James Seth (11 February 1913 – 8 April 1975) was an Anglican bishop in Madagascar. He was the first bishop of Tamatave (now Toamasina) [1] from its creation in 1969 until his death in 1975.
Seth was born posthumously in Madagascar in 1913, [2] the son of Baba Seth, a teacher, [3] and Christine Tatelo. Seth was the grandson of Marie Celeste, the first Christian convert of the Anglican mission in Tamatave. [4] He was educated at mission schools and at a government school. [5]
He trained for ordination at St Paul's Theological College, Antananarivo, [6] and St Boniface College, Warminster, [7] which trained ordinands specifically for missionary work. He was ordained deacon in 1942 and priest in 1945. [8] He served his title at Ampasimanjeva (1942-45) and was then Priest-in-Charge (1945-49), before becoming Priest-in-Charge of Tamatave (1949-61). [9]
He was consecrated bishop in the chapel at Lambeth Palace in 1961 and was then an assistant bishop in what was then the Diocese of Madagascar. [10] At the time of the announcement of his appointment as a bishop, he was Rural Dean of Tamatave. [11] On the splitting of the Diocese into three dioceses in 1969, he became the inaugural bishop of the Diocese of Tamatave. [12] He died in 1975, [13] and was succeeded by Samuel Rafanomezane, Archdeacon of Tamatave. [14] After his death both the town and diocese of Tamatave were renamed Toamasina. [15]
Seth remained in post during the 1947 Malagasy Uprising. [16] He was made an Officer of L’Ordre National de la République Malgache in 1964. [17]
A school in Toamasina is named after Seth, [18] as is a street. [19]
James Seth (11 February 1913 – 8 April 1975) was an Anglican bishop in Madagascar. He was the first bishop of Tamatave (now Toamasina) [1] from its creation in 1969 until his death in 1975.
Seth was born posthumously in Madagascar in 1913, [2] the son of Baba Seth, a teacher, [3] and Christine Tatelo. Seth was the grandson of Marie Celeste, the first Christian convert of the Anglican mission in Tamatave. [4] He was educated at mission schools and at a government school. [5]
He trained for ordination at St Paul's Theological College, Antananarivo, [6] and St Boniface College, Warminster, [7] which trained ordinands specifically for missionary work. He was ordained deacon in 1942 and priest in 1945. [8] He served his title at Ampasimanjeva (1942-45) and was then Priest-in-Charge (1945-49), before becoming Priest-in-Charge of Tamatave (1949-61). [9]
He was consecrated bishop in the chapel at Lambeth Palace in 1961 and was then an assistant bishop in what was then the Diocese of Madagascar. [10] At the time of the announcement of his appointment as a bishop, he was Rural Dean of Tamatave. [11] On the splitting of the Diocese into three dioceses in 1969, he became the inaugural bishop of the Diocese of Tamatave. [12] He died in 1975, [13] and was succeeded by Samuel Rafanomezane, Archdeacon of Tamatave. [14] After his death both the town and diocese of Tamatave were renamed Toamasina. [15]
Seth remained in post during the 1947 Malagasy Uprising. [16] He was made an Officer of L’Ordre National de la République Malgache in 1964. [17]
A school in Toamasina is named after Seth, [18] as is a street. [19]