| Admin_History | Fr John G Lynch, called Jack at home and "Joey" to his contemporaries in the Society, was born in London in 1903. The family, which was of Irish origin, settled in London. He went to St Ignatius' College, where he had a very successful career, both at studies and as a skilful exponent of football and cricket. To facilitate the education of their children, the Lynches moved to a house in Wargrave Avenue, just opposite the church. He did two years of Juniorate, two years at the Seminary, he went to Heythrop for his third year of Philisophy and he did a further year of study for a general degree as an external student at London University. He did regency at Beaumont, he went back to Heythrop for Theology in 1931, being ordained as priest in 1934, and he did his tertianship at St Beuno's. Then he began his stint of college apostolate at St Michael's, Leeds, lasting sixteen years. In 1956 he joined the staff of St. Aloysius' College, Glasgow. There he taught religion knowledge and mathematics. He was totally without guile and dedicated to his work in the College. After eleven years in Glasgow, Fr Lynch retired from teaching and joined the church staff at St Wilfrid's, Preston. He was best remembered in Preston for the work he did as a most devoted hospital chaplain at St Joseph's, Mount Street, a position he held for eleven years. His last action was to go down to the Holy Child Convent, East Cliff, to say Mass for the community there on the feast of Corpus Christi. But he seemed unwell: he had a heart attack and was taken to Sharoe Green hospital, where he died the following day, 6 June 1980. |