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Reverend Father J B Coppin, MEP, Parish Priest Of St Michael’s Catholic Church

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Subject :Reverend Father J B Coppin, MEP, Parish Priest of St Michael’s Catholic Church
Published By : None 
Location : Ipoh
Estimated Year : 1912
Media Type : Photograph
Source : Brother Vincent Corkery, SMI, Ipoh
Remark : Father Jean B Coppin, a French Catholic Missionary belonging to the Paris Foreign Mission (MEP), held the office of Parish Priest of St Michael’s Catholic Church, Ipoh from 1904 to 1927, during which time the church congregation expanded significantly. Within a short space of time after his arrival in Ipoh he planted 200 coconut trees in the church compound to provide some income, built a catechism centre and bought a rickshaw for $15. Quite what he did with the rickshaw is not recorded.

An enthusiast for education he encouraged the missionary Infant Jesus Sisters to set up the Convent of the Infant Jesus (now the Main Convent) in Ipoh after having started St Michael's Institution himself in 1912 with the assistance of the La Salle Brother Visitor, James Byrne, and with Mr P J Mor Singh as its first headmaster. Later Father Coppin persuaded the La Salle Brothers to take over the management of the school, which they did on 11 August 1920.

Father Coppin also oversaw the building of the new brick church to replace the wooden and attap structure originally constructed, in 1890, by Father Emile Barillion, assistant to Father Allard in Batu Gajah. The brick St Michael’s church, which was completed in 1924, is still in very regular use today (2009).

He passed away in Batu Gajah Hospital in July 1926. He was mourned by many.

To read more about Brother Visitor Byrne, click here.

To read more about P J Morsingh, click here.

To read more about St Michael's Catholic Church, click here.

To read more about the La Salle Brothers, click here.

To read more about St Michael’s Institution, click here.

To read more about the Convent of the Infant Jesus, click here.

To read more about Batu Gajah Hospital, click here.

Filename : 20090405-022