Tonga will observe a special public holiday on Friday June 26th 2026 to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the introduction and establishment of Christianity in the Kingdom of Tonga.
This declaration was approved by the Cabinet in accordance with Section 2(b) of the Public Holidays Act.
"The occasion marks a significant milestone in the history of the Kingdom and reflects the enduring role of Christianity in shaping Tonga's national identity, values, and cultural heritage," the Prime Minister's Office stated today.
Tonga is an extremely religious country, with around 99% of the population practising some form of Christianity.
The Wesleyan Methodist Mission first attempted to convert Tonga in 1822, when its pioneer, Walter Lawry, arrived. But he met with similar problems to those encountered by earlier missions, with the Tongans not willing to give up their traditional beliefs. With the failure of his wife’s health, Lawry abandoned the mission, after 14 months in Tonga.
It was not until 1826 that the second Wesleyan Methodist Mission party arrived in Tonga to establish their mission in Hihifo (the western part of Tongatapu). From this time, the work of the mission began to grow, in spite of strong resistance from the Tongans.
