Lucy Winkett

Lucy Clare Winkett (born 8 January 1968) is a British Anglican priest, who since 2010 has been the Rector of St James's Church, Piccadilly. Her early ordained ministry was spent at St Paul's Cathedral, London, where she was a minor canon and chaplain from 1997 to 2003, and the canon precentor from 2003 to 2010. She was the first female priest to join the clergy of St Paul's Cathedral.

She is a Vice President of the National Churches Trust.

Early life and education Winkett was born on 8 January 1968 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, to Bryan and Cecilia Winkett. She was educated at Dr Challoner's High School, an all-girls grammar school in Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire. She served her curacy at St Michael and All Angels, Little Ilford, London in the Diocese of Chelmsford. In 2003, she was appointed precentor and a canon residentiary of St Paul's. In November 2023, she was additionally licensed as priest in charge of St Pancras Church, Euston Road, London.

Winkett writes, speaks and debates on a wide range of issues reflecting on culture, gender and religion. She was a contributor to the best-selling Why I Am Still an Anglican (Continuum 2006) and to Seven Words for Three Hours (DLT 2005). She is author of Our Sound Is Our Wound (Continuum 2010), which was the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book, and a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day. She is a founding advisor to Theos, a think tank launched in 2006. She serves as Chair of Governors of St Mary Magdalene Academy, Islington, and of a non-governmental organisation, the Amos Trust.

In September 2025 she was one of the signatories of an open letter complaining about the misuse of the symbol of the cross. The letter cited its use in racist and anti-Muslim rallies. The letter was also signed by over thirty others including Rowan Williams and the Rev Fiona Smith of the Church of Scotland.

Personal life In her second year at university Winkett's boyfriend Andrew Stillwell had a climbing accident which left him in a coma. She flew to Switzerland and was with him when he died from the injuries. His death had a profound effect on Winkett and contributed to her vocation to pursue ordination as a priest.

Styles Miss Lucy Winkett (1968–1995) The Revd Lucy Winkett (1995–2003) The Revd Canon Lucy Winkett (2003–2010) The Revd Lucy Winkett (2010–present)

Selected works