Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

The Church of Melanesia (COM) has given so much to the Anglican Communion, the visiting Archbishop of Canterbury and head of Anglican mission, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Archbishop Rowan Williams says. "I come to say thank you to you. This province has given so much to the Anglican Communion," he told hundreds of Anglicans and invited guests in a liturgical welcome and Holy Communion service at the St Barnabas Cathedral in Honiara yesterday afternoon.

He stated that he had been looking forward to his visit for many months to share and say thanks to COM. Archbishop Rowan said the COM has been blessed with the witnesses of martyrdom from the martyrdom of Bishop John Coleridge Patteson, Stephen Taroniara and the Melanesian Brotherhoods. Bishop John Coleridge Patteson and Stephen Taroniara who were murdered in the eastern Solomons when bringing the Anglican mission to the islands during the missionary days.

Archbishop Rowan also paid tribute to the contribution of the seven Melanesian Brotherhoods, murdered by arrested Guadalcanal warlord and his henchmen last year. Archbishop Rowan said the COM has been made rich by the witnesses of these martyrs whom he thanked God for. "You made rich the body of Christ and I thank you for it and I also give thanks to God for the richness in new forms of life - the courage, imagination and prayers you offered," he said. He also urged the congregation to be agents of peace and hope and to pray for the healing of this nation. "We make ourselves as a gift to Jesus Christ for the peace and healing of this nation," said Archbishop Rowan.

Archbishop of Church of Melanesian the Most Reverend Sir Ellison Pogo said the church is honoured to be visited by the head of the Anglican Communion. "You are only 17 months as 104th Archbishop of Canterbury but already you have shown great leadership. Though this would be a second time after about 30 years for the head of the Anglican Communion to visit us, you're the first Archbishop from Wales to visit us and we are proud and humble to have you with us," Archbishop Sir Ellison said when welcoming Archbishop Rowan at the beginning of the service. The Liturgical welcome service yesterday was conducted by three dioceses of the Church of Melanesia - Diocese of Hanuato'o, Diocese of Central Solomons and Diocese of Central Melanesia. According to Archbishop Sir Ellison, Archbishop Rowan will visit other dioceses of Malaita, Isabel and Temotu on Wednesday and Friday before departing for Vanuatu on Saturday.

From the Solomon Star newspaper By Priestley Habru