One of the important features of the province's life over many years has been the work of a mission vessel in various incarnations known as the Southern Cross.

The Church of Melanesia is known for its pioneer martyrs, especially John Patteson, murdered in 1871, Charles Godden, killed in 1906, among several others.

Today, there are nearly 200,000 Anglicans out of an estimated population of over 800,000 in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu as well as a newly[clarification needed] formed parish in Nouméa, New Caledonia.

Since being made a province in 1975 the church has maintained a system of geographical parishes organised into dioceses, of which there are now ten.

Each diocese except for Central Melanesia (the Honiara area) is divided into regions, each headed by a senior priest.

Catechists are lay people appointed by a local community and authorised by the bishop to take services and look after the spiritual life of a village.

[2] Its predecessor in local liturgical development was A Book of Common Prayer Authorised for Use in Churches and Chapels in the Diocese of Melanesia, first published in 1938.