Coptic
Orthodox Church UK
Media and Communications Office
The Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George in Hertfordshire marks its 20th
Anniversary in the presence of His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester, who
gave greetings from His Majesty The King
16 September 2026
On 5 September 2026, His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester was present and delivered greetings from His Majesty The King at the 20th anniversary of the Inauguration of The Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George in Hertfordshire, the first purpose built Coptic Orthodox place of worship in the United Kingdom, and the second throughout Europe. His Royal Highness was also present at the Inauguration in 2006.
His Eminence
Archbishop Angaelos OBE, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London and Papal Legate
to the United Kingdom officiated a vespers service in the Cathedral of Saint
George, which was attended by over three hundred and fifty guests from the
House of Lords and House of Commons, the Diplomatic Corps, ecumenical and
interreligious guests, alongside members of the Coptic Orthodox clergy and
community in the United Kingdom. Following the services messages and addresses
were delivered by a number guests from the breadth of the Church’s
engagement.
His Royal Highness
The Duke of Gloucester, passed on best wishes from His Majesty The King who
visited the Cathedral in 2013 to raise awareness to the plight of Christian and
minority communities in the Middle East, and again in 2023 for a historic Advent
service, saying:
“I know he's been here twice and he's delighted
to see this building full of symbolism and full of both the past and the
future.”
His Royal
Highness The Duke continued by saying the following in his address:
“It is a great
pleasure for me to come back here and to remember the pleasure that I had when
I first saw this splendid Cathedral built with such care and precision to
represent a hub of your community and of your tradition and your religion. It
is a delight to see and to hear that it still flourishes and is looking even
more splendid than when I first saw it.”
His Royal Highness
concluded by alluding to his engagement with the Coptic Orthodox Community in
London when he attended ‘The Big Help Out’ at St Mark’s Church Kensington on 8
May 2023, saying:
“I know from other experiences in London that
the Coptic Orthodox Church plays a special role in the community and that you
have your own charitable organisations that help not just Copts, but their
neighbours as well.”
HE Archbishop Angaelos OBE, Archbishop of London and Papal Legate to the United Kingdom thanked His Royal Highness for being present, and spoke of the Cathedral as an extension of God’s heart for His people, saying:
“Your Royal Highness, your graces, my lords, ladies, dear friends, sisters and brothers, this is truly the day the Lord has made, so we must rejoice and be glad in it. If we look at the Epistle to the Ephesians, Chapter 2:19-21, we read, “now therefore we are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone, in Whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple of the Lord”. At a time when there is much conversation about citizenship, belonging, community, this church, this place of worship represents a coming together.”
His Eminence continued:
“Saint George was specifically chosen for the Cathedral because he is a great intercessor of the Coptic faithful, but also because he is the patron Saint of England. The architecture was chosen because it has the very distinctive classical Coptic iconography, but on the sides simple, minimalist architecture, bringing together not only architecture, but culture and civilisation; the beautiful vaults come together with the brilliant brick and stone; all of that is about a coming together. This world is so divided with so much focus on conflict, division, and enmity. It is good for us to come together. It is good for us to be those stones, as Saint Athanasius says, that are built on the foundation of Christ; as a Church that has its origins in Egypt, and is now deeply and with great honour embedded here in Britain”.
His Eminence concluded by thanking the clergy, community and volunteers for
their efforts and spoke of their heart of service offered through the Cathedral:
“Buildings are just buildings. The thing about this place, this church, is that it contains the real church, the fellowship of believers, the people of Christ. It is a place built to serve God's people, whoever they are, in God's world, for God's purpose: to love all, for reconciliation, and to draw people together.”
In the message from The Rt Revd and the Rt Hon. Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullaly DBE which was read by Fr Matthias Grebe, Ecumenical Advisor to the Archbishop of Canterbury, she said:
“Today is not simply about a building, but about God's grace, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the Church as the Body of Christ. As the psalmist says, “…unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it.” We thank God for His many blessings which we receive through prayers in this church, and the faithful service of His people.”
Paying homage to the vision and efforts of His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Fr Shenouda continued:
“God says, ‘I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you future and a hope’. So the story has not yet finished. There is more service to be done. There are still souls to serve. There are young people to guide, and hearts to bring close to Christ. So let us continue to serve with faith, unity, courage and hope. Let us rise up and build not only buildings, but living Faith. Not only memories, but a future rooted in the Gospel.”
Dr Nagui Gendy, who lead the Cathedral build committee over twenty years ago spoke about the different aspects of the architecture of the building, as well as highlighting its function to serve the community that inhabit it, echoing the words of HE Archbishop Angaelos and Fr Shenouda, saying:
“I would conclude that the church is not just a building. The church is the congregation. It is us, the congregation, the believers, the Body of Christ. A beautiful building without congregation would be meaningless. But when it is full, that adds to and crowns the beauty of the church, as it is every Sunday. Today we see it filled with its congregation and honourable guests. It is beautiful. So we thank the Lord for all His blessings.”
Kevin Bonavia MP, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, said the following in his address:
“As you can see and has been said, it is a
beautiful building, a true labour of love and skill, but as has also been said,
it is the home of a congregation, and a church is its people. I have been made
so welcome by Your Eminence and by so many other members of the Coptic
community. I have seen the work that you do in Christian charity on the other
side of this building. I have watched the basketball tournaments, I have been
out there in the gardens, and I have seen the work that you do across our very
special town of Stevenage.”
“As a Member of Parliament, I have seen
firsthand what this Church can do under the guidance of Your Eminence. I have
seen the work that Your Eminence and so many others in the All-Party Parliamentary
Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief are doing. We have to
speak out for those who cannot speak out for themselves, and this Church is a
great example of that. We are very proud to have you here, right in the heart
of our community, the other Cathedral in Hertfordshire. I wish you well on this
very special occasion and in the decades to come.”
“As the Archbishop of Westminster, I am
delighted to be with you for this wonderful celebration today. The Coptic
community brings so much to this country. I think particularly of the
tremendous monastic tradition of the desert fathers and mothers of Egypt
spending the whole night we are told singing the Psalms, giving praise to God,
and the Coptic community here brings that tradition to this country; it brings
that tradition to our society. Archbishop Angaelos, be assured of the prayers
of all in the Catholic community in this land for your community. Together with
the other Christian communities, we continue our work towards closer unity and greater
endeavour together in bringing the wonder of the Christian Faith to this land,
and may the Coptic Orthodox Church here in England and Wales and Scotland and
beyond be blessed in that task”
Bishop Mike
Royal, General Secretary of Churches Together in England said:
“We are deeply grateful for your ministry among
us. Of course, we are here to celebrate the establishment of Saint George
Cathedral with its unique architecture on the British landscape. An edifice
that has become a place of pilgrimage for so many. A place like so many of your
churches that is both a place of worship but also a point of reference and a
place of belonging for communities that you serve across the country. And I say
communities because the Coptic Orthodox Church does not just serve those in the
Egyptian community, but has opened its doors to the whole community, and for
that we give thanks. Indeed, this Cathedral is a metaphor for what God is doing
amongst the people of your thriving congregations. People who faithfully attend
church on Sunday but then serve God in the world as doctors, clinicians,
executive professionals and business people; who are making a significant
contribution to the life and prosperity of this nation. I also want to take the
opportunity to thank His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos for his ecumenical
service amongst the wider ecumenical church family.”
Following
the service, His Royal Highness met with congregation members in the hall, cut
a cake, and signed the official visit book in Shephalbury Manor.
