French Chang-Him

The Most Reverend French Chang-Him OBE
Archbishop and Primate of the Province of the Indian Ocean
Chang-Him in 2014
Church	Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
Diocese	The Seychelles
In office	1984–1995
Predecessor	Trevor Huddleston
Successor	Remi Joseph Rabenirina
Previous post(s)	Bishop of the Seychelles, 1979–2004
Orders
Ordination	1962
Consecration	1979
Personal details
Born	French Kitchener Chang-Him May 10, 1938 Seychelles
Died	May 26, 2023(2023-05-26) (aged 85)

French Kitchener Chang-Him OBE (10 May 1938 – 26 May 2023) was a Seychellois Anglican bishop who was active in the second half of the 20th century.[1]

Early life and education

Born in Seychelles and son of Francis Chang King-Hime and Amelia Zoé, Chang-Him was educated at Lichfield Theological College and Trinity College, Toronto.[2]

Career

He became a primary school teacher in 1958 and was ordained in 1962. After a curacy in Goole he was the rector of Praslin, then Archdeacon of the Seychelles and finally its Vicar general.[3] In 1979 he was appointed the Bishop of The Seychelles, resigning in 2004; and in 1984 the Archbishop of the Indian Ocean, resigning in 1995.

In 1975, Chang-Him married Susan Talma (died 1996). The couple had twin daughters.[4] He was appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2014 Special Honours "for services to human rights, reconciliation and democratic values and to British nationals in Seychelles."[5][6]

Death

Chang-Him died in 26 May 2023, at the age of 85.[7]

Church of England titles
Preceded by George Cardell Briggs	Bishop of The Seychelles 1979–2004	Succeeded by Santosh Marray
Preceded by Ernest Urban Trevor Huddleston	Archbishop of the Indian Ocean 1984–1995	Succeeded by Remi Joseph Rabenirina

References

1. lifetime achievement award
2. Who's Who 1992 “(London, A & C Black ISBN 0-7136-3514-2)
3. Crockford's Clerical Directory 1975-76 London: Oxford University Press, 1976 ISBN 0-19-200008-X
4. The International Who's Who 2004. Psychology Press. 2003. p. 299. ISBN 9781857432176.
5. "Honorary awards" (PDF) (Press release). Gov.UK. 2014.
6. Uranie, Sharon (18 December 2014). "British government awards rare honour to Seychelles Archbishop Emeritus French Chang-Him". www.seychellesnewsagency.com. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
7. Seychelles' beloved Anglican Archbishop French Chang Him passes away