By Aldrin Peloko, Anglican Church of Melanesia Media

Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Justin Welby and wife Mrs Caroline Welby are currently in the Province of Melanesia.

The Archbishop and his wife are companied by Bishop Nigel Stock, who is the Bishop at the Lambeth Palace and Chair of the Melanesian Board of Mission UK, and Canon Precious Omuku, the Archbishop’s Advisor.

Archbishop Welby and team were met by the Archbishop of Melanesia, The Most Revd David Vunagi and his wife Mrs Mary Vunagi and the General Secretary of the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACoM) Dr Abraham Hauriasi upon arrival at Honiara International airport this afternoon.

After a few minutes rest at the Honiara International airport VIP lounge; Archbishop Welby and team were escorted to the waiting crowd outside the International airport where he was garlanded and 'attacked' by warriors*. Then led by a panpipe group to a welcome venue where the St Barnabas Cathedral’s choir presented a welcome song followed by a welcome remark by the Archbishop David of Melanesia.

Children from St Nicholas School and Norman Palmer School also witnessed the welcoming ceremony. They waved Canterbury Diocese flags and ACoM flags as the convoy drove down the road to their accommodation in town.

On Monday, Archbishop Welby will make courtesy calls to the Governor General of Solomon Islands, the Prime Minister and the British High Commissioner.

The Archbishop will also be taking time to visit the Melanesian Brotherhood Headquarters west of Honiara and to speak with clergy, Provincial Staff and other lay workers while Mrs Welby will be speaking to clergy wives and the members of the Mothers Union.

According to Archbishop David, The Most Revd Justin Welby is the third Archbishop of Canterbury to visit Melanesia.

Archbishop Welby and team will leave Honiara to Australia on Tuesday this week.

[*Editor's note: being challenged by warriors is a traditional welcome in several countries in Oceania)