Press Release
For immediate use
27 April 2015
Coptic Orthodox Church
UK
Media and
Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church
(Europe)
Media and Communications Office
Hundreds
visit The Coptic Centre in Stevenage to mark the 150th anniversary
of Shephalbury Manor.
A special open day was held at The Coptic
Orthodox Church Centre in the United Kingdom, situated at Shephalbury Manor, to
mark 150th anniversary of the manor. The open day, hosted by the Coptic
community, was attended by the Mayor of Stevenage, Councillor Sherma Batson
MBE, various mayors and civic dignitaries from across Hertfordshire, and
approximately 400 members of the local and wider Hertfordshire community. A
number of people who have had a historic connection with the manor over the
years also attended, including members of the Heathcote family that had
historically owned and occupied Shephalbury Manor.
The open day included a Stevenage Museum
display of articles owned by the Heathcote family, an information session about
the history of the manor, tours of the Cathedral of Saint George, a barbeque
and various activities for the children.
In his welcome address in the
manor house His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox
Church in the United Kingdom said:
“Having been in this
manor for over 25 years, the Coptic community is thankful for the efforts of a
very dedicated group of local residents called ‘The Shephalbury Manor Action
Committee’. They saved this building from demolition and had it listed in the
1980s before the Coptic Church purchased it in 1991. Since then, this building
and this Centre remains a place of life, active ministry and interaction within
the community.
We look at ourselves as
very much a part of Stevenage, Hertfordshire and of course the wider British
community, and therefore are able to engage on a variety of levels including
pastoral work, youth ministry, ecumenical relations and official work, among
other things. I am very proud to live in Stevenage, as a thriving community,
and we all, as a community, appreciate and value this Manor as our home, for
the history and heritage it brings, and for the living opportunities that it
provides people today.”
His Grace went on to thank Stevenage
Museum for its display of artefacts owned by the Heathcote family, and
introduced Mayor Sherma Batson, saying:
“Mayor Batson is one of
the most active mayors of Stevenage that I have encountered over the past 20
years. I thank you for all that you have done over the past year, and while
your mayoral term is coming to an end, I know that you will go from strength to
strength and continue to do great work.”
In addressing the community
the Mayor said:
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“This is a fantastic
time for me to be the first citizen of Stevenage and to be able to be in this
building and on this site which is actually in my council ward, so I am equally
proud of that. If it wasn’t for the Coptic community and the Church here this
building would have fallen into disrepair, and I know that for a fact. I am so pleased
that you have opened your doors because it is a wonderful place to see and my
next big project will be to make sure that a brown sign is produced to let
people know you that you are here as a part of our great town.”
*Ends*
