Tucked away amongst the peaceful greenery of Shephalbury Park is a small piece of paradise. As you make your way down the tree-lined driveway, you are greeted by a manor that has been part of Stevenage's history since 1865 A.D. This magnificent, Gothic building, with its distinctive features, tells a story of the era in which it was constructed. The manor once served as a boarding school, and has also been the venue of many other groups and activities during the course of its history.

Shephalbury Manor continues to be an important part of the heritage of Stevenage. Over a century and a half have passed since it was first constructed, and time had definitely taken its toll. Due to its closure for quite some time, the manor had become dilapidated. In 1991, it was purchased by the Coptic Orthodox Church and renovations commenced.

The transformation began with a new name -Archangel Michael and Saint Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church Centre. This name, given to both the Centre and the church, is derived from a combination of the two leaders of angels: Archangel Michael as the leader of the heavenly angels, and Saint Anthony, the father of all monks throughout the world, as the leader of the 'earthly angels.'

As renovations continued, special attention was paid to preserving the manor's original heritage. While maintaining this character, the manor also began taking on a certain Coptic style. Evidence of this successful and subtle infusion is most clearly demonstrated in the chapel. This Coptic-style chapel is decorated with intricate, hand-carved woodwork and hand-painted icons, and the iconostasis harmoniously complements the strong Gothic arches.

A great amount of effort and expense have been dedicated to the renovation of the manor and is an ongoing endeavor.

The Centre now hosts a variety of religious, social and youth activities; these range from local and national youth meetings, to social and ecumenical relations, on both the nation and international level.

The Centre is more than just a church or a place to host activities; it also serves as a retreat from the pace of everyday life, giving many the time and opportunity to think within its quite, peaceful surroundings.

During the renovation process, accommodation facilities were integrated into the manor to allow visitors to have a place in which they could always come and stay.

In the early days of the new Centre, visiting priests were invited to perform liturgical services each Saturday, but in December 1995, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III appointed his own secretary as the first priest specifically dedicated to the service of this Church and Centre. With the arrival of a permanent priest, the spiritual and social activity of the Centre grew.

Although the church is a part of the Centre, they are separate in function, and serve a variety of roles. Archangel Michael and Saint Anthony Church serves as a local parish, covering Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, North London, Cambridge and other surrounding areas. It also provides a variety of educational and pastoral activities in its parish role.

Increased spiritual and social activities, along with the consecration of its parish priest as bishop, brought about the necessity for the ordination of a new priest, who was formerly a member of the congregation. He was ordained especially for the services of the church, and this was the first such ordination of a priest, in his own church surrounded by his congregation, and performed by H.H. Pope Shenouda III, in the United Kingdom and Europe.

In a more general role, the Centre, which is now called the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre, serves in the following capacities:

• Variety of Youth Social and Spiritual Activities
• Publication of several of books, pamphlets, and articles.
• Publication and distribution of the Official English Magazine of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
• A variety of local, national and international ecumenical activities.
• Public relations office.

We invite you to visit us at the Coptic Orthodox Centre.