CCoC Organ Recital and Hymn Singing

World-class organist Mark Quarmby was guest soloist at a recent Organ Recital and Hymn Singing, culminating  the celebration of Chatswood Church of Christ's Centennial Anniversary.

Hymns and hymn-singing are lifelong passions of mine and having grown-up singing alto as a child, and later as adult in various choral groups and concert chorus, I looked forward for this event with anticipation and excitement.

The event was held at Chatswood Church of Christ (CCoC)  16th of March, 2014 at 1.30 pm, organised and presented by Rev. Allan Blyth, former minister of the CCoC, and a friend. The programme offered wonderful selections of loved hymns and occasional solo organ pieces.   

As the afternoon beckoned, we gathered to meditate on God Almighty to praise and ask His blessings as we worship Him through church music, and singing together some of the best-loved and favourite hymns from ages past.

There's nothing more uplifting, moments when one feels closest to God in Christ than singing grateful praises and magnifying the Creator's holy name. 

The Programme

1.  Now Thank We All Our God  Organ Prelude   Johann Sebastian Bach 

2.  God is our Strength and Refuge  (Psalm 46)   Dambusters March     

3.  How Great Thou Art   Stuart K Hine 1885 / Swedish folk Melody
(Here's an Elvis Presley rendition I previously posted.)

4.  What a Friend We Have in Jesus  Organ Solo   Dale Wood

5.  O Love That wilt Not Let Me Go   George Matheson / St Margaret

6.  When I Survey The wondrous Cross  Isaac Watts / Rockingham

7. On Eagle's Wings   Psalm 91 Adapted   Michael Joncas  

8.  At the Name of Jesus   Caroline Noel / Camberwell

9.  Thine Be the Glory   Edmund Budry 1884 / Maccabaeus

10. Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling    Organ Solo   Dale Wood 

11. Love Divine   Charles Wesley / Blaenwern

12. Amazing Grace   John Newton / American Folk Hymn

13. Toccata on 'Amazing Grace'  Organ Solo   Christopher Pardini

14. I Need You Lord   Cliff Taylor / Arizona

15. God Be with You   Jeremiah Rankin / William G Tomer   

(Note:  For those interested, I've linked up some articles I wrote few years back, now in Suite101 Legacy.)

Other participants:
Joshua Tsai, pianist, Benjamin Blyth, trumpeter, Bennet Tsai, cellist.
Vocal soloists: Philip Godber, Lorraine Hensby and Charlotte Lim. 
CCoC's current minister is Rev. Dennis Long.


Mark Quarmby, Guest Organist:  Mark is currently Director of Music at St Stephen's, Macquarie St, Sydney. He was Assistant Organist at St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, and past President of The Organ Music Society of Sydney.  Mark has played and performed recitals in great churches and cathedrals all over the world, including St. Paul's (London), Canterbury and Westminster Abbey and Notre-Dame to name just a few. For more info about Mark Quarmby, visit his website:  mq.sydneyorgan.com


Image Credit:
Mark Quarmby.  Image by Tel Asiado.  16 March 2014.

© Copyright 2014 Tel Asiado, written for Wayfarer Psalms. All rights Reserved.