Long-standing Maidenhead vicar reflects on time at St Luke's Church ahead of retirement

A long-standing Maidenhead vicar who is retiring this month said it has been a ‘real privilege’ to have been at St Luke’s Church over the last 14 years.

Rev Sally Lynch, 65, was first ordained as a deacon in 2008 and arrived at St Luke’s Church in Norfolk Road in 2011.

Originally from Essex, Rev Lynch started off her career as a teacher in 1982 before moving into the church.

Rev Lynch said she ‘always wanted to teach RE’ and spent nearly 25 years doing so.

After completing a preaching course, Rev Lynch became a licensed local preacher, alongside her career as a teacher.

She said: “I became a secondary school headteacher, and when I left that, absolutely exhausted, I thought maybe God was calling me to ordination and that’s what happened.

“So, it was a kind of slow process, hearing God’s call.”

Following her ordination in 2008, Rev Lynch completed her curacy training at The Church of St Edward the Confessor in Romford.

After seeing an advert for St Luke’s Church, Rev Lynch applied and was appointed vicar in 2011.

“I think the things that attracted me to the church were the fact that it’s an inclusive church, and I think that’s really important.

“We are very open in our style of worship, and we have a whole variety of styles which enable different people to feel that they can fit in,” Rev Lynch said.

The church holds a Taizé service at least once a term.

It is a ‘very simple’ and ‘very quiet’ international service with chants in different languages and candles.

Rev Lynch added: “It’s just very beautiful.

“That’s also something I’ve enjoyed. But I think for me, it’s the people and meeting a whole variety of different people across the whole spectrum in church.”

She has also ‘really enjoyed’ the work she has done with the Windsor and Maidenhead Community Forum (WAMCF).

“I’ve been leading the women’s group for about 14 years and made some real firm friendships through that,” she said.

The group meets once every two months and visits different places of worship, hosting speakers, sharing food and creating decorations for the St Luke’s Christmas Tree Festival.

The annual festival was started by Rev Lynch and was first held in December 2011.

It sees a host of organisations and charities from across the area decorate trees to raise money for a range of good causes.

Rev Lynch said that, when it initially started, the festival featured 30 trees and there were ‘hardly any visitors’.

But ‘it took off’ when the church started using Facebook to promote it and then ‘word went round by word of mouth’.

Last year, the festival featured 74 trees, but the largest number seen is 82.

The festival has raised thousands for different charities over the years.

Rev Lynch said it has been a ‘real joy’ to also be the governor at both St Luke’s Primary School and St Piran’s School.

She has also previously been the chair of Number 22, which provides free counselling for adults and young people.

Reflecting on her time at the church, Rev Lynch added: “I think it’s been a real privilege.

“There are times when it’s really hard going because this is a 24/7 vocation, it’s not a job, it’s a way of life.

“That can be tough, but then Jesus never said it was going to be easy, so that’s what it’s about.”

Rev Lynch said she has made ‘some really good friends’ through the church, faith groups and across the community.

She has thanked the St Luke’s congregation, the schools and her colleagues at Maidenhead and Windsor Deanery.

Rev Lynch said she is moving back to Essex and would like to do some work accompanying people on their spiritual journeys and leading retreats.

A thanksgiving service, attended by representatives from across the community will take place on Sunday, July 20 at 3pm at St Luke’s Church.

Rev Lynch’s last communion service will take place at 10am on Sunday, July 27 at the church.