Gregory Shantha Kumar Francis (B.Th., PGDip.P&CC), was an Anglican Bishop of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.[1][2]
Right Reverend Gregory Shantha Kumar Francis | |
|---|---|
| Anglican Bishop of Kurunegala | |
| Church | Anglican Church of Ceylon |
| Diocese | Kurunegala |
| In office | 2010 – December 2014 |
| Predecessor | Kumara Illangasinghe |
| Successor | Keerthisiri Fernando |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1980 by Lakshman Wickremasinghe |
| Consecration | 21 December 2010 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1955 (age 68–69) Polgahawela, Sri Lanka |
| Previous post(s) | Archdeacon |
Gregory Shantha Kumar Francis was born in 1955 in the village of Polgahawela, Sri Lanka.[3] He is an upcountry Tamil, and fluent in Sinhala, English and Tamil.[3]
Francis was appointed as deacon in 1978,[3] receiving his Bachelor of Theology from the University of Serampore the same year. In 1980 he obtained a postgraduate diploma in pastoral and clinical counselling from Nawa Jeewana Institute of Psychology, Colombo and was ordained as a priest in the Church of Ceylon.[3] He was the chaplain at Hillwood College, Kandy (1993–2000), Trinity College, Kandy (2001–2004). Francis also obtained a higher diploma in comprehensive drug abuse prevention and counselling from the Anti Narcotic Association of Sri Lanka.
On 7 November 2010 Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, appointed Francis as the fifth Bishop of Kurunegala in the Church of Ceylon, succeeding retired Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe.[4]
In 2012, Francis was nominated by the International Counter Narcotic Association to be a consultant on rehabilitation and counselling.
On 6 January 2015 the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, announced that Francis had resigned as Bishop of Kurunegala.[5] In a statement by Francis he advised that he had been threatened by Tamil diaspora groups opposing his stand for a unitary state and the sovereignty of the country.[6][7][8]
Francis is married to Priyadharshin and has two sons, Prabath and Pramith.
References edit
- ^ "Provincial Directory: Kurunegala". Anglican Consultative Council. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ "Bishop of Kurunegala". Diocese of Kurunegala. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d "New Tamil Bishop to mend decades-old rift". UCANews.com. 23 December 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ Senevirathne, Shane (28 November 2010). "New bishop for Kurunegala". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
- ^ "Bishop of Kurunegala resigns — Lambeth Palace statement". Anglican Communion News Service. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "Bishop plans to resign". Daily Mirror. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "Kurengala Bishop gets threats". Colombo Gazette. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "Don't Talk of Unitary Status". Ceylon Today. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
External links edit
- The Church of Ceylon (Anglican Communion)
- Anglican Church of Ceylon News
- Worship Resources including a Prayer for Sri Lanka written by Metropolitan Lakdasa de Mel
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