Amazing experience. The Kings Church Service I attended allowed me to feel the passion of how culture and religion come together in Tonga. On Sundays most islands in the South Pacific shut down "pretty much" for church day. Tonga is not any where near “pretty much” - it is as total as you can get. Several people told me it was kind of like a curfew, and the police would actually enforce it. This would include no restaurants, shopping, TV, swimming at the beach - nothing. But there was something open, The Church which would hold services at several times of the day for parishioners.
How fortunate was I to be attending the Kings Church and the King and Queen were actually in attendance. His church is the Free Weslayan Church of Tonga, just around the block from where I was staying. A beautifully designed church with a very open air feeling to it, definitely fit for a King and Queen.
King - George Tupou VI and the Queen
I arrived early to watch the pageantry unfold. Adults and children wore their finest clothes and most had the Ta'ovala wrapped around their waist. This is a ceremonial woven mat mostly worn at church and important occasions.
The whole pageantry of the service was led by a Choir Director dressed in a sharp looking white suit coat.
There were two full choirs, an all girls section of about 110 younger girls and an adult mens section of 70. All this was accompanied by a small group of musicians. When they all joined in chorus it filled the whole church with amazing sound. The songs were Tongan hymns with beautiful melodies.
As the parishioners began to file out of church, I already knew this Service would be one of the more memorable events of my trip and certainly of my time in Tonga.
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