Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
Coptic
Orthodox Diocese of London opens Diocesan Hub, The Sanctuary,
in the heart of the City of London, with a Message from
His Majesty King
Charles III
11 September 2023
The Coptic
Orthodox Diocese of London held a service, officiated by His Eminence
Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London and Papal Legate
to the United Kingdom, on Monday 11 September 2023, to mark the inauguration of
its new Diocesan hub, named The Sanctuary, at Saint
Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, in the heart of the City of London.
.jpg)
A
Message from His Majesty King Charles III was read during the service by The Right Reverend Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry and Dean Designate of Windsor. In his message, His Majesty offered his best wishes to the Coptic Orthodox community on the establishment of its new
home and ministry hub, recognising his own experience of the life and ministry of
the Coptic Orthodox Church for many years, especially in the areas of youth
work, homelessness, and advocacy. King Charles commended efforts leading to
environmental stewardship, as Saint Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe
has recently been renovated as part of an ecumenical partnership, and is now
believed to be the first Grade I listed church in London to be carbon neutral.
Today also
marks the beginning of the Coptic New Year (Nayrouz), making this historic
event even more poignant for members of the Coptic Orthodox community in the
United Kingdom and around the world.
The service
was attended by senior Church leaders and representatives, ecumenical and
interfaith partners, members of the Diplomatic Corps, members of Parliament,
representatives of advocacy and non-governmental organisations, as well as the
breadth of civil society, accompanied by clergy and members of the Coptic
Orthodox Church community.
In his
sermon, His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos spoke of renewal and the importance of
valuing tradition, saying:
“During this New Year, it is wonderful for us
to focus on renewal, but it is equally important for us to hold onto our
heritage as well. The Coptic Orthodox Church, established by Saint Mark the
Apostle in Egypt, has been faithful for two thousand years in living and
sharing its Faith. It is also a Church that, today, here, worships in English,
and has a variety of diverse ministries that range from children to youth to
sporting ministries, homeless ministry to advocacy, and much more.”
Speaking of
the vision underpinning the new Diocesan hub, His Eminence continued:
“Our message is a message of hope; a message
of resurrection; a message of love. It is a message that has been unchanged for
over two millennia. We are constantly delivering it to different people at
different times, throughout different generations in different settings, with
different backgrounds and different cultures, and that is an exciting prospect.
It is inspiring that people representing this vast and diverse mosaic are able
to stand here, in one place, and pray together, looking towards a new
beginning.”
Archbishop Angaelos
concluded by saying:
“We thank God for new beginnings and all that
they bring. We also give thanks for that which is coming that may not be known,
but that will excite and inspire us, and speak to our hearts; those things
that, above all, will shine the light of our Lord into a world drastically in
need of His peace.”
In a
message from The Most Reverend Archbishop of Canterbury, read by The Right
Reverend Jonathan Baker, Bishop of Fulham, he said:
"I wanted to give you my congratulations
on this momentous occasion… As we work together for the unity of all Christ's
people, such a sign of our togetherness in Christ is a powerful witness to the
world. I hope and pray that St. Andrew's will prove a happy, lasting home
for your church community, and a place of prayer and refuge for your
people."
In a
message from The Right Honourable Rishi Sunak MP, Prime Minister, read by Mr.
David Burrowes, the Prime Minister's Deputy Special Envoy for Freedom of
Religion or Belief, he said:
"I want to emphasise the immense value that the Coptic Orthodox
Church brings not only to the United Kingdom but also to the global community. The
Coptic Orthodox Church has been a beacon of faith, unity, and compassion for so
many, and it has made a significant and positive impact on countless lives. The
opening of the Diocesan hub in the City of London is a noteworthy moment. The
bustling City is not only a financial centre but also a vibrant community with
diverse businesses and city workers. The presence of the Coptic Orthodox Church
in this setting will undoubtedly enrich the lives of those who live and work in
the area. The Church's teachings of love, acceptance, and service will
undoubtedly resonate within the community."
The Bishop
of London, The Right Reverend and The Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally,
began her address by saying:
"It is a delight
to be here in person this evening…not only because it is Coptic Orthodox New
Year, but also because it is the start of a new ministry and worship in this
place for the Coptic Orthodox Church in the Diocese of London.”
Referring to the Gospel message read during the service, she continued:
“I often feel that
they are not quite treasures hidden in a field, but our churches are treasures
hidden among skyscrapers and big buildings, and having the partnership here
with the Coptic Orthodox Church allows that treasure to maybe shine slightly
brighter and more constant than it has been. We often talk about
ecumenical partnership but, today, we do not only talk about it, we see it
demonstrated in action."
Dr. Debbie
Weekes-Bernard, London's Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social
Justice, offered greetings from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and in
her address, wishing the congregation a Happy New Year and speaking
of her engagement with the Coptic Orthodox Church, she said:
“I
have had the honour of meeting and working with faith leaders across London,
many of whom are assembled here today, and including Archbishop Angaelos and
his representatives, through, for example, the London Faith Sector Panel and
our regular interfaith breakfast meetings.”
Highlighting the vital work
carried out by various ministries in the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London, she
said:
“The support that you and
other faith groups have given to London’s communities is essential to their
health and wellbeing. And we see this in the work of the Coptic churches with
Exodus Youth Worx UK, and through your youth ministries, empowering young
people and fostering their emotional, physical, mental, social, and spiritual
growth. We see this also in the Coptic City Mission which goes into the streets
of London on a weekly basis to provide food for the homeless. We know how vital
collaboration and partnerships are to ensuring that communities have the
support that they need in times of crisis. So, I would like to thank all
partners in the room for all you do to support Londoners.”
She concluded by saying:
“It is important that we learn
from the work that has happened here and continue to build connections and
partnerships so that we can continue to serve Londoners and make London a
better place, now and in the future. I look forward to working even more
closely with Archbishop Angaelos and his representatives over the coming
months.”
The service
was also attended by the Archdeacon of London, the Venerable Luke Miller, the
Rector of Saint Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, who was presented with a special
icon by Archbishop Angaelos with a word of thanks to him and the
parish congregation for their hard work and companionship on this
journey.
The
Sanctuary will serve as a space in the heart of
the City of London for ministries already established within the Diocese. These
include ministries specifically serving children, youth, students, young women
and men, seniors, and the homeless, amongst other existing ministries. The
Sanctuary will also be a place from which the Church’s ecumenical and
interfaith relations, official engagements, and advocacy work will continue.
*Ends*
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
