The Norwich Link with PNG

The first Anglican missionaries landed in PNG just over a century ago and the church reached the heavily populated Highlands only 50 years ago; some areas are still unreached.

The Revd David Hand grew up in Tatterford near Fakenham, where his father was the local Rector.  In 1946 he went as a missionary to PNG and became bishop in 1950 at the tender age of 32.  He organized the transition of PNG from a diocese within the Province of Queensland, Australia to a Province of its own in 1977 and became its first Archbishop.
In 2007, only 30 years after becoming an independent Province in the Anglican Communion, there was a wholly indigenous priesthood, three religious orders and PNG missionaries working overseas.

There are over 140 parishes, with hundreds of associated outstations and chapels, mostly in remote mountain, coastal or island areas.

The three-fold Anglican ministry of preaching, teaching and healing provides the only education and health services for most of these communities.

Bishop David never forgot his roots in Norfolk and visited his home in Tatterford whenever he came home on leave.  During one such visit he met with the then Bishop of Norwich, Launcelot Fleming, and the Norwich PNG link was born.
Why has this unlikely bond between the Diocese of Norwich and the Province of PNG – half a world away – become so strong?  Because it arose from a personal relationship: it is a friendship rather than a formal ‘partnership’.

Many clergy and Mothers’ Union members from our diocese have visited PNG and +Peter Fox, now Vicar of the Lakenham Group, was Bishop of Port Moresby from 2002 to 2006.

The Link has raised money for the work of the church in PNG for over 40 years and is the focus of the diocese’s Lent Project every other year.