary & St. Theodore
  • Belfast – St. Steven
  • Kilkenny – St. Philopater
  • Tralee – St. Joseph
  • Cork – St. Pope Kyrillos VI

Websites

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Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London

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The interior of St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church, London
St. Mary and St. Shenouda's Coptic Orthodox Church, Coulsdon, London

Bishop Angaelos OBE, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of London and Patriarchal Exarch. The diocese was established in 2017 by Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and is currently based at St George's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Stevenage, the seat of the bishop.

Churches

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Source:[15]

Stevenage

  • St. George's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral at the Archangel Michael & St. Anthony Centre, Stevenage (Fr Shenouda)

London

  • St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church, London (Fr Antonious Thabet, Fr Thomas Ghobrial)
  • St Mary and Archangel Michael's Coptic Orthodox Church, Golden Green (Fr Looka Kamel, Fr Mina Barsoum)
  • St Mary and St Shenouda's Coptic Orthodox Church, Coulsdon (Fr Isak Henien, Fr Kyrillos Asad)
  • St Mary and Pope Kyrillos VI's Coptic Orthodox Church, Hounslow, London (Fr Morkos Fakhry)
  • S. Mary and St George's Coptic Orthodox Church, East London (Fr Michael Lambros)

South Wales

Communities

  • St. Mary and St. Mina, New Malden

Websites

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Sussex

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These churches are currently under the supervision of Bishop Paula, diocesan bishop of Tanta, since he is currently the head of the parish's council.

South West Wales

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Further information: Coptic Orthodox Church in Wales
  • Archangel Michael and St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Swansea. This Church is under patriarchal supervision of Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria since he is currently the head of the Parish's Council.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Archived copy". www.theholysynod.copticpope.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2001. Retrieved 13 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "The Coptic Church in the UK". Copticcentre.com. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Migration, Coptic :: Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia". cdm15831.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Home". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Our History (Post-1975) - St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church, London". stmark.org.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Father Antonious Thabet - St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church, London". stmark.org.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Our Churches". Coptic Orthodox Churches in Birmingham, U.K. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  8. ^ Administrator. "H.G. Bishop Missael - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, UK". ukmidcopts.org. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  9. ^ Administrator. "About the Diocese - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, UK". ukmidcopts.org. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  10. ^ "Churches Directory • Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, U.K." Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, U.K. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  11. ^ "St. Mary & St. Abaskhyron's Coptic Orthodox Church, Llandudno, North Wales, U.K."
  12. ^ "Diocese's Churches". The Diocese of Ireland, Scotland, North East England and its Affiliated Regions. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  13. ^ Coptic Christian Pope dedicates Drumcondra church by Peter Murtagh, Irish Times, May 18, 2017
  14. ^ "Monks want to build Coptic church in North York Moors". BBC News. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Our Parishes | The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre UK". www.copticorthodox.london. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
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