Donald Coggan
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Frederick Donald Coggan, Baron Coggan (December 23 1909 - May 17, 2000) was the 101st Archbishop of Canterbury from 1974 to 1980.
Background
Born in Highgate, London, England, Coggan was 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.
Life and work
He was ordained a priest in 1935, appointed Bishop of Bradford in 1956 and Archbishop of York in 1965. After his retirement as Archbishop of Canterbury he was elevated to the House of Lords, as Baron Coggan, of Canterbury and Sissinghurst in the County of Kent.
His time as archbishop is noted for his strong support for the ordination of women (which did not happen 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.
He was buried at St Alban’s Cathedral, Hertfordshire.
| Preceded by: Alfred Blunt | Bishop of Bradford 1956–1961 | Succeeded by: Clement Parker |
| Preceded by: Michael Ramsey | Archbishop of York 1961–1974 | Succeeded by: Stuart Blanch |
| Preceded by: Michael Ramsey | Archbishop of Canterbury 1974–1980 | Succeeded by: Robert Runcie |