Reverend Lynda makes history – for the second time

The first female Rector to take the reins at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church is making history for the second time – because two decades ago, at the age of 24, she became the Church of Ireland’s youngest priest.

This time Reverend Lynda Peilow is the first woman to serve as Rector in the grouped parishes of Galway and Oughterard (Kilcummin) in the almost 700-year history of St. Nicholas’s.

She was educated at the Sacred Heart School in Tullamore, and entered the Church of Ireland theological college to study for her ministry in 1994.

The native of Geashill in Co Offaly actually left school when she was 16, due to ill health.

“I studied for my Leaving Cert via a correspondence course. I did seven subjects,” she said at the time of her ordination.

She comes to Galway having served most recently as Rector of Edenderry Parish in Offaly for 17 years. Before taking that post she went on placement in their link diocese of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and the USA.

She then served as a curate in Castleknock, Mulhuddart with Clonsilla before moving to Saint Ann’s, both of which are in Dublin.

She was Instituted in St. Nicholas’ Church last Friday, in front of family, friends and many members of her new congregation.

Rev Peilow, her husband Clive and their three children Chloe, Peter and Amelia, received a huge Galway welcome with representatives of public, civic, university and church life in attendance. The Most Revd. Patricia Storey who is the Bishop of Lynda’s former diocese also attended.

Rev Peilow succeeds the Very Rev Gary Hastings, who left the Galway parishes to become the Rector of Holy Trinity, Killiney in Dublin.

Rev Hastings, who is a renowned trad musician, made an immense contribution to cultural life in the city.