Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 160-161:
Dr Christopher Lynch

Like his brother, Fr Paul Lynch, Christopher Thomas Lynch was an M.S.C. He started out on the right foot but then something happened ...

Chris went from primary schooling in Co. Cork to Chezal-Benoit College, a former Benedictine Abbey dating from 1098 in France, then to an M.S.C. Seminary on the Piazza Navona in Rome, and finally 'around the corner' to S. Apollinare, the Roman Seminary where he earned his Doctor of Divinity. He had been ordained in 1895. By 1910 he is listed as being at Kensington in Sydney. At the age of 50 in 1921, and no longer a member of the M.S.C.s, he arrived in Brisbane to be taken on by Archbishop Duhig. At this time Fr Paul Lynch was at Roma for health reasons.

Fr Chris Lynch worked in Rosewood and Annerley. By 1928 he was Parish Priest of Cleveland. A little incident there illustrates how the most innocent behaviour can be misinterpreted or employed in mischief-making. Hard times found Fr Lynch buying a few second-hand dresses for his housekeeper. The news soon found its way to New Farm. Consequently, the Parish Priest was reminded of the necessity of avoiding scandal at all times and strongly advised to replace his housekeeper.

Such kindness and thoughtfulness was, however, typical of Fr Lynch. By the vast majority of the Redlands community he was highly regarded for his generosity to so many who were needy during those difficult 1930's. There are people still who sing his praises for deeds like lending money for fares to fathers of families who had to go far from home to earn a living, or driving young mothers with children to seek medical assistance etc. He was well-spoken and dignified and, having studied in Rome, fluent in Italian, a great asset for those many Italians settled on fruit and vegetable farms in the district.

For health reasons, Fr Lynch decided to leave Australia for Johannesburg where he had another brother James Lynch who was a doctor. At a farewell function organized by the Shire Councillors early in 1936 the Chairman paid a high tribute to Dr Lynch's qualities as a priest and a man before asking the Archbishop to present a wallet of notes as a small token of the esteem of the people.

Archbishop Duhig apparently hoped that the ailing Fr Lynch might have stayed in South Africa. However, Fr Chris did come back to Brisbane but was never the same. He fell into a state of melancholy, went on sick leave, and finally entered the Mater Hospital 'where he takes his meals and sleeps but takes no interest in anything or anyone around him. Many friends regret very deeply his thus being laid aside because he was a refined, scholarly priest, very bright in his manners and exercising great influence for good. He has lost his grip on life.' Today, the condition would probably be diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease.

Dr Lynch just faded away. He died on 2nd September 1952 and was buried at Nudgee.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Martin.)