The Archbishop of Melanesia, the Most Rev Sir Ellison Pogo, was last night given Vanuatu’s highest award, the Badge of Honour. The silver medallion makes Sir Ellison a member of the Order of Vanuatu .

The President of Vanuatu, Sir Kalkot Matas Kelekele, performed the investiture at a ceremony coinciding with the official farewell of the head of the Anglican Church in Vanuatu , Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.

The award was in recognition for Archbishop Pogo’s 14-year service as Archbishop to the church and to the people of Melanesia in Vanuatu.

Prime Minister Edward Natapei and Deputy Prime Minister Ham Lini, along with government dignitaries, church leaders and ecumenical partners, witnessed the investiture at Tagabe Parish in Port Vila.

His Excellency Matas Kelekele thanked the Church of Melanesia for contributing to the spiritual growth and social development of Vanuatu.

Mr Natapei shared the commendation, saying Vanuatu and the Solomons have long shared a common ecclesiastical relationship through the missionary pioneers and founding fathers who evangelized the Melanesian countries.

Archbishop Pogo thanked the government and people of Vanuatu for the award, saying he accepted it on behalf of the people who supported the work of the church, spiritually and physically.

He said the Melanesian countries must continue to work together to uphold the unity of the church as well as in the Government and the traditional norms.

Last night's investiture coincided with the finale of the Archbishop's farewell tours to the dioceses of Melanesia before his retirement on 9 December.

He will leave for Suva this weekend to attend his last meeting of the Pacific Theological College (PTC) Governing Council where he will also be given an honorary doctorate.

He has chaired the PTC Board of Governors for the last 15 years.

Recently he was awarded one of Anglican Communion's highest awards, the Cross of St Augustine, by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Dr Rowan Williams, in London for conspicuous service to the Church.

Sir Ellison, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in October 2000, is a senior Primate of the Anglican Communion. He chaired the Design Committee for the 2008 Lambeth Conference in July.

The Church of Melanesia will hold a liturgical farewell at St Barnabas Provincial Cathedral in Honiara on December 7.