Funeral information for Archbishop French Chang-Him

Day of National Mourning for Archbishop French Chang-Him

The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, has declared Friday, June 9,  the day of the late Anglican Archbishop Emeritus French Chang-Him’s funeral, as a day of National Mourning.

According to State House, by order of the President, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast from 6am to 6pm as a sign of respect.

State House added that “In order for members of the public to pay their respects, public service organisations (Government and parastatals) may consider granting an afternoon off to their staff at their discretion, subject to the exigencies of the service.”

According to Anglican Diocese, the burial service will take place at the Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul in Victoria, the capital.

Viewing will start at 11am until 1.30pm followed by a private burial service.

Archbishop Chang-Him passed away on Friday, May 26, at the age of 85.

On June 9, Chang-Him would have celebrated 60 years of service and devotion to the Anglican Diocese of Seychelles and the Province of the Indian Ocean.

Information About the Funeral & Road Closures

Motorists are informed that the following roads and car parks will be closed for the funeral service of Archbishop Emeritus, French Chang-Him.

The Taxi parking, opposite St Paul’s Cathedral, is now partially closed and police officers will be controlling movement of traffic inside the area.

The Gymnasium car park (at the entrance of State House) will be closed as of 10pm tonight 8th June.

The part of Albert Street, going past St Paul’s Cathedral, from the traffic lights to the Clocktower will be closed from 10pm tonight 8th June.

On Friday 9th June, from 11am, the part of the road from the traffic lights in front of Baroda Bank going towards the Central Police Station will be closed.

Motorists who are going to the North of Mahe are advised to use the Bel Eau road or to go via Glacis to reach their destination.

The roads will reopen after the funeral service.

The Police Department is requesting that Motorists be courteous on the road during the road closures and to cooperate if emergency vehicles need to access certain areas.

About Archbishop French Chang-Him

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.

Born in Seychelles and son of Francis Chang-Him and Amelia Zoé, Chang-Him was educated at Lichfield Theological College and Trinity College, Toronto. 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 .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. 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.”