Rev John Edward Spyker 1973 – 1979

John was born in Johannesburg. His father was a Civil Engineer on the South African Railways - eventually becoming Chief Civil Engineer. They moved over a large part of South Africa and spent time in South- West Africa as well. John was educated at Bishops School in Cape Town and at the University of the Witwatersrand. He worked for a short while before answering the call to the ordained ministry. He spent three years at St Paul's Theological College in Grahamstown, becoming Head Student there. He was ordained deacon in December1955, and priest in 1957. He served in a number of parishes in the diocese of Johannesburg, as well as in other dioceses. These included Christ Church, Mayfair [2 years], St Peter's Church, Klerksdorp [2 years], St Andrew's Church, Ermelo [4 years], St John's Church, Roodepoort [3 years], St Dunstan’s Church, Benoni [6 years], St Luke’s Church, Orchards, Johannesburg [7 years],, St Katherine’s Church, Uitenhage [7 years], and St Peter’s Church, Sabie [10 years]. He retired to Sabie, and died later in the hospital in White River. His funeral took place in Sabie, and a Memorial Service was held for him at here at St Luke’s, attended by many of the people who loved him and whose lives he had touched with God’s love.

John was a powerful and charismatic preacher with a great evangelistic ministry and a practical scholar. He conducted many missions in churches throughout the country, and was instrumental in bringing many people to Christ, and into a deeper relationship with Him. He was responsible, too, for introducing people and parishes to the reality of the life, gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit. There are many people, now in different parts of the world, who have cause to be deeply grateful that they met him. One of their abiding memories of him is the deep bass “Hallelujahs” that were so much a part of his ministry and way of life.

He came to St Luke’s in times of change. New ideas were abroad. The Church was becoming bolder in its opposition to the injustices of the time; women were playing an increasingly important role in services; there was the new liturgy; and Mrs. Miriam Motloi took her seat on the Parish Council. With John’s sincerity and gentleness, these changes were dealt with at St. Luke's without dissension or upsetting the stalwarts who had kept the parish alive during Chirho Glover’s long final illness. The parish accepted the changes. The new liturgy was set to music and sung. Women lay ministers played steadily more important roles. Joint services in Orchards and at The Good Shepherd in Tladi were held regularly. Representatives of the Councils and choirs of both parishes met to plan the joint services. The respective Rectors needed only to confirm and fit into the plans agreed upon by the lay leaders. His spirituality, coupled with his personal magnetism, drew lay and clerical support of many kinds. On a personal pastoral level his comfort and kindness towards people in distress is remembered by many. With his customary “Hallelujahs” he may be singing to us: