Standing ovation as special concert marks 50th anniversary of Trinity Church organist

A FEAST of marvellous singing and music served up by organist and choir master, Stanley Matthews, and the choir in a packed Trinity Presbyterian Church, Omagh, on Sunday evening earned a richly deserved standing ovation and rapturous applause.

The special concert – a highlight of Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday in the church – marked the amazing 50th anniversary of the talented Mr Matthews in his organist role in Trinity.

Over £2,000 was raised in voluntary donations for the Alzheimer’s Society as a result of the event.

Tributes to the commitment and dedication of the affable Stanley Matthews came in abundance, including from Rev Jane Nelson, convenor-in-charge of the Trinity congregation, who welcomed all to the evening concert as well as conducting the traditional Sunday morning Harvest Service.

The concert gathering was representative of the whole community and some had travelled considerable distances to give their support.

Stanley added words of welcome before taking his place at the organ as the choir sang its first aptly named piece ‘How can I keep from singing?’

The programme consisted of many of Stanley’s favourite pieces and the audience was treated to a wonderful programme of various musical genre.

Floral decorations for the harvest in the church windows reflected the various pieces of music in their creation.

As well as the choir pieces there were also beautiful solos of ‘On eagle’s wings’ by long-time and dedicated choir member, Heather Watson, and ‘Bridge over troubled water’ by one of the youngest members, Lucy Reid, a recent law graduate, who joined the choir at just 12 years old.

Another talented choir member, Caroline Hussey, took the solo part in ‘Gaudete’.

There was a stirring duet of ‘Marble Halls’ by Claire McElhinney, a choir member of 47 years, and Michelle Davison, while a male quintet rendered ‘Someone to remember me’.

Guest music accompanist on the evening was Sheena Herron, allowing Stanley to take on his conductor role for some of the pieces, while the playing of Keith McDermott on guitar and Ali Beckett on flute also added greatly to the occasion.

Organ solos during the programme by Stanley clearly delighted those present and displayed his talent on the keys!

Following the concert those present were invited to the church hall for a harvest supper – where there was the largest crowd most present could ever remember.

Once again Stanley was ‘man of the moment’ and there were a number of presentations to mark his contribution to the church over the five decades. He also had the opportunity to cut celebratory cakes. The presentations were made by Heather Watson, on behalf of the choir, John Moore, senior, on behalf of the elders and by former minister, Rev Robert Herron, on behalf of the church as a whole.

Mr Herron reflected that it had been a pleasure to work alongside Stanley as organist during his entire 30-year ministry in Trinity prior to his retirement at the end of 2023 and he was delighted to get the chance to share in what he described as a special occasion.

Clerk of session, Claire McElhinney, echoed the earlier welcome to all present including Stanley’s wider family connections.

She went on to say: “Fifty years of dedication to any organisation is fairly rare these days and so we could not let this important milestone go by without publicly recognising Stanley’s input to the music at Trinity.

“Stanley’s musical journey began around the time he was seven years old when his mother sent him to piano lessons with a near neighbour, Mrs Shady Baxter. This entailed a trip across the fields behind his house, in his little wellies, books under his arm, to her house and these weekly lessons continued for about eight years.

“In 1973 when Stanley was 15 he became interested in playing the organ and travelled weekly to 1st Cookstown Presbyterian Church where he received tuition from Brian Dunlop for a further five years. Over the following years he went to England several times to various courses for playing the organ and also courses on how to be a choirmaster.

“One of our previous ministers, the Rev RWW (Bill) Clarke saw Stanley’s potential as an organist when they met at the local army camp in 1973 where Mr Clarke conducted services several times per year in the Garrison Church of St Patrick and Stanley was playing the organ there.

“In 1975 Rev Clarke invited Stanley to Trinity to play the organ on a three-month trial basis but somehow, no one seemed to keep an eye as to when the three months was complete and Stanley became a permanent fixture.

“When Rev Clarke retired in 1992 he was succeeded by Rev Robert Herron who was installed in 1993 and remained with us until December 2023 and therefore Stanley was Rev Herron’s full-time organist too.

“Stanley is an Associate of the London College of Music and also a member of the Ulster Society of Organists and Choirmasters and it was through this latter organisation that he was invited to play the organ in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh in 1990 – a great honour.

“Being an organist is not Stanley’s only gift in the music scene – he joined Omagh Music Society as a singer in 1975 and from 2018 until 2022 was their musical director,” she said.

She added that as choirmaster in Trinity, Stanley encouraged various people outside of the church to augment the choir for special occasions – a practice that continues to this very day.

Mrs McElhinney added: “The choir here at Trinity is very harmonious in every aspect - which I hope was evident from tonight’s performance but we also get on so well together. He works well with his diverse make-up of choir and we, at the end of the day, respect his position as organist and choirmaster.”

In extending thanks for his gifts and plaudits Stanley described his role as a great joy of his life.

He reflected on his childhood days growing up on a farm at Tyrcur, Lislap, but admitted that farming was not for him and that he found his forte in music.

He said that the Rev Clarke was a very significant person in his life after inviting him to play the organ in Trinity as was Mr Brian Dunlop in First Cookstown Presbyterian Church.

Stanley said that he practiced a lot on the Trinity organ and worked really hard on learning the ropes of choir mastery -a function which accompanied the job of organist.

He reflected that memorable events in the eighties and early nineties included the acquisition of a church piano for the first time, the robing of the choir and choir concerts to raise money to repair and improve the organ.

Stanley continued that he was so pleased Sheena Herron was able to join as guest accompanist and choir member for the 50th anniversary concert as she had also assisted him at various special services down through the years.

Stanley continued: “Fifty years is a long time in any job. In the life of a church musician you have to develop strategies to cope with changing musical trends and what’s happening elsewhere in your life. The type of music I play on the piano and organ as well as the music the choir sing has radically changed over this period due to an explosion in the amount and style of music being composed and the need to constantly reinvent to keep the interest and relevance.”

Referring to various statistics he estimated that over the 50 year period he had played hymns more than 8,000 times, while the choir had learned in excess of 400 special pieces. He also said he had been musically involved in at least 150 weddings.

He went on: “Music has given me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people and go places I never would have seen.

“We hope you enjoyed the concert as much as we did in preparation and performance. I must also thank the choir past and present who have been with me every step of the way. Thank you all for your attendance here tonight at this milestone occasion in my life and these wonderful gifts this evening.

“I am and always have been a proud Trinitonian – there’s a new word for you!” he quipped.

He added that he was taking a short break but would be back in his familiar seat at the organ on November 9.

Prior to the benediction at the close of the successful evening, Stanley’s brother, Rea, congratulated him and also thanked the church for the warm welcome the wider family circle members had received.

A vote of thanks to all who had contributed to the success of the event was given by church elder, Ken Duncan, including those who had provided and served the supper and he applauded Stanley’s musical contribution to the church as a ‘pillar of perfection’.