His Eminence Antoine-Adolphe Dupuch | |
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Bishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Algiers | |
![]() Antoine-Adolphe Dupuch (1800-1856), first-ever Bishop of Algiers. | |
Church | Roman Catholic |
See | Algiers |
Appointed | 1838 |
Term ended | 1845 |
Successor | Louis-Antoine-Augustin Pavy |
Orders | |
Ordination | 1825 |
Personal details | |
Born | Bordeaux, France | 22 May 1800
Died | July 11, 1856 Bordeaux, France | (aged 56)
Nationality | French |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Antoine-Louis-Adolphe Dupuch (1800-1856) was a French Roman Catholic priest. He served as the first-ever Bishop of Algiers from 1838 to 1845 in Algiers, French Algeria. He attempted to evangelise the local Arab population and he built nearly 60 new churches in Algeria.
Antoine-Adolphe Dupuch was born on May 22, 1800, in Bordeaux, France.[1]
Dupuch was ordained as a priest by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bordeaux in 1825.[1]
Dupuch served as the first Bishop of Algiers from 1838 to 1845.[1] He was initially appointed to cater to the French colonists who lived in Algeria and ensure they led righteous lives.[2] However, Dupuch felt called by God to restore Christianity in Algeria.[2] Indeed, he believed Arabs had been Christians before they were forced to convert to Islam.[2] He also believed Algeria could be used as a springboard to rechristianise the entire continent of Africa.[2]
Dupuch's views on evangelisation clashed with official doctrine of the French Army under Governor-General Thomas Robert Bugeaud, who feared the Arabs might feel disrespected and rebel.[2] He also clashed with Emily de Vialar and expelled her Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition from Algeria; the order focused on evangelising Tunisia instead.[3]
Meanwhile, Dupuch helped build churches across Algeria. By 1846, he had paid for the construction of 60 new churches, chapels and oratories in French Algeria, out of his own pocket.[4] However, he was forced to resign as bishop as he went into debt.[2]
Dupuch was the author of several books about Christianity in French Algeria and Africa. He wrote two books about Abdelkader El Djezairi.
Dupuch died on July 11, 1856.[1]