Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom
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The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria has many churches in the United Kingdom and Ireland, under the jurisdiction of one metropolitan and four bishops.[1] The first liturgical service prayed in the United Kingdom 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, the 117th Pope of the Church).[2] Subsequently the Coptic Orthodox parish of St. Mark, the first Coptic Orthodox Church to be established in the United Kingdom, began holding regular services and was served by three monk priests who later on became members of the Holy Synod of the mother church in Egypt.[3]
Pope Shenouda III consecrated St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church in Kensington, London in 1979. The first Coptic Orthodox bishop he sent to the United Kingdom, in 1985, was a General bishop, Bishop Missael, who consecrated St. Mary & St. Antony's Coptic Orthodox Church later that year and also established St. Mary & St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Centre in 1989 - both in Birmingham.[4] On 26 May 1991, Bishop Missael was consecrated by Pope Shenouda III as the first bishop of the first Coptic Orthodox diocese in the United Kingdom, the Diocese of Birmingham,[5] which became the Diocese of the Midlands.[6] In the next three decades the Coptic Orthodox Church and congregation grew quickly.
Historical background
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 monastics.
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.
Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Ireland, Scotland, North East England and its Affiliated Regions
Bishop Antony, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Ireland, Scotland and North East England. The Diocese was established in 1995.
Churches
- England
- Bromley - St. John the Evangelist's Church.
- Margate (Kent) - St. Michael & St. Bishoy Church.
- Newcastle - St. George & St. Athanasius Church.
- York & Leeds - St. Mary & St. Abanoub Church.
- Rotherham - St. Antonius Church.
- Norwich - St. Athanasius Church.
- Guilford - St Augustine Church.
- Bournemouth - St. Peter & St. Paul Church.
- Plymouth - St. Mary and St. George Church.
- Bristol - St . Marina coptic church .
- Scarborough - St. Athanasius Monastery.
- Scotland
- Kirkcaldy - St. Mark Church
- Glasgow - St Mary and St Michael Church
- Ireland
- Dublin - St. Mary & St. Demiana Church
- Galway - Seven Coptic Monks Church
- Belfast - St. Steven Church
- Cahir - St. Mina Church
- Dublin - St. Maximos & St. Demadious Church
Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands
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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
- 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 (under construction)
- St. Mary and St. Antony's Coptic Orthodox Church
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- St. Mary & St. Mina's Coptic Orthodox Church
- Nottingham
- North Wales
- St. Mary & St. Abaskhyron's Coptic Orthodox Church
Other
There are also communities served in:
Websites
- Official Website of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, U.K.
- Coptic Orthodox Churches in Birmingham
- St. Mary & St. Mina's Coptic Orthodox Church of Manchester
- St. Mary & St. George's Coptic Orthodox Church of Nottingham
- St. Mary & St. Abaskhyron's Coptic Orthodox Church of Llandudno, North Wales
- St. Mary & St. Cyril's Coptic Orthodox Church of Liverpool
- Coptic Olympics - A Diocese Family & Youth Ministry
- The Global St. Mark Festival Competition Within the Diocese
- DeaconTube - Online Learning and Teaching of Coptic Hymns
- Go2Galilee - Diocese Events Ministry
- Daily Readings of the Coptic Orthodox Church
South Wales
- Further information: Coptic Orthodox Church in Wales
- St Mary’s and St Abu Saifain’s Coptic Orthodox Church. This Church is under patriarchal supervision of Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria since he is currently the head of the Parish's Council. Although the Coptic Orthodox congregation has been present in Wales since the 1960s, the Church in Wales was only consecrated in 1992 by HH Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria.
Patriarchal Exarchate at Stevenage, Hertfordshire, South England
Angaelos, General Bishop & Patriarchal Exarch for the Youth Ministry at the Patriarchal Center and the Coptic Orthodox Theological College at Stevenage in Hertfordshire, England.
Coptic Orthodox Churches In London
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All Churches in the Greater London area are under patriarchal supervision of Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, since he is currently the head of each Parish's Council.
- 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)
- St. Mary and St. George's Coptic Orthodox Church, East London (Fr. Seraphim)
- St. John Coptic Orthodox Church, Bromley, London (Fr. Antonius Nagib)
Brighton and Hove
- St Mary and St Abraam Coptic Orthodox Church, Hove is under the supervision of Bishop Paula, diocesan bishop of Tanta, since he is currently the head of the Parish's Council.
See also
- Coptic Orthodox Church in Europe
- Copts
- Oriental Orthodoxy
- Coptic Orthodox Church in Wales
- St Mary’s and St Abu Saifain’s Coptic Orthodox Church Risca, South Wales.
- St Mary and St Abraam Coptic Orthodox Church, Hove, South England.
- Bishop Missael
- Bishop Angaelos
- British Orthodox Church
References
- ↑
- ↑ "The Coptic Church in the UK". Copticcentre.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
- ↑
- ↑ "H.G. Bishop Missael". Ukmidcopts.org. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
- ↑
- ↑ "About the Diocese". Ukmidcopts.org. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
External links
- St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, London website
- Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Midlands, U.K.
- Coptic Orthodox Centre Stevenage
- St. Mary and St. Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church
- St John Coptic Orthodox Church, Bromley .
- St Peter and St Paul's Coptic Orthodox Church, Bournemouth website
- St. Mary and St. Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church, North and West Yorkshire