Diocese of Rangoon
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of Rangoon was a Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon diocese
which existed from 1877 to 1970, when it became the province of the Church of the Province of Burma.
was in 1877 part of the British Indian Empire, and known as Burma. The Anglican
see
under which it came under was the Diocese of Calcutta
. For many years both American baptist
, Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (S.P.G.) and Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (S.P.C.K.) missionaries had been active in Burma. In recognition of this, the Diocese of Winchester
created an Endowment Fund for the establishment of a bishopric
in Burma. The diocese itself contributed £10,000. The S.P.G., S.P.C.K. and the Colonial Bishoprics' Fund together contributed £10,000 to the creation of the diocese.
In 1877 Jonathan Holt Titcomb
, a parish priest in the Winchester diocese, was appointed by Letters Patent
the Bishop of Rangoon
. At first the diocese encompassed only the southern half of Burma, but was later extended to cover the whole of the country. At its inception in 1877 the diocese came under the authority of the Church of England in India and Ceylon; in 1927 this became autonomous from the mother church and became the Church of India, Burma and Ceylon. Covering the entirety of Burma, the diocese was in effect the Church of Burma.
There were eight Bishops of Rangoon during the official existence of the diocese of Rangoon. The seventh, V.G. Shearburn
was forced to resign when all missionaries were compelled to leave in 1966. The seventh, his assistant bishop Frances Ah Mya became the eighth bishop and became the first "National Bishop of Rangoon". In 1970 the Burmese church broke away from the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon and became the Church of the Province of Burma. The bishopric of Rangoon was elevated to that of archbishopric of Burma.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
which existed from 1877 to 1970, when it became the province of the Church of the Province of Burma.
History
The area today known as MyanmarMyanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
was in 1877 part of the British Indian Empire, and known as Burma. The Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
under which it came under was the Diocese of Calcutta
Bishop of Calcutta
The Bishop of Calcutta exercises episcopal leadership over the Diocese of Calcutta of the Church of North India. The diocese was established in 1813 as part of the Church of England and the first bishop was Thomas Fanshawe Middleton and the second Reginald Heber...
. For many years both American baptist
American Baptist
American Baptist may refer to:* American Baptist Association* American Baptist Churches USA* Baptist who is an American...
, Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (S.P.G.) and Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (S.P.C.K.) missionaries had been active in Burma. In recognition of this, the Diocese of Winchester
Diocese of Winchester
The Diocese of Winchester forms part of the Province of Canterbury of the Church of England.Founded in 676, it is one of the oldest and largest of the dioceses in England.The area of the diocese incorporates:...
created an Endowment Fund for the establishment of a bishopric
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
in Burma. The diocese itself contributed £10,000. The S.P.G., S.P.C.K. and the Colonial Bishoprics' Fund together contributed £10,000 to the creation of the diocese.
In 1877 Jonathan Holt Titcomb
Jonathan Holt Titcomb
Jonathan Holt Titcomb was an English clergyman, and the first Anglican bishop of Rangoon.-Education:Jonathan Holt Titcomb was born in London on 29 July, 1819, and educated at Brompton in 1826, and at Clapham from 1827 to 1830. In 1831, he moved to King's College School, from where he went in 1834...
, a parish priest in the Winchester diocese, was appointed by Letters Patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
the Bishop of Rangoon
Bishop of Rangoon
The Lord Bishop of Rangoon was the Anglican bishop responsible for the diocese of Rangoon in the province of Calcutta from 1877 to 1970. Beforehand British Burma, then part of the Indian Empire, had come under the guidance of the Bishop of Calcutta, Metropolitan of India...
. At first the diocese encompassed only the southern half of Burma, but was later extended to cover the whole of the country. At its inception in 1877 the diocese came under the authority of the Church of England in India and Ceylon; in 1927 this became autonomous from the mother church and became the Church of India, Burma and Ceylon. Covering the entirety of Burma, the diocese was in effect the Church of Burma.
There were eight Bishops of Rangoon during the official existence of the diocese of Rangoon. The seventh, V.G. Shearburn
Victor George Shearburn
The Rt Rev Victor George Shearburn was an eminent Anglican clergyman in the middle third of the 20th century.He was educated at Felsted and Hertford College, Oxford. Ordained in 1924 he held curacies at All Souls, Clapton Park and St Barnabas, Pimlico before becoming a member of the Community...
was forced to resign when all missionaries were compelled to leave in 1966. The seventh, his assistant bishop Frances Ah Mya became the eighth bishop and became the first "National Bishop of Rangoon". In 1970 the Burmese church broke away from the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon and became the Church of the Province of Burma. The bishopric of Rangoon was elevated to that of archbishopric of Burma.