Bishop Alfred Hou, who was the Mission Secretary for the Diocese of Central Melanesia in the Anglican Church of Melanesia passed away at his residence in Honiara last week after a brief illness.

The late Bishop Alfred Hou served as the first Assistant Bishop of Malaita Diocese from 2005-2017, offering episcopal oversight and ministering to the Anglican Church in Malaita’s southern region.

While Assistant Bishop, Alfred Hou was also chair of the C.E.Fox Secondary School, Sa'a, South Malaita, the Anglican Church of Melanesia’s secondary school in Malaita.

After his time as Assistant Bishop, Bishop Alfred went on to serve as Chaplain of Bishop Patteson Theological College and then as Vicar General of the Diocese of Central Melanesia. 

Bishop Alfred’s current successor as Assistant Bishop of Malaita, Bishop Rickson Maomaoru wrote to his people of Malaita’s southern and Arekwa regions to share the sad and unexpected news on 4 February, 

“To my good people of Southern Region, we have lost one of our great leaders and shepherds in the Southern Region. We will surely miss his leadership skills and expertise as one of our great shepherds in the church of God.”

Bishop Terry Brown, who served alongside the late Bishop Alfred Hou while Bishop of Malaita, remembered him this week as a warm pastor with strong skills in business administration.

Archbishop Leonard has requested prayer for Bishop Alfred’s widow Mrs Rose Hou, their children, and family members at Aulupeine, Sa'a, around Small Malaita, Honiara and throughout the wider Diocese of Central Melanesia, as they mourn the sad passing away of a beloved husband and father and a much-loved member of the clergy.

“We pray that God will grant his soul eternal rest in His Heavenly kingdom.”