The organist librarian

Horrible weather. We sang Fairest Lord Jesus arranged Martin How. I played Sidney Campbell Impromptu on a French church melody Grafton and the Dorian fugue. Met Vi Nightingale's daughter and son-in-law. She was 92 and still singing! Had to change socks and trousers on return home. Nice lunch ham hock and cabbage. At evensong we sang Psalm 148 with its line about wind and rain, Walmisley in D| minor and Bullock Give us the wings of faith. There was a meeting with Daniel, Andrew and Adrian about Trevor's funeral. Adrian said that as members of the choir we could not be asked not to sing the Faure but could we keep a low profile. Fr Daniel is to speak with Kathy. Spoke to Louise about it, My mobile working properly at last. 

Mothering Sunday and a church full of cubs and brownies. Played Bach, Lascaux Fugue and Vierne Berceuse for the prayers as everyone wrote names on their rose picture. I played this at the crem for Mum and Dad. We sang For the beauty of the earth by Andrew Carter and a piece Oscar brought using Tallis Canon and I played Peeters on the tune. Fr Jerry's reflection on celebrity mothers and what they call their children amuses me. Crazy to call your child Sir! Quite a lot to play but it went well. Actually 16 pieces of music! Salisbury cathedral evensong not very inspiring. Worked on jigsaw. Excellent lunch of lamb shank and poor man's Viennetta! At evensong we sang Walmisley in D minor and O pray for the peace of Jerusalem by Howells. I read the first lesson Manasseh's plea. Liz got lovely chocs from Bruce.  Nice to see June who had come for Mary Johnson's 90th birthday. The rose altar frontal dedicated in memory of Marshall. I showed them the Leslie Craske leaflet from Gu...

To mark the centenary of the Raf I played Walton Spitfire prelude, RAF March past Walford Davies a great tune and Dambusters March by Eric Coates. We sang L. J.White Prayer of St Richard of Chichester who I found out yesterday was originally from Droitwich. Went on buses and back on train after rehearsal. Wrote out trumpet part. At evensong we sang Walmisley in D minor and Wood Expectans expectavi. Disposer supreme fitted the first reading about the fall of Jericho's walls exactly.

Lie-in after last night's late night. Liz to servers Mass in Newcastle and fireworks. To coffee concert at St John's humorous delightful wind sextets by Mozart and Beethoven by Sonnet. Sat with Ray who comes to meditation - his daughter Elaine went to St Chad's a year ahead of Dennis. Watched cellists and listened to Romero and Salisbury evensongs. Also 3 Living with the Gods. Did C of E safeguarding online training. Paul Tobin as sacristan thurible stand in wrong place and no gospel book on altar. Engaged couples blessed by Fr Martin who gave us a thumbs up. Claudia back. Cleaned wax of cassocka and left one for Paul. Programme on Harry Potter and magic uninspiring. Golden gate bridge programme. 

Played Couperin Benedictus and Dubois Grand Choeur. We sang Thee we adore. A good sermon from  Jerry Garton  you can read it on the website. It was on welcome. He does not like The Apprentice it makes me laugh!  The 181 party at St John Upper Norwood was a great success - the Bold Balladiers were great and Terry took the photos. Evensong was a delight and everybody enjoyed it so much. Walmisley in D minor, Rachmaninov Bogoroditse, Ireland Greater love, Angels voices, Nun Danket Karg-Elert and Father hear the prayer which he had at out wedding. Fr John gave an amusing address. What a happy day! Great to have all the family together and so many friends from the different parts of our lives - Catenians, interfaith, Gallery Prommers, art, church. Richard Peregrine who started school with me in Joburg aged 6 and of course  Michael Goldthorpe  who came out to South Africa when I was 15. Lots of cards and contributions for CAFOD and Musicians fund - thank you all!...

My second Sunday of the interregnum - there are significant changes in the congregation and new church wardens. Fr Leon sings everything including the Gospel. He is enthusiastic and clearly enjoyed my playing. We managed the psalm on minimal rehearsal and I played Ridout;s fun piece on "This joyful Eastertide" (A lady asked about this hymn - she really liked it) Archer on St Fulbert and Willan on Vulpius and also did some improvising! When practising had a go at Bach passacaglia and final section of Messiah. Service now startsa round 10.50 so it means getting to St Paul's cathedral for 1 p.m. talk unlikely. Nice chicken for lunch and watched Sex and the Church and National Gallery and Rick Wakeman on Vivaldi Four Seasons. At evensong we sang Walmisley in D minor and Wesley The Lord hath been mindful of us. Benediction. Dennis and Ann Marie came down.

I forgot to mention Sunday's evensong where we sang Haydn's splendid Invanae at curae and Walmisley in D minor. I read a passage from Ephesians 5 - stirring stuff! Tuesday woke at 5 but up at 7.30 playing the shopping list game.

It being close to their anniversaries I played Sheep my safely graze and Finlandia for Liz's Mum and Dad. Fr Aidan Harker was standing in and inaudible! Straight to Becket school and our Catenian table was in the shade at the start and looked good with the banners. Met 6 potentials - Steve has been working hard! It was hot. Nice to meet Steve's family and Brendan's grandchildren. Saw Kevin Moynihan and Natalie from Louise's class. Home to watch Murray winning Wimbledon at last! At evensong I read the first lesson about Jacob's love for Rachel and how it seemed but a few days to wait 7 years for her - in fact he waited 14 years! Walmisley in D minor and Mendelssohn How lovely are the messengers. Watched The White Queen and Come dine with me.

Arrived at Coulsdon to find there was a baptism and "Christ is the king" was replaced by Channel of your peace at the end of the service - not a good closer. We sang How's "Day by day". I played Saint-Saens transcription of 3rd symphony which David appreciated. Short organ practice before Refresh which involved the two girls so rehearsed with Sean. Read Cox on phenomenology of religion. To evensong Walmisley in D minor and Wesley's "The Lord hath been mindful of us" which was painfully slow and lugubrious! Pork for dinner and fruit pudding. Watched Antiques roadshow and Downton Abbey and listened to some of "Let the people sing".

We sang Farrant "Turn thy face from my sins" and Statham in D. By request I played "land of hope and glory". The children had a delightful practice which was a relief after last Sunday. I practised and then home. Meanwhile Liz had gone to East Croydon and I did not get the text messages! Had quick lunch and back to church for 3.15 on a glorious day. The rehearsal and evensong both went really well. 34 in choir and 25 in congregation. Walmisley in D minor, Bullock Give us the wings of faith, Sanders Responses, Psalm 91 and 3 angel hymns. Good sermon by Richard Slade reader at Purley. Scrumptious Mothers Union tea with sandwiches and chocolate cake. It was a joy to conduct and Fred Irvine played well including Alla Marcia of John Ireland. Watched Antiques roadshow and Kevin McCloud in Rome. Took down dining room shelves. Roll on the next joint event! Pleased that Molly came and sang.

At Coulsdon we sang Bairstow in E flat, Peter Jones Gloria, Celtic alleluia and Tallis's "If ye love me". I played some Bach Easter preludes and Healey Willan on Vulpius. Fair trade stall at coffee and Karen went through Ave Maria of Schubert for next Sunday. I picked up swim stuff from the pool (left since Friday as Liz could not there as she went to meet Jeanette Fishwick from Hobart) and back to church for 3 p.m. memorial service for Friends of the elderly. Played Vierne Berceuse and Mendelssohn Andante and 3 hymns - rest was CDs. To garden centre to get compost. Liz was at WC and meeting Jeanette again so out all day. To St John's for evensong. Roisin snag the solo in "Blessed be the God and Father" really well (although she needs to work on breathing - she is doing Bronze award exam). Walmisley in D minor and that splendid Wesley hymn "O love divine how sweet thou art". Finished June music list. Saw in Churches together in Upper Norwood leafle...

Our weather has been so miserable is was great to have some sunshine today and I even managed some time sitting in the garden which is looking particularly lovely at the moment after all the rain! Liz reports that James MacMillan's music was sung at the cathedral. At Coulsdon we were celebrating Music Sunday. We sang Stanford in C and F which has a beautiful Agnus Dei. The anthem was "How goodly are thy tents" by Ouseley. There wasn't time after the communion anthem to sing "When in our music God is glorified" to Stanford's "Engelberg". I played Parry on "Rockingham" and Willan on "Darwall's 148th" - both fine voluntaries. After a Generations rehearsal there was sherry in the hall to celebrate Linda Williams' forthcoming ordination and departure. Her preaching is much more confident and she tells me she knows the churches I visited yesterday! The Tour de France went through that part of Kent today and we saw some of ...