Our history
Arrival of missionaries
The history of the Diocese cannot be separated from the history of the anglican Church in Madagascar. Following the first visit of Bp Vincent Ryan of Mauritius to the Island in 1862 and the permission granted by King Radama II, missionaries have been sent from England.
In 1964, William Hey and John Holding sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) arrived in Foulpointe, followed by Thomas Campbell and Herbert Maundrelle from the Church Missionary Society.
Having established their missionary work in the north east and eastern coasts of Madagascar, they have decided to move inland to the Capital. In 1874, the first Bishop of Madagascar in the person of Bishop Robert Kestell Cornish arrived on the Island, and have decided to proceed to the Capital along with other missionaries.
A Theological College was established at Ambatoharanana in 1878, and St Paul’s Church was inaugurated four years later.
Saint Laurent’s Cathedral
Having been granted royal permission, the Cathedral of St Laurent was built to replace the modest wooden church at Ambatomasina.
The laying of the foundation stone took place in 1883 by Bishop Kestell Cornish and the Prime minister Rainilaiarivony. The cathedral was built by Norwegian Alfred Anker in the neo-Gothic style according to designs made by English architect William White.
Since its completion in 1889, it has served as the seat of the Bishops of Madagascar. until its division in 1969 and became the seat of the Bishops of Antananarivo:
News...
Statement from the Christian Council of Churches of Madagascar (FFKM)
Easter Message from the Bishop
