The British Orthodox Church (BOC), formerly the Orthodox Church of the British Isles, is an independent Christian church originating in the United Kingdom, having its roots in Oriental Orthodoxy.

The British Orthodox Church has not been in communion with any of the Oriental Orthodox churches since a 2015 decision to return to an independent status.

History

Origins

The church claims to be the continuation of the Ancient British Church of Jules Ferrette.

Independence again

On 4 October 2015 the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, in response to a request from the British Orthodox Church, "in the same spirit with which this union came into being", agreed to the British Orthodox Church returning to its pre-1994 status "in fulfilment to what it sees as its current mission in the light of the developments and changing dynamics of the Middle East and Britain". The British Orthodox website spoke of it "amicably returning to its original status in order to fulfil its mission more effectively". This resulted in the British Orthodox Church returning to a non-canonical status, outside of communion with any church.

On 29 October 2017, Metropolitan Seraphim, acting solus, consecrated Father David Seeds as Bishop David of Priddy.

In January 2019, the BOC announced that Seraphim was once again considered as its Patriarch, since from the moment of the union with the Coptic Church Seraphim had ceased to use this title. Mafrian is a title used in the Syrian Orthodox Church for the Catholicos of the East, and the primate of the church in the Sassanid Empire, now Iran and Iraq.

Publications

Through the church press it publishes the Glastonbury Review, the only English-language journal committed to regular reporting about the activities of the Oriental Orthodox churches and it has also begun to republish some theological works.

Primates

  • Richard Williams Morgan (claimed) (since 2025)

See also

  • Catholicate of the West

References

  • Official website