LATE SIR ELLISON POGO A DECORATED AND DEDICATED SPIRITUAL LEADER

Dean of Cathedral, the Very Rev'd Davidson Nwaeramo and Archbishop Vunagi followed by the casket of Late Archbishop Sir Ellison Pogo processing into the Cathedral for the funeral service 

 

THE Anglican Church of Melanesia is mourning the death of former Archbishop of the church, Archbishop Emeritus Sir Ellison Pogo.

Archbishop Emeritus Sir Ellison Pogo was called to rest peacefully at his residence at Ngossi, West Honiara at 4:20pm on Monday 13^th May 2013. 
Born in 1947 and comes from a family of 15 children, Sir Pogo was educated at St. Johns College in Auckland and was ordained into the Priest hood ministry of the Church in 1979.
In 1981 he was elected and consecrated the diocesan bishop of Isabel where he served for 13 years. In 1994 he was consecrated Archbishop of the Anglican church of Melanesia, a post he faithfully served for another  13 years until he retired in 2008 when he was succeeded by the current Archbishop, the Most Reverend David Vunagi .

His award.
Late Archbishop Emeritus Sir Ellison Pogo was one of the most decorated and long-serving spiritual leaders of the Anglican Church of Melanesia and the World wide Anglican Communion.
In 2000 Archbishop Pogo was awarded the Knight of the British Empire (KBE), an honor that was bestowed upon him by Head of the Commonwealth Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace in October the same year. He was the first Archbishop to receive such an award in the church of the Province of Melanesia and the whole pacific basin including Australia and New Zealand.
On October 17^th 2008, Sir Ellison was awarded one of the Anglican Churches highest and distinguished awards – the Cross of Saint Augustine. The award is a gift from the former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams marking the conspicuous service to the church and the wider community.
Later on the 30^th October 2008, late Archbishop Pogo was awarded Badge of Honor by the former President of the Republic of Vanuatu, His Excellency Sir Kalkot Matas Kelekele. This award was for the recognition for highest degree in service to the Christian church and to the people of Melanesia in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.
His final award according to the church archives was an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) of Theology bestowed upon him by the Pacific Theological College in Suva, Fiji. The award was for his long and faithful service and excellent ecumenical leadership of the College as Chairman of PTC Board of Governors for 15 years.
“While the church mourns his passing, it is time for all members of the church to give thanks to God for his dedicated service to the church and to the nation at large” Archbishop, the Most Rev. David Vunagi said.
“Late Sir Ellison set a good example of a church leader and the Anglican Community adored him” Archbishop Vunagi concluded.
“Late Ellison was always an instrument of peace in the family” his brother Rev. Fr Atkin Zaku said at the funeral service at St. Barnabas Cathedral on Thursday.
Late Sir Ellison Pogo was laid to rest at his home village in Isabel.

Archbishop David Vunagi and wife paying tribute to Late Sir Ellison Pogo during the lying of wreath at St. Barnabas Provincal Cathedral on Thursday 16th May 2013



Family of Late Archbishop Pogo paying tribute at St. Barnabas Cathedral