New Goodison Park role as Everton and St Luke's show continued solidarity

A new chaplain has been appointed to oversee Everton’s final season at Goodison Park in a move intended to show the club’s long-term solidarity with the area despite the move to the Liverpool waterfront.

Reverend Lynn Davidson, Priest-in-Charge of St Luke the Evangelist - the church that famously forms part of the Goodison footprint - has taken on the role. Rev Davidson recently presided over the memorial service to the club’s iconic former striker Kevin Campbell.

The role was previously held by the Rev Harry Ross, a devoted Blues supporter, until his death in 2019.

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Rev Davidson’s ambition is to use her appointment to stress that St Luke’s is a physical part of the landmark stadium site and will continue to be so for many years.

She said: “That’s never been more relevant or important as the transition to the new stadium takes place and people may take comfort in that.

“St Luke’s is there for the community and anything that we can do to help people during this transition for the club, we will. It’s not just something we’d like to do; we see it as a responsibility because I think there’s going to be all sorts of concerns.

“People feel in general that Everton Football Club has always been here as a part of this community and they are worried about the impact when the club is no longer here. There will be a sense of bereavement and so it’s going to be crucial for a church to be sitting there in the community saying, ‘we’re here to help you if you’d like us to.

“Another aspect of the chaplaincy is that if the links are seen to be strong between St Luke’s and Everton, then people in the community will be more likely to engage with the church and use us to help them.”

St Luke’s is attached to both the Gwladys Street Stand and the Main Stand and regularly hosts events linked to the club, including on matchdays when Everton Heritage Society take over the site.

The church also has a remembrance garden where ashes of Everton fans from all over the world are placed.

Rev Davidson said: “The garden is still very much a part of St Luke’s and we have been delighted to work closely with Everton in the Community, as they begin to help restore the garden to its original beauty. We are incredibly grateful to them.”

The strengthening of ties follows the memorial service to Campbell, whose death earlier this year sparked an outpouring of grief.

Rev Davidson said: “Obviously, there was a sadness to it because so many people felt Kevin’s loss, but it was lovely to see his family, his former fellow players, and supporters come together to remember him and it was a celebration of his life that, I am sure, he would have wanted people to enjoy.

“And for it to be in the shadow of Goodison Park, where he was adored, was most appropriate. I’ve never come across a church joined to a football ground before. I think it’s great.”