Gallery: Reverend Lydia hopes to grow a younger flock at St John’s
by Cameron Outridge
Reverend Lydia Fairhall, front, with, from left Archdeacon Lucy Morris, Rector Coral Mcvean and Reverend Tania Eichler from St Peters Maroochydore.
The newly appointed deacon at St John’s Anglican Church in Nambour, Reverend Lydia Fairhall, says her first priority is listening deeply – and her longer-term hope is to see more young families finding a place in the pews.
“There’s a real longing across the Anglican Church to draw more young people in,” Reverend Lydia said. “Because that’s our future. So it would be lovely to see the pews filled with some more families and see the children playing. That would be a real mark of wellbeing.”
Reverend Lydia led her first Sunday service at St John’s on 1 June, with clergy and community coming together for a Holy Communion Service that also marked the arrival of the travelling Wave of Hope banner—now covered in handwritten prayers and messages from parishes across the Coast.
“It’s about bringing together the Sunshine Coast Anglican community as one,” she said. “Each time somebody has written a new message on it.”
Reverend Lydia was proud to be serving the Nambour parish and looking forward to what was ahead.
“It’s so humbling ... You do all of these steps to get to ordination and you feel very well-trained. But then you think about what it means to be God’s servant and you feel so humble, and who am I to be that person? So it’s a real paradox.”
Having recently returned from a stint in the United States—where she supported her husband’s film studies and volunteered at a local church—Reverend Lydia is still finding her rhythm. She will work three days a week in the parish while continuing her training towards priesthood.
And her schedule will be full. “There’s just so much,” she said. “Pastoral care is a big part of ministry—visiting people in their homes or in hospital, leading Bible studies, checking in with those we haven’t seen in a while. And there’s the admin, morning prayer, and of course the Sunday service.”
She said one of her first priorities was simply to connect with the congregation and wider community.
“I think in the beginning, the whole focus is to do some really good deep listening,” she said. “To hear from the congregation where their vision is at... what is God asking of us here and how can we take steps to grow into that?”
Morning Prayer service
For those wanting to drop in during the week, St John’s holds morning prayer at 8.30am on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, open to all.
“The doors are open. It's beautiful. It's just such a nourishing way to start the day. It really is. It sets your mind and your spirit right, for the whole day or week.
“All are welcome. Like I said in the sermon today—anyone who’s thirsty can come.”
• St John’s is at 174-176 Currie Street, just up from the police station. nambour@anglicanchurchsq.org.au.
