TRIBUTES are being made at Lymm to former Parish Priest Father Michael who has sadly died suddenly, shortly after announcing his retirement.
Only last month, after many years’ faithful and devoted service in the parish of Oughtrington, Lymm, Reverend Canon Michael Burgess, Fr Michael, announced his retirement.
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 had 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 was very 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 loved 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 and a lasting memorial to his endeavours.
As news of his sudden death cirulated around the village tributes were made on social media.
