His Beatitude Abba Seraphim has passed away on 12^th November 2025 in London.

After 5 years of diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, Abba Seraphim, Passed away in his own home during his sleep peacefully. Due to the Lord’s grace, he never suffered or was in pain in his last moments. Cared for by Abba James for this time.

“I made a promise to Abba Seraphim to enable him to die in his own home with dignity and grace. I feel like I have kept my promise. He was surrounded by his faith, books and cats that he treasured so much.” – Abba James

Abba James, performed the prayer of the sick for Abba Seraphim before his death which bought much comfort.

In 2019/2020 before the pandemic, he was suffering from memory loss with names and places and became frustrated after MRI and tests he was diagnosed with the disease in 2022, at which point the effects were more apparent. In 2023 he ceased functioning in his capacity due to confusion but had made great efforts the summer beforehand to complete all of his publication projects.

Abba Seraphim was born in Lewisham, London and while born in the Church of England, during his teens he began exploring alternatives to his faith needs and found some interest in Catholicism but ultimately it was via a genealogical communication with his cousin and predecessor Mar Georgius. He spent his late teens enjoying the ROCOR Eastern Orthodox liturgies as well as with his cousin with the Orthodox Church of the British Isles. Abba Seraphim dedicated his early twenties in the OCBI and by his 30’s became Mar Georgius’ Coadjutor Bishop.

Abba Seraphim didn’t believe he, or his clergy, should ever be full time clergy, often remarking that clergymen pontificating about the difficulties in life, without a connection to the real, secular, world often don’t understand the struggles of life. In his early 20’s after completing a teacher training course in Exeter he became a school master and taught during his working life in South-east London at Catford Boy’s school in Lewisham and Eaglesfield school in Greenwich. Both schools gave him much joy and support with his faith and he gained many lifelong friendships.

In the 90’s it was only a passing comment by a Coptic layperson that Abba Seraphim approached Pope Shenouda III in a way to legitimise the link between the Apostolic tradition of the church. This audience with Pope Shenouda III sparked a lifelong friendship as they had an instant connection and shared the same diasporic approach to spreading Orthodoxy to the world. Not to treat Orthodoxy locked behind a culture or language but to spread wide across the world and localise it to the needs of the people.

The British Orthodox had a major turning point at that moment. Pope Shenouda III, in a groundbreaking way, accepting Abba Seraphim’s prior ordinations from the OCBI (renamed to The British Orthodox Church) and with anointing him, brought him and his clergy into the Oriental Orthodox tradition and solidifying their apostolic tradition.

Pope Shenouda III, also Ordained Abba Seraphim to a Metropolitan (Arch Bishop) and eventually became (at the time of separating from the Coptic Church) the 8^th most senior Metropolitan in the church.

Abba Seraphim enjoyed the fruits of his new family, bringing in more people into the church, helping the Coptic church gain significant first steps into purchasing buildings, setting up communities, fighting persecution, advocating for the release of Abune Antonious of Eritrea and working with committees and inter faith dialogues that helped bring the Orthodox Churches together in the UK. He gave many presentations, sermons and discussion groups on his faith and the difficulties within a country where church fellowship continues to be on the decline.

After the repose of Pope Shenouda III, Abba Seraphim saw the need to go his separate ways from the Coptic church. While normally this would involve an excommunication both parties reached an amicable agreement and The British Orthodox Church returned to its independent state.  This posed serious challenges between the congregation but Abba Seraphim had the same issues previously when joining the Coptic church and continued living in his faith and looking after his congregations.

Abba Seraphim, had a memorial service in London, on the 13^th December 2025, at St. Thomas’ church Charlton where the British Orthodox Church held many services spanning over 40 years. This was attended by many friends, family and old school pupils from the two schools.

The burial took place in Bournemouth, on the 16^th December 2025, a simple service before the committal at the graveside. Abba James held both of the services and said his final goodbyes to his predecessor after caring for him for the last 3 years. Abba James will now be known from this point as Abba Jacobus III of the British Orthodox Church retaining all titles from Abba Seraphim as instructed in the trust deeds.

Abba Seraphim

+ Memory Eternal

27/02/1948 – 12/11/2025