Bishop Wright Welcomed Home After Election as Archbishop of the Church in the Province of the West Indie

As we have been reporting, Belize has marked a significant milestone in its religious history with the election of Reverend Bishop Philip S. Wright of the Anglican Diocese of Belize as Archbishop of the Church in the Province of the West Indies. This afternoon, worshipers, deacons, priests, and other members of the faith community gathered at the Best Western Hotel to welcome the newly elected Archbishop, who arrived shortly before 4 p.m. The atmosphere was marked by reverence and celebration as Bishop Wright delivered his first remarks since the announcement of his election.  During his address, Archbishop Wright reflected on a recent meeting with the Government of Belize, highlighting the importance of maintaining a healthy and respectful relationship between the Church and the State.

Philip S Wright, Archbishop Church in the Province of the West Indies: “Now, I think it was a very fruitful meeting. And why I say that as well is we sat down and, yes, we flagged some of the issues that need attending to and some of the things for which we all feel strongly about. But perhaps even more meaningfully, we talked about why this relationship is important. And we began to look at the foundational aspects of it and why we still value it. And so from that perspective alone, it was a very good meeting. And the pledge we made, and I think the presence of the minister here is a signal, a strong signal of how important we see this relationship and the desire to make sure it goes from strength to strength. As I said, it doesn’t matter what administration, it is two important institutions in the country, the church and the state that they need to work together in order to help advance the well-being of our people.”

Bishop Elswith Clare of the Belize/Honduras Methodist Church delivered greetings on behalf of the Council of Churches, offering words of encouragement and reaffirming the Council’s ongoing support for Archbishop Wright as he steps into his regional leadership role.

Bishop Elswith Claire, New Archbishop: “Please be assured of our prayerful support and fraternal appreciation as you prepare to assume this new role, may the power of the Holy Spirit guide and sustain your ministry and all those who support you to foster the mutual respect, to gather understanding and profound cooperation among all who seek to advance the Kingdom of God. Once again, congratulations, His Grace Archbishop-Elect the most revered Philip S. Wright. We look forward with hope and anticipation to the blessings of your leadership, one that will bring to your community and to the region in this new chapter of your ministry. God bless you, sir, and all those who stand in support of what you have to do now or continue to do for God’s grace.”

In his remarks, Archbishop Wright also underscored the longstanding role of the Anglican Church and the broader Church in the Province of the West Indies in fostering unity across Caribbean nations. He noted that the Church predates the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) by centuries and continues to serve as a foundation for regional coherence, shared values, and collective identity.  The election of Archbishop Wright is being celebrated throughout Belize and the region as a proud moment of leadership, service, and spiritual continuity.