Posted on: August 29, 2017 2:38 PM

Bishop James Wong of the Seychelles has been elected as the new Archbishop and Primate of the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean. He succeeds Archbishop Ian Ernest who served for 11 years. The election took place on Saturday at the Provincial Synod in Mauritius. Archbishop James has committed himself to the fostering of links within the Communion.

Archbishop James is a native of the island of Rodrigues and was granted Seychellois citizenship in 2015. He was ordained priest in 1983 and served in three parishes in the diocese of Mauritius, before he was appointed Archdeacon of Mauritius. In April 2009 he was elected as the fourth Bishop of the Seychelles.

Before his episcopal election, he was active in ecumenical affairs, serving as General Secretary of the Fellowship of Christian Churches of Mauritius and Chairman of Scripture Union Mauritius. Archbishop James is married to Doreen and has a daughter and a son.