Former Archbishop of Canterbury Donald Coggan Dies at 90
Episcopal News Service. May 25, 2000 [2000-096]
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Donald Coggan, a man from within the evangelical tradition who, during the 1970s, lent his powerful support to the cause of the ordination of women, died May 17 in a nursing home near Winchester, England. He was 90 years old.
Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold said that "Anglicans everywhere mark with sorrow the death of Lord Coggan as we celebrate his ministry among us. The 101st archbishop of Canterbury was a renowned biblical scholar with a particular commitment to evangelism. He was also the first archbishop to envision the ordination of women to the priesthood," Griswold pointed out. "A superb preacher, he had preached and lectured in the Episcopal Church many times and was much respected here. He will be remembered as warm and gracious -- and possessed of a pastor's heart."
"Dr. Donald Coggan's death at the age of 90 brings to an end an illustrious ministry as a distinguished Hebrew scholar, devoted pastor and dedicated archbishop," said the current archbishop, George Carey, who was in Canada when Coggan died. "He will be remembered particularly for his remarkable contribution to the New English Bible and Revised English Bible and for his unfailing support for the Council for Christians and Jews."
Coggan was a strong supporter of the ordination of women, formally proposing it at the Lambeth Conference of the world's Anglican churches in 1970. The Episcopal Church voted in 1974 to begin ordaining women in 1977; it was not until 1994 that the Church of England admitted women to the priesthood.
Coggan, who was born in London, was a lecturer in Semitic languages at Manchester University 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.
He was ordained a priest in 1935 and was appointed bishop of Bradford in 1956, archbishop of York in 1961 and archbishop of Canterbury in 1974.
After his retirement as archbishop, he was elevated to the House of Lords. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and two daughters.
In a tribute carried by the Anglican Communion News Service, the Rev. Canon Colin Craston, former chairman of the Anglican Consultative Council, said that while Coggan was from the evangelical tradition, he avoided the narrower constraints of that tradition.
"While committed to the authority of Scripture in matters of faith and conduct, he recognized the role of sound leadership allied to tradition and reason, in seeking a right interpretation of Scripture in the life of the church." Craston said.
"It was within this commitment, rather than by following fashionable sociological trends, that he long ago came to support the cause of the ordination of women. In this he was warmly encouraged by his wife and his sister.
"What Coggan specifically brought to his whole ministry was a passion for the mission and evangelism of the church and a preaching gift based on biblical exposition," said Craston.
The funeral was private. A thanksgiving service is to be held in late June in Winchester Cathedral.