Clergy

Rev David Maylor 12 November 1994 – 27 January 2007

Moving from his curacy in Wigan, Rev Maylor had already enjoyed time teaching Science in Kenya.  With his wife, Kim, and five children, his work in Spalding was at first split between St Paul’s and as secondary schools chaplain.  With the growth in the congregation, he became full time at the church.

David came as an evangelical to a church which has a rich past reflecting both catholic and ‘low’ traditions.  During his time, many young families and children have worshipped at St Paul’s, enjoying the informal culture with a mix of modern songs of praise, informal liturgies, involvement of lay people, extempore prayer and sharing of testimonies.

He writes that ‘the key thing is to be faithful’ rather than ‘successful’, keeping Jesus Christ at the centre of Church life, following the guidance of Scripture.  David moved on to St George's, Stamford.

Rev Canon Tim Barker [St Mary & St Nicolas 1998] - 19 July 2009

Tim’s title was served in Nantwich, then parish priest at Runcorn in 1983.  He was asked to serve as Chester Diocesan Urban Officer, then their first Diocesan Communications Officer followed by time as the bishop’s chaplain, which Tim saw as supporting roles.  He moved to St Mary & St Nicolas, Spalding, in 1998 and became priest in charge at St Paul's from January 2007, with Rev Vaughan Pollard as associate vicar. Tim was appointed Archdeacon of Lincoln in 2009 and then moving in November 2015 to become Dean of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Priest in charge of Sark and the Rector of St André de la Pommeraye.

Rev'd Leslie C Acklam 1985 – 1993 

Born in Hull, Leslie worked for the Midland Bank.  He had been involved with his local church, St George’s, Marfleet and enjoyed parish weekends away, notably at Wydale Hall.  His response to the call to the priesthood was interrupted by studying English with Theology at Worcester and becoming a Secondary School RE specialist.  His ordination was at Chelmsford cathedral in 1980, serving his title as curate at St Anne’s, Chingford Hatch.  He was then invited by Revd Christopher Lewis to join him at St Mary & St Nicolas, Spalding, arriving in their 700th anniversary celebrations in 1983.  Plans were made to form a group ministry, which in turn helped with the running of the busy ‘Jigsaw’ children’s group.

Community renovation programmes in the Royce Road area were influenced by Leslie’s Resident’s Association. He became a founding member of the Spalding branch of MIND.

After a sabbatical which included time with a community of Benedictine monks in the remote Charma Canyon in New Mexico, Revd Acklam moved to St Faith’s, Lincoln, latter combined with the post of ecumenical chaplain on the Lincoln University campus.

Rev'd Canon Douglas A Cowling 23 May 1961 – 30 April 1984

Rev'd Cowling and his wife Margaret arrived with their daughter Janet, who was later married at St Paul’s.  With Margaret’s funeral here in 1989, the church has been a very large part of his life. Canon Cowling tried to make the church a homely, welcoming as well as holy place, keeping the church open all day. The annual flower festival at St Paul’s was begun to coincide with Spalding’s flower parade.  The Young Mother’s Club and Ki-ro, a young people’s group, met regularly. A peal of bells were rung in Canon Cowling’s honour at his retirement.  He wrote: “I have always had faith in St Paul’s church, though sometimes a much tried faith! My faith and work have not been to try and make it into a conventional town church, for our situation and circumstances made that impossible, but to try and help us become a church in our own right and in our own way, a church that is centred on a cheerful, joyful yet serious Eucharistic worship, a church full of new life, a true community of the resurrection, centred on the living Lord, Jesus Christ.”