Antoine Coudert OMI (17 March 1861 – 31 March 1929) was a French Catholic missionary who served as Archbishop of Colombo, Ceylon, from 1905 to 1929.
His Grace, the Most Rev. Antoine Coudert | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop, Archdiocese of Colombo | |
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| Installed | 27 June 1905 |
| Term ended | 31 March 1929 |
| Predecessor | André Théophile Mélizan |
| Successor | Pierre Guillame Marque |
| Other post(s) | Previously Coadjutor Archbishop of Colombo, and Titular Archbishop of Balanea |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 10 April 1886 as Priest, and 28 June 1898 as Coadjutor Archbishop of Colombo and Titular Archbishop of Balanea |
| Consecration | 27 June 1905 as Archbishop of Colombo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 March 1861 Manglieu, France |
| Died | 31 March 1929 (aged 68) Colombo |
| Nationality | French |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Early life and education
editCoudert was born on 17 March 1861 in Manglieu, France. He was educated at Billom College, and attended the seminary of Cleremont-Ferrand where he was ordained a priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate on 10 April 1886.[1][2]
Career
editIn 1886, Coudert was sent to Ceylon as a missionary priest, and took charge of various missions including, in succession, those at Ampalangoda, Beruwela, Kotahena and Vernapurai. In 1898, whilst serving as the Superior of the districts of Chilaw and Puttalam, due to the failing health of Archbishop Mélizan, he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Colombo with the right of succession, and Titular Archbishop of Balanea, and was ordained as Archbishop on 30 November 1898.[1][2][3][4][5]
On 27 June 1905, on the death of Archbishop Mélizan, Coudert succeeded as Archbishop of Colombo. At the time of his succession there were 97 missionaries, including 90 Oblate Fathers, and 206,000, mostly Sinhalese Catholics, in the Archdiocese. Whilst Archbishop of Colombo he is credited with establishing many Catholic schools including St. Peter's College Colombo, Maris Stella College, Holy Cross College, Gampaha, and St Mary's College, Dehiwala.[1][3][6]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Archbishop Antoine Coudert [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ a b who was who 1929-1940. Internet Archive. 1967.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b Arnold Wright (1907). Twentieth century impressions of Ceylon : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Public Resource. Lloyd's Greater Britain Pub. Co. ISBN 978-81-206-1335-5.
- ^ "Archdiocese of Colombo". Catholic Answers. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "A Co-Adjutor to his Grace the Archbishop of Colombo". The Penang Patriot. 7 September 1898. p. 3.
- ^ "Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Coudert OMI – Archdiocesan Education Service". Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "Ceylon News and Notes". Malaya Tribune. 13 April 1929. p. 4.