David Hand

The Most Reverend Geoffrey David Hand KBE GCL (11 May 1918 – 6 April 2006) was an Australian-born Papua New Guinean Anglican bishop. He was the first Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea.

Childhood and education Hand was born a British subject in 1918 in Clermont, Queensland, Australia, where his English father, the Reverend William Thomas Hand, was the rector of Clermont. When was consecrated bishop (to serve as coadjutor bishop of New Guinea) on 29 June 1950 at Ss Peter and Paul Cathedral, Dogura, he was the youngest bishop in the Anglican Communion, aged 32.

Known as Percy to friends, Hand never married, remaining a celibate missionary in the tradition of the Oxford Movement, like Trevor Huddleston. He then spent two years as the parish priest of his childhood village of Tatterford in Norfolk, where he was still remembered. However, he missed Papua New Guinea and returned, settling in Port Moresby where he wrote his memoirs (and a newspaper column) and headed the local censorship board. When he died in Port Moresby in 2006, he was buried at the Cathedral of the Resurrection, Popondetta. His funeral was delayed, as his coffin was found to be too big for his grave.

Ministry positions Ordained deacon 1942 Curate at Heckmondwike in Yorkshire 1942–1946 Priest 1943 Missioner, Diocese of New Guinea 1946–1950 Priest-in-charge, Sefoa 1947–1948 Priest-in-charge, Sangara 1948–1950 Archdeacon of North New Guinea 1950–1965 Bishop Coadjutor of New Guinea 1950–1963 Bishop of New Guinea 1963–1975 Bishop of Papua New Guinea 1975–1977 Bishop of Port Moresby 1977–1983 Archbishop of Papua New Guinea 1977–1983 Priest-in-charge, East with West Rudham, Houghton next Harpley, Syderstone, Tatterford and Tattersett 1983–1985

Honours

Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 1975 Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 1984 Grand Companion of the Order of the Logohu, 2005 Chief of the Orokaiva people of Oro Province

Autobiography Modawa: Papua New Guinea and Me 1946–2002, by Archbishop David Hand (Salpress, Port Moresby, 2002)