Archbishop Jabez Bryce and the territory of Polynesia

Archbishop Jabez Bryce, Bishop of Polynesia and one of the three Archbishops of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia, has died in Suva. As Anglican Taonga reports, at the time of his death Archbishop Jabez was the longest serving bishop in the Anglican Communion, having been consecrated in 1975.

Like his biblical namesake, Jabez of 1 Chronicles 4:1, Archbishop Jabez Bryce "enlarged the territory" of Polynesia. During his episcopacy Polynesia became one of the three tikanga of our church, established the College of Polynesia within St John's College Auckland, and increased its number of bishops, including one ordained to serve the needs of Polynesian Anglicans in Auckland. There is much more to be said about the many ways in which Archbishop Jabez served God as bishop, on both Anglican and ecumenical endeavours. I refer you again to the Taonga report.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.