Sandra moves on this week after five happy years at Blackpool's parish church where her duties included responsibility for the day-to-day project managing of a massive restoration and redevelopment.
Over five years there have been huge internal and external changes at St John the Evangelist including, externally, the restoration of the landmark tower, saving it from demolition, repairs to the roof, the addition of a Streetlife night shelter for young homeless people, and a complete redevelopment of the church interior.
Sandra was given the hard hat by contractor
Eddie Stevens, who is the managing director of Fylde Interiors.
When he knew she would be on site daily at the town centre church he told her: "You'll need a hard hat, I'll get you one."
The result was a resplendent customised version of every building worker's trademark headgear – complete with wings!
"I have worn it constantly," said Sandra. "The men on site have been wonderful to work with. They've become known as my boys."
On Sunday, St John's held a farewell service for Sandra, who takes over this week as vicar of her own parish – the churches of St John's and St Bartholomew's in Great Harwood.
She's sorry to be leaving St John's where she has been an invaluable assistant to the vicar, the Rev Michael Manley, but she's looking forward a new challenge.
Sandra, a practicing Christian all her life, answered a calling to the ministry after a lifetime as a nurse.
She was content as a district nursing sister and team leader, when, in 1991, personal tragedies, including the death of her brother's 30-year-old wife, a mother of five, led to ask: "Where is God in all this?"
The question was the catalyst which put her on a journey of spiritual discovery.
"I had always believed in a God 'up there' but the journey I took led me to meet a God who is down here, with us now.
"In my exploration I have formed a personal relationship with God and knew Jesus was in my life.
"I felt he was asking me to do something but I didn't know what."
After talking to her vicar she decided to train for lay reader ministry, but during her training felt a restlessness that it was not what she was being called to do.
"Six months later, I had a quite a revelation that told me what God wanted was ordained ministry.
"I thought: "You've got no chance!" I was happy as a sister and team leader and didn't want to do that.
"My vocation was nursing, it was all I had wanted to do from the age of five or six.
"But what God wanted of me was as clear as day."
His calling was so strong, she could not deny it and she went back to her vicar who wanted her to finish the lay ministry training first.
A year later she was accepted to train for ordination.
St John's was her first curacy and has turned out to be a lengthy one – extended because of her involvement in the church's major building project.
She plays down her role.
"We all work as a team, be it a small one, it is very much a team effort with the vicar in overall charge and Carol Tyler as manager of the project.
"I played my part by taking on the day-to-day on-site practicalities.
"When times have got hard it's laughter that has kept us going – it's been so much of a team with the lads on site and everyone keeping each other going."
She said site workers had become a real part of the church family whilst there.
Being at Blackpool's civic church has put Sandra in the frame for some major occasions – including a service for the Labour Party Conference attended by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
It is also a parish of stark contrasts – from civic and military majesty to holiday haven to real poverty and homelessness.
"No sector of the parish population is neglected.
"The building work at the church makes it more accessible than ever. We believe that it is what God wanted it to be a living part of the community," said Sandra.
As well as a centre for worship, there are conference rooms, heritage centre and community rooms centre. "It's a living building, alive with people," she added.
Being at St John's at such an important time, and standing in for the vicar during his three month sabbatical to Australia, has more than prepared Sandra for the duties of her new parish.
In Great Harwood another building project is in the offing. "But it will be on a much smaller scale," she said.
Sandra, who is a mum of two and grandmother of two, is looking forward to the future with excitement, but it's also tinged with sorrow.
"It's bittersweet really," said Sandra.
"I will be sorry to leave because of the people I have met and the friends I have made.
"But when you have a vocation you accept it – we are a pilgrim people called to God, he uses us and moves us on.I am looking forward to seeing what he has in store next."