Photos by Trevor Whippy

A leader of the Church of England, the Archbishop of York, the Most Revd. Rt. Hon. Dr John Sentamu (66) visited one of Tonga's smallest islands this morning where he prayed and took action to prevent erosion.

With a mission to promote public awareness of climate change and to protect the environment, he preached at an Oceanic Eucharist on Pangaimotu Island led by the Most Revd Dr Winston Halapua and attended by local priests of the Anglican Church of Tonga, members of the local Anglican community and the St Andrews High School brass band and students.

On the exposed side of the island where the sea is rapidly eroding the land and the trees have died, the Archbishop and his wife Margaret planted mangrove seedlings, together with the Acting Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni.

He arrived in Tonga on Saturday August 1.

On Sunday, the Archbishop of York ordained two new priests Fr Laiseni Liava’a and Fr Steven Vaka at the St Paul’s Eucharist Cathedral in the Central Business District. He attended a groundbreaking ceremony at the Anglican Church in Fasi accompanied by Hon Frederica Tuita Filipe.

He met local church leaders during a luncheon on Monday afternoon.

Originally from Uganda, the Archbishop of York who was appointed to the position in 2005, is a senior bishop and second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of York and the metropolitan bishop of the Province of York. Educated at Cambridge University, he is a member of the House of Lords.

The Archbishop of York will depart Tonga for Fiji on Tuesday, 4 August.