St Columba’s bid farewell to their long–serving organist
St. Columba’s Parish Church recently bade farewell to its dedicated and hardworking Organist and Choirmaster Mr Gerald Hill after 27 years of faithful service.
The Rector, The Revd John Auchmuty paid a warm tribute to Gerald’s professionalism and his friendly manner which has provided the parish with an excellent musical standard.
He said, “Gerald has worked extremely hard over a considerable period of time in the life of St. Columba’s to develop our musical tradition, with the full support and cooperation of the Choir, my predecessor Archdeacon McCamley and myself. In addition to his organ playing and leading the choir, Gerald also established and developed the Music Group. It has been a great privilege for me to have shared ministry with him since my arrival in the parish in 2007.”
Gerald became Organist Emeritus in recognition of his faithful and loyal service to the parish following his retirement. The preacher at the Holy Communion service on his final Sunday as Organist and Choirmaster was The Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, The Very Revd Victor Stacey who is a former curate of St. Columba’s and also a personal friend of Gerald’s.
The new Organist and Choral Director of St. Columba’s, Knock is Dr Joe McKee who commenced his new responsibilities on the 1st March 2014.
Pictured above: L–R: Dean Victor Stacey, The Revd John R. Auchmuty (Rector), Mr Gerald Hill, Canon Ken Smyth (Assistant Priest). Photograph (Jim Best).