1977 Ron Dowling

In October, 1975, Bishop Grant (the Regional Bishop) proposed a young priest, the Reverend Ron Dowling who would like to come to St Linus for about 12 months. Ron's appointment as PIC in February 1976 created an air of expectation; the vicarage had been brought up to date and a young priest in his first parish had chosen St Linus’, albeit on a third-time basis. Ron was an ideal choice. He was musical, had a good understanding of Liturgy and was hard working and responsible. After years of relative seclusion the parish was exposed to the wider diocese. Part of Ron's vision was to bring to the parish up to date ideas of worship. He revamped the order of service and worked to create a worship space which suited modern liturgy. In 1978, following the success of a planned giving program, the church building was finally completed. When Ron Dowling left the parish (now 1/2 time) on Christmas Day, 1978 to pursue his MA overseas, he left a parish that was markedly different to the one he joined in 1975.