One of the Anglican Church’s most historic sites on Malaita, where missionaries first landed, was consecrated on Christmas Day—53 years after its original church building was destroyed by a cyclone.
St Barnabas Church at Ngorefou in North East Malaita, Diocese of Malaita, is recognised as the first landing site of Anglican missionaries to northern Malaita.
Since the destruction of the original church in 1972, the community had not had a permanent church building.
That has now changed after a new generation of believers completed the construction of a new church over the past two years.
The church was consecrated on Christmas Day by the Bishop of Malaita, the Right Reverend Michael Bebeu.
Guest of Honour, Hon. Rexon Ramofafia, commended the Ngorefou community for reviving the historic church, describing the achievement as a true demonstration of unity and togetherness.
He said churches play an important role in nation building.
Bishop Bebeu praised the community for working together to complete the church on time, noting that St Barnabas is not an ordinary church but a historic site for both Malaita and the Anglican Church of Melanesia.
Church records show that the first Anglican missionaries to northern Malaita landed at Ngorefou before spreading the gospel throughout the region.
Chairman of the Ngorefou Organising Committee, Mr Robert Iroga, said the consecration marked a historic moment for his people.
“We have given all we could, and with God’s grace we were able to complete our church on time,” Mr Iroga said.
He added that the community worked tirelessly to ensure the church was ready for consecration.
Celebrations concluded with a large communal feast, with more than 72 pigs shared among the people of Ngorefou and surrounding communities.
- St Barnabas Ngorefou Press
