Coptic Church to set up new Diocese of London

The Coptic Orthodox Church that was founded by St Mark in the middle of the first century is to establish a new diocese – in London. 

Bishop Angaelos, a well-known figure in ecclesiastical circles who is currently the Coptic Church's general bishop in the UK, is to be enthroned as the new London diocesan bishop later this month. 

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, will formally "proclaim" the new Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London at a service in Cairo on 11 November at which Bishop Angaelos will be present.

Bishop Angaelos will then return to England with a delegation of Archbishops and Bishops who will formally enthrone him during a vespers service in the Coptic Cathedral of Saint George at the Coptic Centre in Stevenage. 

The Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom began ministering in London in 1954, and began holding services at St Andrew’s church in Holborn where Copts would travel from throughout the country.

Across the UK and Ireland there are about 20,000 Coptic Christians in 32 parishes. There are already three other dioceses, in Birmingham and the Midlands, Scotland, Ireland and North East England and a Papal Diocese covering London, the South of England and South Wales.

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