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Organ Scholarship Service at St Anne’s

by Angela Kerr

On the Feast Day of St Michael and All Angels, Sunday 29th September, an Organ Scholarship Choral Evensong was held in Belfast Cathedral.

Organ Scholarship Service at St Anne's
Organ Scholarship Service at St Anne's

The Board of Management of the Dioceses of Down, Dromore and Connor’s Organ Scholarship Scheme invites applications for scholarships which are awarded annually. This scheme, in its twenty–ninth year, helps provide and equip organists for public worship. It was established in 1990 when an anonymous benefactor, recognising the importance of the ministry of music in parish life and worship, provided a very generous endowment to train organists  in the Dioceses.

A trust was set up and administered by the Church of Ireland Trustees and a Board of Management.

Prior to the presentation of certificates and commissioning, the beautiful Service of Choral Evensong took place under the direction of the new Cathedral Organist, Mr Matthew Owens, and included Bible readings by Dr Joe McKee, St Columba’s Knock, and Mr Timothy Wilson, Jordanstown. Prayers were led by the Revd Dr Ian Mills.

Dr McKee and Dr Mills are two of the tutors along with Mr Michael McCracken, Down Cathedral.

The Address was given by the Revd Canon John Auchmuty, Chair of Down, Dromore and Connor Organ Scholarship Scheme. Canon Auchmuty opened his address with the words from Hebrews: “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.”

He stressed that God gives us strength to sustain us – to give of our best. To be a part of worship is a privilege connecting with Almighty  God and the needs of individual congregations. Canon Auchmuty focussed firstly on Respect – sharing love one with another through words, actions and music.  He also reminded us of so much lack of respect being shown one to the other in our society at present. Respect needs to be promoted through our lives and worship. As we receive the love of God in Christ so we are called to share that love with one another through mutual respect and love.

Secondly, Relevance – what we do in our worship, music and liturgy needs to be relevant to the needs of those who come to worship. It is so important to make the music, Canticles and Psalms, connect with those amongst us in our own parishes and those who may be visiting.

Thirdly, Renewal – we live in a fast moving world so we can’t stand still. We are called not to be anchored in the past but to serve God in the current age for years to come.

His final comments reminded the new scholars to embrace whatever has gone before and build on it, to realise the rich tradition expressed in the liturgies and to give thanks for the opportunity to serve God through music. Canon Auchmuty in summing up reminded us to always give thanks, as we had heard in the reading from Hebrews, emphasising: “Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Successful candidates who have now completed their three–year course gained their certificates.

Caroline McCartney, St Columba’s Knock, (unable to attend as she was starting her music degree course at Durham University)

Kathryn Robb, St Cedma’s Larne

The new scholars – David Dunlop from All Saints’ Belfast and Clare Kelly from St Patrick’s Jordanstown – were then commissioned for a period of three years.

There are currently five second year scholars and six third year scholars

Glenn English – St John Magherally

Jack McCabe – Killinchy, Kilmood and Tullynakill

Sean Turner – Ballymoney, Finvoy and Rasharkin

Natalie Bell – Christ Church Lisburn

Tanya Hanna – St Mark’s Dundela

Rebekah Wilson – All Saints Belfast

Callum Whiteside – St Mark’s Ballysillan

Jane Knowles – Broomhedge

Victoria Irwin – St John’s Whitehouse

Kathryn Murdie – Ballywillan

Amy Norris – Kilmore

Since learning to play the organ is first and foremost in the new scholars’ minds, the following may help them to remain upbeat!

Opportunity to enhance worship through music

Relationships  and showing respect to all involved in worship

God has given you a gift to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Church music

Anglican worship is to be treasured

New doors are opening

Where a boy or girl has shown enough enthusiasm and early talent for the Church to want to invest some time, money, energy and expertise gives us the assurance that this type of scholar is almost universally positive, someone keen and willing to play for very little monetary reward, just being able to call themselves an Organ Scholar of their Parish.

A thought for the future!

Organists play the mightiest of instruments in the most solemn of settings, but they’re not above having a little fun!  Listen carefully, and you may discern a bar or two of a nursery rhyme, a sea shanty or a ‘pop’ song in the hymns played by your church organist.

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