It is with profound sorrow that we share the news of the death of Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya of the Diocese of Swaziland on Tuesday from Covid-19.
Bishop Ellinah cared deeply and worked tirelessly for creation care, chairing the Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN) for many years. Just last month she shared her vision and experience in one of the four “Prophetic Indigenous Voices on the Planetary Crisis” videos co-created by ACEN and the Anglican Indigenous Network.
Bishop Ellinah was the first female Anglican bishop in Africa and a passionate advocate for gender justice. A beloved bishop, she will be mourned and missed by many, both at home and around the Communion.
Revd Rachel Mash, the Environmental Coordinator for the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, wrote, “A great tree has fallen and we are devastated…May her memory be blessed. May her legacy inspire us.”
The Executive Director of the Anglican Alliance, Rachel Carnegie, added: “This is such desperately sad news. Bishop Ellinah was an inspiration to so many. A great loss to the whole Communion, but my prayers especially for her husband and family and those who worked most closely with her in the diocese, province and around the world.”
