Tongan-born Archbishop Jabez Bryce (75) the Head of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Polynesia passed away at Suva Private Hospital on Thursday, February 11 after an illness.

His funeral gathering would be held for two days on February 16-17 at the grounds of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Suva, Fiji, before his funeral service on Thursday, February 18.

Crowned king

Archbishop Bryce, who was chosen to crown HM King George Tupou V on 1 August 2008 in Nuku'alofa, was the longest-serving bishop in the Anglican Communion, serving almost 35 years.

In 2006 he was chosen as one of the three leaders of the Anglican Church in New Zealand and Polynesia that included Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa.

Vava'u

Jabez Leslie Bryce was born in Vava'u, Tonga in January 1935 to a Tongan mother and Samoan father of Scottish descent. He grew up in Samoa and had resided in Fiji since 1960.

In 1975, he was the first Pacific Islander to become the Bishop of the Diocese of Polynesia. His predecessors were British and Australian nationals.

He trained for his ministry in Auckland and was ordained priest in 1962. His leadership led to the selection of three Assistant Bishops consisting of an Indigenous Fijian, Indo Fijian and a Tongan, strengthening the outreach of the church in its various islands.

He is survived by his wife Tilisi and two children, Jonathan and Fitaloa.