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 Coptic Orthodox Church to be established in the United Kingdom was St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church, Kensington, London. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III consencrated the Church at its present site in 1979, however it had roots ten years before in a hired place (believed to be Coptic Street, London - named after the Church's first presence in the United Kingdom). The first three monk priests who served this church became members of the Holy Synod of the mother church in Egypt.[2] The first Coptic Orthodox Bishop to be sent to the United Kingdom by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was a General Bishop, His Grace Bishop Missael in 1985 who established St. Mary & St. Antony's Coptic Orthodox Church in Birmingham later that year and St. Mary & St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Centre in 1989.[3] On the 26th May 1991, H.G. Bishop Missael was consecrated by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III as the first Bishop of the first Coptic Orthodox Diocese in the United Kingdom, the Diocese of Birmingham,[4] which is today known as the Diocese of the Midlands & its Affiliated Areas in the U.K.[5]. In the last three decades the Coptic Orthodox Church and congregation has since grown quickly.
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. So the return of the Church of Alexandria to these lands is of certain importance.
H.E. Metropolitan Seraphim, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Glastonbury, and Primate of the British Orthodox Church. The British Orthodox Church came under the jurisdiction of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in 1994 and its mission is to the British people.
H.G. Bishop Antony, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Ireland, Scotland and North East England. The Diocese was established in 1995.
11 Dunbar Avenue, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3rg Website Rev. Fr. Antonius Nagib
Northdown Road, Cliftonville Margate - Kent CT9 2RD England - UK, Rev. Fr. Angelos El Antony
67 Brighton Grove, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE4 5NT England – UK. Rev.Fr. Karas Anba Bishoy, Rev.Fr. Saraphim El Souryany
Harewood Rd - Arthington Otley – West Yorkshire - LS21 1PL Website, Rev. Fr. Abanoub St. Paul
St. Ann's Road, Eastwood Rotherham, - S65 1PA England - UK Website, Rev. Fr Mosa Roshdy
Easton Bark, Maringford Road Norwich – NR9 5AD England - UK Website, Rev.Fr. Shishoy El Antony
Station Approach Gomshall Surrey, GU5 9NU Website, Rev. Fr. Ilaryon El Antony
26 Calvin Road, Winton Bournemouth Website, Rev. Fr. Botros Elmoharaky
The Holy Cross Church Beaumont Road, Plymouth PL4 9BE England - UK, Rev. Fr. Polykarpos El-Samueily
Langdale End - Scarborough YO13 0LH, Website Rev. Fr. Arsanous El Abnouby, Rev. Fr. Bishoy St. Athanasius
264 Link 's Street, Kirkcaldy Fife, KY1 1QE Scotland - UK, Website, Rev. Fr. Mark Aziz
4/5 The Pines, Herbert Road, Bray, Co. - Wicklow Ireland Phone: (353) 1 2866809. Rev. Fr. Athanasius George, Rev. Fr. Phelopater El Bakhomy, Rev. Fr. Thomas Joseph Flanagan.
The Coptic House Maws Revagh- Kilcoona Headford - co. Galway Ireland, Rev. Fr. Pauls El Antony
Poor Clare Monastery, Our Lady's and St.Michael's 120 Clintonville Rd. Belfast BT 14 6LA, Rev. Fr. Ilaryon El Antony
Priest Rd. Killemly, cahir, Co.Tipperary Church phone: (353) 5245947, Rev. Fr. Epiphanious Ava Mina
H.G. Bishop Missael, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of the Midlands, and its Affiliated Areas, U.K. (formerly the Diocese of Birmingham). The Diocese was established in 1991 by H.H. 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, Birmingham where H.G. Bishop Missael resides. Its terretories include North Wales and the English regions: West Midlands, East Midlands, North West and the Northern areas of the South East, South West and East of England.
Served by Fr. Peter & Fr. John Yanny
Served by Fr. Bishoy
Served by Fr. John Saleeb
There are currently 4 rented/temporary churches:
Angaelos, General Bishop & Patriarchal Exarch for the Youth Ministry at the Patriarchal Center and the Coptic Orthodox Theological College at Stevenage in Hertfordshire, England.
Markos (Mark), Bishop of the Eritrean Orthodox Church in the UK. Member of the Eritrean Holy Synod.