StOM 1806 StOM 1806 | Page 21

Behind the Name Every month, StOM prints the Anglican Calendar of Prayer, but have you ever thought about what or who lies behind the name and place specified every Sunday? In each issue, we will feature some information about some of the people/places for whom your prayers are being asked. eorge Angus Takeli (born 1959) is a Solomon Islands Anglican bishop. He has been Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Melanesia and Bishop of the Diocese of Central Melanesia since his enthronement in 17 April 2016. G Usually this feature concentrates on the individual but the writer was unfamiliar with Melanesia and suspects that many readers will be similarly vague about Bishop Takeli’s charge. One of the important features of the province's life over many years has been the work of a mission vessel in various incarnations known as the Southern Cross. First based in New Zealand, the missionaries, mainly from Oxbridge and the public schools, established their base on Norfolk Island, bringing Melanesian scholars there to learn Christianity until the school was closed in 1918. The many languages in Melanesia made evangelisation a challenge. The Melanesian Mission adopted the language of the island of Mota in the Banks group of islands as the lingua franca. The Church of Melanesia is known for its pioneer martyrs, especially John Pat