Melanesian Brothers and Sisters bring music and dance to Plymouth

Melanesian missionaries will be playing their panpipes and dancing in a Plymouth shopping centre tomorrow (Saturday 13 April).

A group of ten Brothers and Sisters from the four Anglican religious communities in Melanesia have been in Plymouth this week leading the 'Simply Living Mission.'

Tomorrow (Saturday) the Simply Living team will be at Christ Church, Estover, at 10.30am for children’s crafts and music Melanesian style then next door at Asda at 2pm for songs and dance.

During this mission the group aims to establish 'communities of worship and prayer' for a week at a time in various areas of the UK.  It began this week in Plymouth and will move on to Lichfield, Chester, Blackburn, Ely and London Diocese. Before the team leave Devon they will be visiting Exeter Cathedral on Sunday for its Holy Ground evening service, starting at 7pm.

The Melanesian Mission is an Anglican mission agency that provides support to the Church of Melanesia through prayer, people and financial grants. It has strong historical links with Devon. Today the link is based on a long established friendship and a number of exchange visits.

Melanesia is an area of the Pacific to the north and east of Australia, including the islands which form the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. There are strong historic links between Devon and Melanesia going back to the 19th Century when a Devon priest, John Coleridge Patterson went out as a Missionary Bishop to Melanesia.

The Brothers live an exceptional life of discipleship and evangelism and have inspired many during their visits to Devon. As a result there are a number of parishes in the diocese which have ongoing links with the Brothers.