In Search of the Lost: The Modern Martyrs of Melanesia by Richard Carter

In 2003, a tragic story shook the Anglican world, particularly affecting Anglican monastic life. On August 8th, seven members of The Melanesian Brotherhood—an Anglican order known for their simple, prayerful lives and peace work throughout the South Pacific—were brutally murdered due to ethnic conflict in the Solomon Islands. They had been held hostage for five months prior to their deaths. The Melanesian Brotherhood is the largest Anglican religious community globally, with over 300 brothers and more than 300 novices, and has been honoured with a United Nations award for its peace efforts.

From 1990 to 2005, Richard Carter, a British priest, served as tutor and chaplain to the Melanesian Brotherhood, eventually becoming a brother himself. This extraordinary, powerful, and moving book is based on his diaries from that agonizing period. It recounts the harrowing loss of seven good, young, and holy lives and the aftermath of their deaths. It tells the story of individuals and a community grappling with their faith amidst fierce conflict and tragedy, and the challenge of living out the Christian faith in the face of great fear and loss. This is a story for everyone.

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