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Ernest Arthur Copleston (1855 – 24 August 1933) was an Anglican bishop in the first half of the 20th century.

He was born in Barnes, Surrey, the fourth son of Rev. Reginald Edward, vicar of Barnes, fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, and Anne Elizabeth née Sharpe, educated at St John's College, Oxford and ordained in 1878. His career began with curacies at St Luke's Church, Maidenhead and St. Paul's Church, Kandy. On 18 August 1883 he was appointed the incumbent at the Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa, together with St Peter’s Church, Koralawella, and then Principal of the Diocesan Training College, Kandy until 1903. On 30 August 1903 he was consecrated as the fifth Anglican Bishop of Colombo at St. Paul's Cathedral, Calcutta. A position in which he served for 21 years, until he was replaced by Mark Carpenter-Garnier in 1924.

His brother Reginald Stephen Copleston was also an Anglican bishop, whilst another brother, Frederick Selwyn Copleston, was the first Chief Judge of the Chief Court of Lower Burma. His nephew Frederick Copleston, son of Frederick Selwyn Copleston, was a notable Jesuit priest.

References

1. The Times, Saturday, Aug 26, 1933; pg. 1; Issue 46533; col A Deaths
2. ”A History of the Church of England in India” Chatterton, E: London, SPCK, 1924
3. "Ecclesiastical Intelligence", The Times (London), Thursday, 30 January 1902; pg. 6; Issue 36678; col B
4. thePeerage.com
5. “Who was Who” 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
6. Ordinations OxfordThe Times Tuesday, Sep 24, 1878; pg. 8; Issue 29368; col D
7. Church web-site
8. Church description
9. "The Clergy List" London, Kelly's 1913
10. Malden Richard (ed) (1920). Crockford's Clerical Directory for 1920 (51st edn). London: The Field Press. p. 304.

• 1855 births
• People from Barnes, London
• Alumni of St John's College, Oxford
• Anglican bishops of Colombo
• 20th-century Anglican bishops in Asia
• 1933 deaths
• British expatriates in Sri Lanka