Jabez Bryce
Encyclopedia
Jabez Leslie Bryce was the Tonga
n-born bishop of the Anglican Church
. Bryce served as the Bishop
of Polynesia
in the Province of New Zealand, which includes most of the South Pacific, from 1975 until his death in 2010. He was elevated to Archbishop of the diocese in 2006.
Bryce was the first Pacific Islander
to become an Anglican bishop. At the time of his death in 2010, Bryce was the longest serving bishop in the worldwide Anglican Church.
Bryce was born in Vavaʻu, Tonga
. He was raised in Samoa
and trained for the Anglican ministry in Auckland, New Zealand.
He was named the Bishop of the Diocese of Polynesia
in 1975. He was based in Suva
, Fiji
, where he lived for more than 50 years.
As bishop, Bryce advocated for a number of causes affecting the Pacific Islands
region. During the 1970s, Bryce became a leading opponent of French nuclear testing in Mururoa Atoll, French Polynesia
. More recently, Bryce spoke out strongly against both the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2006 Fijian coup.
He was a member of the Pacific Conference of Churches
. He also served within the World Council of Churches
as the president of the Pacificregion. Bryce became the Archbishop
and Co-presiding Bishop from 2006. In 2008, he became the Primate
, or Tikanga Pasefika, of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
.
Bryce died on 11 February 2010, in Suva, Fiji, after a short illness. Bryce is survived by his wife, Tilisi and two children.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n-born bishop of the Anglican Church
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
. Bryce served as the Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
in the Province of New Zealand, which includes most of the South Pacific, from 1975 until his death in 2010. He was elevated to Archbishop of the diocese in 2006.
Bryce was the first Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
to become an Anglican bishop. At the time of his death in 2010, Bryce was the longest serving bishop in the worldwide Anglican Church.
Bryce was born in Vavaʻu, Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
. He was raised in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
and trained for the Anglican ministry in Auckland, New Zealand.
He was named the Bishop of the Diocese of Polynesia
Diocese of Polynesia
The Diocese of Polynesia, or the Tikanga Pasefika, headed by Archbishop Winston Halapua, serves Anglicans in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands, within the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The diocese's first bishop was consecrated in 1908. The diocese's cathedral is...
in 1975. He was based in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, where he lived for more than 50 years.
As bishop, Bryce advocated for a number of causes affecting the Pacific Islands
Pacific Islands
The Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago....
region. During the 1970s, Bryce became a leading opponent of French nuclear testing in Mururoa Atoll, French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
. More recently, Bryce spoke out strongly against both the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2006 Fijian coup.
He was a member of the Pacific Conference of Churches
Pacific Conference of Churches
The Pacific Conference of Churches is the Regional Ecumenical Organisation representing the Christian churches at all levels in the Pacific region...
. He also served within the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
as the president of the Pacificregion. Bryce became the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
and Co-presiding Bishop from 2006. In 2008, he became the Primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
, or Tikanga Pasefika, of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia is a church of the Anglican Communion serving New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands...
.
Bryce died on 11 February 2010, in Suva, Fiji, after a short illness. Bryce is survived by his wife, Tilisi and two children.