After many years’ faithful and devoted service in the parish of Oughtrington, Lymm, Reverend Canon Michael Burgess, Fr Michael, will retire at the end of September.
Ordained in 1973, he served as a curate in Beamish, then as a parish priest in two parishes in Cornwall. Between 1980-86 he was director of the South West Ministry Training Course. He became sub-warden at St Deiniol’s Library in 1986 and was appointed to St Peter’s Oughtrington in 1991. Two years later, a joint benefice with Warburton was formed.
For over 30 years, Fr Michael served as a trustee governor at Lymm high School and was chair of governors at Oughtrington Primary for many years. He has been assistant chaplain at Chester University and a member of Warrington SACRE. He was also chaplain to the local ATC and from 2002 was diocesan chaplain to the Mothers’ Union. In 2010, Fr Michael was made an Honorary Canon of Chester Cathedral.
Fr Michael soon became active in community life, taking part in Dickensian day, May Queen and “Carols at the Cross” where he led the singing for many years. He was involved with the Lymm Festival from its inception, serving on the committee, giving talks, organising and taking part in concerts and poetry readings. He has steadfastly supported the ecumenical work of Churches Together in Lymm. Many will remember Fr Michael as an accomplished musician and organist who loves singing!
In recent years, St Peter’s church hall project was interrupted by the pandemic and took far longer than anticipated, needing significant fund raising efforts owing to rising costs after Covid. The success of the hall project owes a great deal to Fr Michael’s hard work in supporting the entire process. The new church hall stands complete at the corner of Stage Lane and will be a tremendous asset to the local community.
A spokesperson for St Peter’s Church said: “Fr Michael is a wonderful priest, always willing to share his many talents for the greater good and work selflessly with great patience to ensure everyone is made welcome. He has conducted hundreds of weddings, baptisms and funerals, touching the lives of so many people in and around Lymm with his outstanding pastoral care. His kindness, compassion and great sense of fun will be sorely missed by all who knew him and we wish him many happy years of retirement.”
His last service at St Peter’s will be this Sunday, at 10.30 am on September 28th followed by a “Bring and Share ” finger buffet to which all are welcome.
