Peopleâs Priest: The story of a QT boy made good Canberra author Christine Ledger has told the story of Ipswich-raised former Anglican priest Vernon Cornish in her new book, 'Who is this Vernon Cornish'. News Jack Lewis Premium Content Subscriber only HE WAS a charismatic story teller, a people's priest, and a proud husband and father whose life was taken too soon. Although he died at a relatively young age of 50, former Queensland Times cadet journalist and Anglican priest Vernon Cornish had a profound effect on author Christine Ledger, who has devoted a book to his life. Mrs Ledger crossed paths with Cornish while he was serving as the rector at St Luke's in Toowoomba.