The Archbishop of the Church in the Province of the West Indies, the Most Revd Philip Wright OBE, was installed in a celebratory service at the Belize Civic Centre on April 26, 2026, in recognition of his long legacy of community mission, outreach and advocacy.
Archbishop Philip is the 14th Primate of the Church in the Province of the West Indies and is also Bishop of Belize, the second bishop from the Diocese of Belize and the first Belizean-born bishop to hold the position of Primate. He succeeds Archbishop Howard Gregory, who retired on December 31, 2024. The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, attended the service during a provincial visit and was among the concelebrants.
The Service of Installation
Locally, the installation has been described as a 'service of recognition'. It was held at the 4,500-seat Civic Centre in Belize City to allow as many people as possible to attend and was also live-streamed to churches across other dioceses.
The service included contributions from dignitaries and local schools following Archbishop Philip’s recent tour of schools in Belize, as well as involvement from ecumenical and interfaith groups. Dr Sheree Smiling Craig, Chair of the Recognition Committee at the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist, told Greater Belize Media that the service was intended as 'a celebration where everyone is invited… it is not just an Anglican event, it is an ecumenical event' and 'a church-state event because of the national significance'. In addition to its spiritual significance, the event centred on music and involved around 1,700 children from 20 Anglican schools. 'That is why we had to move to the Civic Centre. Our Cathedral would not have been able to accommodate,' Dr Smiling Craig explained. The theme of the service was Rooted in Christ, Reaching Out in Love. Bishops from several Anglican dioceses, including Barbados, Guyana, Suriname and Cayenne, Trinidad and Tobago, Northeastern Caribbean and Aruba, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the Windward Islands, Long Island and Central Florida, were listed as concelebrants.
Music was central to the proceedings. Contributions came from the former Governor-General of Belize, His Excellency Sir Colville Young GCMG MBE, and eight local choirs. Several traditional hymns were sung alongside a Kyrie and Gloria, and a group of dancers performed a modern liturgical dance. Prayers were led by the Very Revd Dr Shelley-Ann Tenia, Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral in the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago, and by Bevan Niccolls, a Youth Representative from Barbados.
The heritage and diversity of the province were represented throughout, including readings given in some of the languages spoken in the region. The Old Testament reading from Jeremiah was read in Mayan by Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam GCMG, Governor General of Belize, and in English by Mrs Carla Suite Wright, Archbishop Philip's wife. The New Testament passage from 2 Corinthians was read in Garifuna by a representative from the Garifuna people, an Afro-Indigenous group, and in English by Archbishop Philip’s niece. The Gospel from the Book of Luke was read in English by the Rt Revd Claude Berkley (Bishop of the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago) and in Spanish by the Revd Olivia Vasquez (Diocese of Belize).
The Most Revd Philip S. Wright, Archbishop and Primate of the Church in the Province of the West Indies, with the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, following the service of recognition in Belize.
Treasure in Jars of Clay
In his first sermon as the newly installed primate, Archbishop Philip drew on the metaphor of clay jars in 2 Corinthians 4:7–9. 'We look in the mirror and we do not always see a vessel fit for God,' he said, 'but the good news is that it is not about the jar. It is about the treasure the jar contains.' Reflecting on the gift and burden of being called to ministry and leadership, he asked: 'Why would God choose clay jars? Why would God put something precious in something so fragile?' The answer, his sermon made clear, is that when God works through the broken and the struggling, there can be no confusion about the source of the power. 'When the power of God shines through a trembling preacher, a recovering addict, a tired mother, a grieving widow… there is no mistaking where that power comes from'. It is not the jar.
The Secretary General’s Provincial Visit
The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, has undertaken a provincial visit coinciding with the installation service and was among the special guests attending. Bishop Anthony said: 'It was a great pleasure to be present for this vibrant installation service, recognising Archbishop Philip Wright as the new Primate of the Church in the Province of the West Indies. His passion for the province in which he was born and has served for many years is commendable. I will continue to pray for the province, which contributes so much to the Anglican Communion Networks and Commissions, and for Archbishop Philip as he begins this new chapter of his ministry. I wish him every blessing.'
The evening before the installation, the Secretary General attended a state reception at Government House on April 25 in honour of Archbishop Philip and his legacy of ministry. Hosted by Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam, the Governor General of Belize, the event was attended by the Prime Minister of Belize, the Leader of the Opposition, other government officials and members of Belize’s consular and diplomatic corps.
The Secretary General also enjoyed a guided tour of the Altun Ha historic site on April 25, where he learned about the ancient Maya civilisation, including their advanced knowledge of astronomy, architecture, trade and governance. The visit offered an insight into Belize’s deep cultural heritage and the enduring legacy of its first peoples.
The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion was accompanied by Senator Patrick Faber, who represented the Anglican Diocese of Belize during a guided tour of the ancient Maya historic site, Altun Ha, during a provincial visit to the Church in the Province of the West Indies (April 27)
The Secretary General attends the House of Bishops meeting
The Secretary General also attended the Provincial House of Bishops meeting during his visit on April 27, where he shared stories from across the Anglican Communion and attended a Eucharist at St John’s Cathedral in Belize.
The meting was held at the House of Culture in the heart of Belize City and involved a full day of reflection, fellowship, and planning for the mission ahead.
The Secretary General was invited to share perspectives from across the global Communion and encouraged the Province’s connection with Anglicans worldwide.
At midday, the bishops gathered for Holy Eucharist at St. John’s Cathedral, the oldest Anglican church in Central America and a lasting symbol of Anglican witness in Belize.
In the afternoon, the House of Bishops continued its work by advancing the five strategic priorities adopted at the last Provincial Synod and now being carried forward under the leadership of Archbishop the Most Rev. Philip S. Wright. These are: Youth (Strengthening discipleship and leadership among young people across the dioceses); Technology (Improving communication and expanding digital ministry across the Province); Constitutional Renewal (Updating governance structures to support accountability and mission); Faith Formation and Education (Supporting clergy development, lay leadership, and Anglican schools) and Family Life (Encouraging pastoral care and support for families across the Province).
About the Church of the Province of the West Indies
The province’s roots trace back to the early 1700s and it became a self-governing body within the worldwide Anglican Communion in 1883. Today, the province encompasses eight dioceses: The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the Northeastern Caribbean and Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands.
About Archbishop Philip Wright
Archbishop Philip was a teacher before being ordained a deacon in 1992 and a priest in 1993 at the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist in Belize City. In October 2005, he was elected as the 14th Bishop of the Diocese of Belize. In addition to his diocesan responsibilities, he serves as one of the Presidents of the World Council of Churches, representing the Caribbean and Latin America. Within Belize, he has held appointments on national commissions concerned with good governance, family and child welfare and education.
When his election as primate was originally announced in October 2025, Archbishop Philip spoke of his passion for engaging young people with the life of the church as an ongoing priority. Ahead of the service of installation, he received an honour from the Recognition Committee, acknowledging his lifetime of dedication, faith and service to the Belizean community. Speaking to Greater Belize Media on April 15, Archbishop Philip spoke of his ambition to become a priest since the age of seven, saying, 'All I wanted to be was a priest… And as I got older, I saw it as one of the unique ways to serve others and to try and make a difference in the lives of other people.'
He also reflected on the importance of humility when honours are given, sharing his belief that one enters the priesthood 'for the love of it. You do it with a sense of calling… and you just try your best… When you look at all the things that seek to rob us of hope and joy and peace, it helps us to begin to understand what ministry is all about, because the ministry of which we are part seeks to bring joy and hope and love.'
More information
Watch the service of recognition and Installation of Archbishop Phillip Wright.
See an article announcing the election of Archbishop Philip Wright as Primate.
See a recent interview with Archbishop Philip Wright on the ‘Open Your Eyes’ show (Greater Belize Media).
Learn more about the Church in the Province of the West Indies