Author Archives: Gerry Lynch

A Soldier Shot on the Afghan Frontier, 1889

In Rochester Cathedral, a cross executed in memory of Lt Archie Harris of the Royal Engineers “[s]hot while in pursuit of a Pathan robber on the Afghan frontier”, 11 October 1889. History doesn’t repeat but it does rhyme. “A scrimmage … Continue reading

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Doers Not Merely Hearers: Sermon Preached at St John’s, Devizes, Sunday 28th August 2021 (The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity)

Readings – James 1.17-27; Mark 7.1-8,14,15,21-23  “…be doers of the word, and not merely hearers…” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.  “The Western mind is like a tuning fork calibrated … Continue reading

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Afghanistan Exposes the West’s Crisis as it did the Soviets’

This post originally appeared on Slugger O’Toole The Soviet Empire was undone by three things – firstly, overstretching itself, especially through the acquisition of a series of Global South satrapies from Nicaragua through Ethiopia to Vietnam in the 1970s and … Continue reading

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Ripon Cathedral’s Space Age Chapel

1970’s Chapel of the Holy Spirit in Ripon Cathedral represents a sadly stillborn Anglican Space Age tradition of church furnishing. Continue reading

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Treasure in Clay Jars: Sermon Preached at St John’s, Devizes, Sunday 25 July 2021 (St James’ Day)

Readings – 2 Corinthians 4:7–15; Matthew 20:20–28 “…we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” In the name of the Father, … Continue reading

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A Clergyman’s Diary: Along the Marches Border

60 km walked through lush countryside on the Herefordshire/Powys border in prep for my #50kinaday fundraiser. Lots on the Offa’s Dyke Path. Continue reading

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Devizes Curate to Walk ‘50k in a Day’

A Wiltshire clergyman plans to walk five miles more than a marathon in one day to raise funds for his churches, and to help the victims a brutal but often ignored conflict. The Rev’d Gerry Lynch, Curate of St John … Continue reading

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The Baptist’s Wounds: Sermon Preached at St John’s, Devizes, 11 July 2021 (The Sixth Sunday after Trinity)

Prophets continue to be made martyrs for speaking truth to power; the prophet I knew best personally instead taught me about the reality of Resurrection. Continue reading

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Good Enough for God?

The Church of England has set itself the task of becoming younger and more diverse. On the surface, nobody could object to this. Scratch deeper and this objective is riddled with problematic assumptions. Continue reading

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Like A Mustard Seed: Sermon Preached at St John’s, Devizes, 13 June 2021 (The Second Sunday after Trinity)

The parable of the mustard seed isn’t just about big things coming from small beginnings, but about things that seemed to fail actually being essential. Continue reading

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