Donald Coggan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Most Reverend and Right Honourable PC |
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| Archbishop of Canterbury | |
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| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Canterbury |
| In Office | 1974–1980 |
| Predecessor | Michael Ramsey |
| Successor | Robert Runcie |
| Other posts | Primate of All England |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1935 |
| Consecration | 25 January 1956 by Michael Ramsey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 October 1909 Highgate, London, England |
| Died | 17 May 2000 (aged 90) Winchester, Hampshire, England |
| Buried | Canterbury Cathedral |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | Cornish Arthur Coggan & Fanny Sarah Chubb |
| Spouse | Jean Braithwaite (1909–2005) |
| Children | 2 |
| Previous post | Bishop of Bradford (1956–1961) Archbishop of York (1961–1974) |
Frederick Donald Coggan, Baron Coggan (9 October 1909 – 17 May 2000) was a very important leader in the Church of England. He served as the 101st Archbishop of Canterbury from 1974 to 1980. This is the most senior role in the Church of England. Before this, he was the Bishop of Bradford and then the Archbishop of York. As Archbishop of Canterbury, he helped improve the church's spirit, started talks with the Roman Catholic Church, and supported the idea of women becoming priests.
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Donald Coggan's Early Life and School
Donald Coggan was born on 9 October 1909 in Highgate, London. He was the youngest child of Cornish Arthur Coggan and Fanny Sarah Chubb. His father was involved in the meat trade and local government, but his mother mostly raised Donald and his two older sisters.
During the First World War, his mother took the children to Burnham-on-Sea for safety. There, Donald was inspired by a speaker named Ashley King, who held special events for children on the beach. After the war, the family returned to London. Donald became ill and couldn't go to school for four years. During this time, a kind neighbour taught him at home and helped him discover a lifelong love for music.
Starting School and Faith
When he was 14, Donald was well enough to attend Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood. After he was confirmed in the church in 1924, he felt a strong calling to become a priest. His sisters had encouraged him to attend an evangelical church, which deeply influenced him. At school, Donald was very good at languages, studying Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.
University Days at Cambridge
Because he was so good at languages, Donald won a scholarship to St John's College, Cambridge in 1928. He studied very hard and was excellent in ancient languages like Hebrew and Aramaic. He won several awards for his language skills.
While at Cambridge, Donald helped start a group called the Christian Union, which was for evangelical students. He also joined the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union and was active in other student Christian groups. He graduated in 1931 with top honours in two different subjects.
After university, Donald decided to teach for three years before becoming a priest. He worked as a lecturer in ancient languages at the University of Manchester. He also helped with the Manchester City Mission and edited a magazine for Christian students.
Preparing for Church Work in Oxford
In 1934, Donald went to Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, a college that trains people to become priests. The next year, he married Jean Strain. Jean was the daughter of a surgeon and worked for a Christian student organization. They lived simply and worked together in church activities.
Donald and Jean later had two daughters, Ann (born 1938) and Ruth (born 1940).
Becoming a Priest and Professor
Donald Coggan grew up attending an evangelical church and stayed true to this part of his faith throughout his life. He believed strongly in the Bible and in sharing the Christian message.
He worked as a curate (a junior priest) at St Mary's Church, Islington, from 1934 to 1937. He was officially ordained as a priest in 1935.
Teaching in Canada
From 1937 to 1944, Donald Coggan moved to Toronto, Canada, where he became a professor of New Testament studies at Wycliffe College. He helped improve the college's reputation, which had been struggling. He also traveled a lot, giving talks and sermons.
While in Canada, he became very interested in how to teach and preach effectively. He started "schools of preaching" to help others learn. During this time, he broadened his views on faith, moving away from some very strict interpretations.
Jean Coggan joined her husband in Canada, and they had their two daughters there. Wycliffe College gave Donald two degrees, including an honorary doctorate.
Leading a College (1944–1956)
In 1944, Donald Coggan returned to England to become the principal of the London College of Divinity. He stayed in this role until 1956, when he became a bishop. He was asked to be a vice-president of a student Christian group, but he politely declined. This was because his views on the Bible had evolved, and he no longer agreed with the group's strict statement that the Bible was "infallible" (meaning absolutely without error).
When Donald became principal, the college buildings had been damaged by bombs during the war, and there were very few students. He had to rebuild the college, first using a temporary location in Sussex and then planning a new building. He hired talented staff and set high standards. Under his leadership, the college became one of the best places to study theology in the Church of England.
During this busy time, his wife Jean and their two daughters had to stay in Toronto for a while due to wartime travel rules. When they returned, their living conditions were difficult, and Jean faced challenges due to the stress of the college's reconstruction.
Donald Coggan also received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1957. He served on the governing board of Monkton Combe School for almost 50 years.
Bishop of Bradford (1956–1961)
Donald Coggan was a very popular speaker and preacher across the country. So, it was not a surprise when he was chosen to become the Bishop of Bradford in 1956. The previous bishop had retired due to illness, and the church in that area was struggling.
Donald Coggan arrived with great energy. In just five years, he helped build five new churches and new church offices. He also opened a conference and retreat center and raised a lot of money. He visited many parishes, improved standards, and became a well-liked figure. His success showed that he was a very capable, hardworking, and kind leader.
In 1958, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of Leeds. He also became a world vice-president for the United Bible Societies, which helps translate and distribute Bibles around the world.
Archbishop of York (1961–1974)
In 1961, Donald Coggan was appointed Archbishop of York, another very important role in the Church of England. Before his official ceremony, he visited Israel and met with Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion.
His official ceremony took place on 13 September 1961. His evangelical friends were surprised when he wore a special robe called a cope and a tall hat called a mitre, which are often associated with more traditional church practices.
Donald Coggan started his new role with the same energy he had shown before. He began many new projects and committees in the area. Sometimes, he would start something new and then get busy with another project or travel overseas.
Travels Around the World
While he was Archbishop of York, Donald Coggan visited four different continents. He played a key role in an important Anglican meeting in Toronto in 1963.
In 1967, he toured Australia and New Zealand for the United Bible Societies. He spoke to large crowds about the importance of the Bible in modern society. He also visited British military bases in Singapore and Borneo, meeting soldiers and teaching chaplains. In 1970, he led a large Christian event in Canada, and in 1971, he met with a Catholic leader in Belgium.
Work at Home
At home, Donald Coggan led the Church of England's Liturgical Commission, which works on church services. He also served as Pro-Chancellor for the University of York and Hull University. He was a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, a group of advisors to the Queen.
He played a major part in the Lambeth Conference of 1968, a meeting of Anglican bishops from around the world. Another Archbishop once said that Donald Coggan was "like a man with a wheelbarrow; however much you pile on him, he goes on pushing," meaning he was incredibly hardworking.
Donald Coggan was very interested in translating the Bible. He helped create new, clear versions like the New English Bible (1970) and the Revised English Bible (1989). He was always in demand as a preacher and speaker. His wife, Jean, was also a popular speaker and even led church services as a lay reader.
He received honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from Cambridge University in 1962 and the University of Hull in 1963.
New Programs and Ideas
Donald Coggan started a program called "Opportunity Unlimited" to encourage churches to focus on prayer, teaching, and visiting people. He believed these were the most important parts of church work.
He also founded "Feed the Minds", a program that provides Christian books to people in developing countries. He also started the English College of Preachers, which helps train people to preach. He had many talented assistants who helped him with these new projects.
In the early 1960s, Donald Coggan supported the idea of women becoming priests. He formally suggested it at the Lambeth Conference in 1968. He also often pushed for closer ties and shared communion with the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1967, he received more honorary degrees from colleges in North America. He also gave a speech in Toronto called "The East, The West and the Bible."
In 1972, Donald Coggan showed his strong opposition to unfair treatment based on race. He opened the Bishop's Palace in York to an Asian family who had been forced to leave Uganda. He also spoke out against apartheid in South Africa.
The University of Manchester gave him a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1972.
Donald Coggan was often called "the laymen's archbishop" because he easily made friends with business leaders and workers. He was known for his energy, kindness, and honesty. His sermons were famous for explaining complex ideas in a way that helped people understand and want to learn more.
Archbishop of Canterbury (1974–1980)
In 1974, Harold Wilson, the British Prime Minister, suggested Donald Coggan to Queen Elizabeth II to become the 101st Archbishop of Canterbury. Donald Coggan thought about it for four days before accepting. He wanted to be sure he was ready for such a big responsibility.
When he met the media, he was asked if he would only be a "caretaker" Archbishop because he was already 65 and would have to retire at 70. He replied that he would be honored to "take care of his beloved church" for however many years he had.
Donald Coggan officially became the Archbishop of Canterbury in December 1974 and was formally installed at Canterbury Cathedral on 24 January 1975.
His installation ceremony was very special because it included leaders from many different Christian churches. For the first time since the English Reformation, the Vatican (the head of the Roman Catholic Church) sent a representative. Leaders from Orthodox churches, Methodists, and other Christian groups from all over the world also attended.
An Active Leader
At York, Donald Coggan had already been very busy. Some people worried he might be tired when he moved to Canterbury. However, he was even more active than his predecessor. While the previous Archbishop tried to avoid administrative tasks, Donald Coggan was a skilled leader who kept a tape recorder handy to quickly record his thoughts and instructions.
Being the Archbishop of Canterbury involves four main jobs:
- Being the bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury.
- Being the leader of the Province of Canterbury, a large church region.
- Being the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
- Serving as a chief chaplain to both church and state matters.
In 1975, Donald Coggan was made a fellow of King's College London.
"Call to the Nation"
In 1975, Donald Coggan gave a special broadcast called a "Call to the Nation." He said that for the country to get better economically, it also needed to improve morally.
He was the first Archbishop of Canterbury to try to speak to so many people outside the church in this way. About 28,000 people wrote letters to him in response. For a while, the call created a lot of interest, but its long-term effect was not very big.
Supporting Women Priests
Donald Coggan had supported the idea of women becoming priests since the early 1960s. He formally proposed it at the Lambeth Conference in 1968. Other bishops also supported this, but the conference decided that the arguments for and against it were not yet clear enough.
Sharing the Christian Message
Donald Coggan was known as a very enthusiastic evangelist (someone who shares the Christian message). In 1976, he organized a meeting to find new ways to share the Christian message across the country. This led to the "Nationwide Initiative in Evangelism" (NIE).
The NIE was seen as a unique effort because it was the first time since the Reformation that different churches worked together positively on evangelism. It was officially launched in 1979. Leaders from various churches, including the Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, were present. However, the NIE did not become as popular as hoped.
Donald Coggan also started the Lord Coggan Memorial Fund, which helped provide Bibles to children in Russia.
Working with Other Churches
Donald Coggan worked hard to build bridges with other Christian churches. He often pushed for shared communion with the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1977, during a visit to Rome, he surprised his hosts by calling for full shared communion between the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches. This visit was part of a larger trip where he also met with the Orthodox Patriarch in Istanbul and the head of the World Council of Churches in Geneva.
In 1978, Donald Coggan attended the installation of Pope John Paul II. He was the first Archbishop of Canterbury to be present at such a ceremony since the Reformation. He also supported the Council of Christians and Jews, working to improve relations between Christians and Jewish people.
Travels as Archbishop
In 1976, Donald Coggan attended a meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council in Trinidad. He traveled more miles than any of his predecessors. On this trip, he also visited Pakistan and India. In India, he visited a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi and met with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In 1977, Donald Coggan and his wife attended a meeting of the World Council of Churches in Nairobi, Kenya. Instead of staying in a fancy hotel, they chose to stay in a college hostel with the youth delegates, sleeping in bunk beds.
Hosting the Lambeth Conference
Donald Coggan hosted the 1978 Lambeth Conference, a major meeting of Anglican bishops from around the world. For the first time, it was held in Canterbury at the University of Kent.
His friendly manner and personal interactions with many of the bishops helped make the conference a success. He was known for his warm welcome and once joked that "the art of hospitality is to make guests feel at home when you wish they were." The conference helped bring the different parts of the Anglican Communion closer together.
Donald Coggan also invited the bishops to bring their wives, who had their own separate conference. His wife, Jean, was in charge of organizing this conference for the bishops' wives.
As his retirement approached, Donald Coggan's kindness and integrity shone through. He once said that "the joy of being a priest is that your work never ends until they carry you out. Then another begins – that's elsewhere." During his time as Archbishop, he gave more sermons and traveled more miles than any Archbishop before him.
Retirement and Passing
Donald Coggan retired on 25 January 1980, at the age of 70. After retiring, he and his wife moved to Sissinghurst in Kent, where he continued to serve as an Assistant Bishop in the Canterbury Diocese. Later, they moved to Winchester.
In retirement, he continued to preach and give lectures widely. He regularly attended St Swithun's Church in Winchester, where he sometimes played the piano during services. His initials are carved on a bench there to remember him.
On 28 January 1980, he was given a special honour, becoming "The Most Revd & Rt Hon. Baron Coggan, of Canterbury and Sissinghurst in the County of Kent. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords. He also received the Royal Victorian Chain award on 13 February 1980.
From 1980 to 1988, he continued to serve as an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Canterbury. In 1981, he became the first Life President of the Church Army, a Christian organization. He also served as chairman and vice-president of the Council of Christians and Jews from 1983 to 1987. In 1987, he was invited to the Vatican to help create guidelines for different Christian groups to work together on Bible translations.
Donald Coggan passed away on 17 May 2000, at the age of 90, survived by his wife. His funeral was held at St Swithun's, Winchester, and a memorial service took place at Winchester Cathedral. His ashes are buried in the cloister garden of Canterbury Cathedral.
His wife, Jean (Lady Coggan), who passed away in 2005, was a very important support in his life and work. They had two daughters: Ruth Coggan, who was a missionary doctor in Pakistan, and Ann Coggan, who was a teacher.
Images for kids
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Donald Coggan as Archbishop of York
