Harold de Soysa

Right Reverend
Harold de Soysa
Anglican Bishop of Colombo
Church Anglican Church of Ceylon
See Anglican Diocese of Colombo
In office 1964 — 1971
Predecessor Bishop Graham Campbell
Successor Cyril Lindon Abeynaike
Orders
Ordination Cuddesdon
Personal details
Born 1907 Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
Died 1971
Previous post Archdeacon of Colombo

Charles Harold Wilfred de Soysa MA (1907-1971) was the first Ceylonese Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka.[1]

Born to Sir Wilfred and Lady Evelyn de Soysa, he was educated at Royal College, Colombo and graduated from Oriel College, Oxford obtaining Second Class Honours in Theology. Thereafter he was trained for the Priesthood at Cuddesdon College and was ordained in 1934 at St Paul's Cathedral.[2][3][4]

After working in England for a short period, he returned to Ceylon to serve in Kandy and Moratuwa. He was the Principal of the Colombo Divinity School and was made the Archdeacon of Colombo in 1955. In 1964 he became the first Ceylonese Bishop of Colombo and was one of only two Bishops of Colombo to be elected uncontested.[1][2][4]

He played a very important role in the Ecumenical Movement and the Church Union. In fact, his work in this area was so well recognised that he was one of three delegates appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Michael Ramsey in the Anglican-Roman Catholic conversations.[1][4][5]

He was instrumental in the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour. He died before its completion in 1971 and was interred at the Cathedral.[1][6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bishop Harold de Soysa - Rev. Sydney Knight (rootsweb)
  2. 1 2 Holy Emmanuel Church: History
  3. ↑ A daughter's tribute: My father's life was his honour - Minoli de Soysa (Sunday Times)
  4. 1 2 3 Three to Observe, Vatican Council, The Living Church, Volume 145
  5. ↑ The Malta Report, ANGLICAN/ROMAN CATHOLIC JOINT PREPARATORY COMMISSION 1
  6. ↑ The Cathedral of the Diocese of Colombo (Sunday Observer)
Religious titles
Preceded by
Bishop Graham Campbell		 Bishop of Colombo
1964 – 1971 		Succeeded by
Cyril Lindon Abeynaike


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