It was with much sadness and joy when the congregation of St. George’s Anglican (Episcopal) Church said “goodbye” to their rector last Sunday (29). I say ‘sadness’ because Archdeacon, the Venerable Peter Hollis Lynch – known affectionately as ‘Archie’ to the youth of the church – said his last farewells, and ‘joy’ because his ministry gave so much joy to the ‘flock’ he lovingly cared for.

Although only in the Cayman Islands for four years (and three months) he made himself well known in the community both religious and non-religious. Although he was in age not so youthful, no one can ever say he wasn’t youthful in spirit as he had the energy of someone more than half his age. He tripled the youth fellowship membership in the church and under his leadership St. George’s has a youth choir and dance group. He also fought hard and succeeded in his ambition to obtain a piece of land on Cayman Brac to further the Anglican ministry there. Maybe he will come back to see his dream come true – the church building erected and consecrated there.

Rev. Hollis was a man who loved to visit. He said any priest who fails to call on his congregation “is a lazy priest” and I doubt whether there is a member of St. George’s who has never received a visit from him. Of course, the elderly and sick were his top priority.

Most evenings you would see Hollis walking at a steady pace along the West Bay Road to and from the Public Beach and refusing many people offering him a lift in their cars. This was his exercise and his period of meditation.

He was also controversial. Some people described him as stubborn. He called it being strong. He said it as he saw it. If he thought you were wrong he told you and he could be blunt about it. Even from the pulpit he did not hide his feelings. His messages were to the point and in a language everyone could understand.

He had a soft heart, too and he was easily hurt. He often couldn’t see or believe he was much loved, although I think he finally realised it at the fellowship and farewell lunch his congregation put on, in his honour, immediately after his last service.

The church hall was packed and although the lunch lasted some three hours, very few people left early. Master of ceremonies, brother Colin Wilson, called it a Farewell Roast, where an English Anglican tradition was to Roast the Pastor when he left. The roast being Roast Beef and a verbal roasting – the latter being the main item on the menu here – was in good fun.

There were tributes and gifts from all the church organisations, nine in

all, but no one went on for long, and there was a beautiful song from one of the younger members and a montage of photographs of Hollis with his flock that was shown throughout the whole of the lunch with a fitting musical accompaniment. Brother Anthony Smellie read a Citation to Hollis and a framed copy was presented to him.

The food was sumptuous, including two decorated cakes (one from the youth) and there was much fellowship to be had.

The main organiser was brother, Lemuel Hurlston, who should be congratulated for putting on a show that was faultless.

Hollis is now retiring to Jamaica where there will be a Service of Thanksgiving in his honour (and Rev. Dr. Renaldo O. Braham) for 50 years service to the ministry of the Anglican Church. It will be held at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Southfield, St Elizabeth, on Sunday August 12^th at 3pm. The celebrant and preacher will be the Rt. Rev. Dr. Howard Gregory, Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Rev. Mary Graham will be taking over as the Priest –in- Charge until a new Rector is appointed by the Bishop of Jamaica after a due selection process has been executed.

 

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