A Shared Story Across the Seas: A Message from the Anglican Church of Melanesia

One of the highlights of the Melanesian Mission UK AGM and Festival Day on Saturday 19 September was a special address from Adrian Toni, the recently appointed General Secretary of The Anglican Church of Melanesia. Although unable to be present in Exeter, Adrian sent a message of greeting that reminded everyone gathered that the partnership between Melanesia and the UK is far more than a charitable relationship. It is a shared story of faith stretching back more than 170 years.

Addressing supporters, trustees and friends of Melanesian Mission UK, Adrian brought warm greetings from Archbishop Leonard Dawea, the bishops, clergy, religious communities and people of the Church across Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Having begun his role as General Secretary in March 2026, he spoke of his hope and gratitude as he looks forward to working closely with MMUK in the years ahead.

A central theme of the address was the deep historical connection between Devon and Melanesia. Adrian reminded the audience that the story began with Bishop John Coleridge Patteson, a son of Devon who was ordained in Exeter Cathedral before travelling to the Pacific with Bishop George Selwyn. The mission established through their work eventually grew, under Melanesian leadership and faith, into today’s Anglican Church of Melanesia. Adrian encouraged attendees to see themselves not as supporters of a distant mission, but as participants in a continuing shared story.

Looking to the future, Adrian shared plans to honour Bishop Patteson’s legacy through the construction of a chapel at Nukapu, the place where Bishop Patteson was martyred in 1871. He also announced the anticipated visit of members of Patteson family to Melanesia in 2027, an occasion that will strengthen the living links between the family, MMUK and the Church that grew from the mission Bishop Patteson helped establish.

The address also highlighted the tangible impact of MMUK’s support in recent years. Adrian gave thanks for assistance provided following the disaster that affected Bishop Patteson Theological College and Tabalia, support that has helped those centres begin their recovery. He also celebrated the completion of a girls’ dormitory at Pamua High School, funded by MMUK and to be known as the MMUK Building. For generations of young women, he noted, it will provide safety, dignity and an environment in which they can learn and flourish.

Education remains a major priority for the Church in Melanesia. Adrian updated supporters on the progress of the new ACoM John Coleridge Patteson University (JCPU), which will train clergy, teachers, church leaders and professionals to serve across the region. He expressed gratitude for the involvement of Bishop Sam Corley, Chair of MMUK, on the international fundraising committee for the theological college component of the project and thanked MMUK for its commitment to supporting the university chapel, which will stand at the spiritual heart of the campus.

While celebrating these achievements, Adrian also spoke honestly about the challenges facing Melanesian communities. More than thirty Anglican schools still lack adequate water and sanitation facilities, while climate change and prolonged dry periods are making access to reliable water increasingly difficult. Remote schools, theological colleges and health facilities also need solar power to improve resilience and sustainability. These are practical areas, he said, where partnership, advocacy and prayer can make a real difference to people’s daily lives.

Reassuring supporters that good stewardship remains a priority, Adrian explained how ACoM is strengthening its planning, financial accountability, procurement and monitoring processes to ensure that every gift entrusted to the Church delivers lasting benefit. He also asked for prayers for the forthcoming General Synod, taking place at Tabalia in November under the theme “Talk, Listen and Witness”. The theme, he suggested, reflects the spirit of partnership shared between ACoM and MMUK: speaking honestly, listening humbly and witnessing together to Christ.

The address concluded with a powerful reminder that mission is something shared across continents. Whether supporting a student, training a church worker, helping a community prepare for disasters, or providing clean water and solar power, MMUK supporters are participating directly in God’s work in Melanesia. Adrian thanked the gathering for its friendship, generosity and prayers, and asked that prayers continue for Archbishop Leonard, the Church’s schools, religious communities, clergy and families throughout the region.

His message was a fitting contribution to the AGM, reminding everyone present that the partnership between Melanesia and the UK remains rooted not simply in history, but in a living relationship of faith, mutual support and shared mission. More than a century and a half after Bishop Patteson’s first voyages across the Pacific, that story continues to bear fruit on both sides of the world.