Donald Coggan
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| Frederick Donald Coggan | |
| Archbishop of Canterbury | |
| Enthroned | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Ended | 1980 |
| Predecessor | Michael Ramsey |
| Successor | Robert Runcie |
| Born | 23 December 1909 Highgate, London, England |
| Died | – 17 May 2000 |
| Buried | Canterbury Cathedral |
Frederick Donald Coggan, Baron Coggan PC (29 December 1909 – 17 May 2000) was the 101st Archbishop of Canterbury from 1974 to 1980, during which time he visited Rome and met the Pontiff, in company with Bishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, future Cardinal of England and Wales.
[edit] Background
Born in Highgate, London, England, and educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood and St. John's College, Cambridge. He studied Oriental Languages from 1928 to 1931 and took a first in both parts of the tripos, achieving a rare and distinguished double first. Coggan then took up a post as a lecturer in Semitic languages at the University of Manchester from 1931 to 1934, a professor of the New Testament at Wycliffe College in Toronto from 1937 to 1944, and principal of London College of Divinity from 1944 to 1956.
[edit] Life and work
He was ordained a priest in 1935, appointed Bishop of Bradford in 1956 and translated to Archbishop of York in 1965. After his retirement as Archbishop of Canterbury he was granted a life peerage and made Baron Coggan, of Canterbury and Sissinghurst in the County of Kent.
His tenure as archbishop is noted for his strong support for the ordination of women (which did not happen in the Church of England until 1994), having proposed it at the Lambeth Conference of the world's Anglican churches in 1970. His comparatively brief tenure was marked by his boldness, orderliness and punctuality. Aside from his duties of his primacy, he was a prolific writer - his works including Call To The Nation (1975). He was also a speaker and preacher, often accompanied by his wife, Jean Braithwaite.
Among his other roles was being Honorary President of the United Bible Societies from 1957 to 1976. His excellent knowledge of the scriptures meant he made an enormous contribution to the furthering of the organisation. He also founded the Lord Coggan Memorial Fund which helped to supply Russian children with copies of the Bible.
Known for his warm welcome, he is commonly credited with remarking that "The art of hospitality is to make guests feel at home when you wish they were." (as quoted in 'A Gentleman Publisher's Commonplace Book' John Murray, Oct 1996)
Lord Coggan died at the age of 90. He was cremated and his ashes buried at Canterbury Cathedral.
| Church of England titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alfred Blunt |
Bishop of Bradford 1956 – 1961 |
Succeeded by Clement Parker |
| Preceded by Michael Ramsey |
Archbishop of York (Primate of England) 1961 – 1974 |
Succeeded by Stuart Blanch |
| Archbishop of Canterbury 1974 – 1980 |
Succeeded by Robert Runcie |
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