History of the Essex Organists' Association

The Essex Organists' Association was formed as the Chelmsford and District Organists' Association shortly before the Second World War, but it disbanded during the war and all pre-war records have been lost.

It was re-formed on 10th June 1950 when Stanley Vann, then organist at Chelmsford Cathedral, invited all local organists and all those interested in the instrument to a meeting in the Chapter House. A copy of this invitation is in the Association's archives. Dr. Edgar Brice was elected President and Leslie Gannon was elected Secretary.

The first meeting, a Lecture by the President, was held on 1st July 1950. Other events in the first year included:

• Visits to organs in Braintree and Dunmow
• A recital by the President followed by the annual dinner
• A composite recital by members in St. John's Church, Chelmsford
• A visit to College Chapels in Cambridge

Subsequently the President's Recital became the Celebrity Recital. Leading Organists of the time were invited to play with the twin aims of putting the Association 'on the map' locally, filling Chelmsford Cathedral with a paying audience which would not only cover the performer's fee, but also gave a boost to Association Funds. David Sanger, Stephen Cleobury, Margaret
Phillips and the late Sir George Thalben-Ball were among those who gave memorable recitals.

In 1951 Miss E M Keall and Mr Kenneth Bence (organist for over 55 years at the Primitive Methodist's Chapel at Hall Street, Chelmsford) took over as joint Secretaries under the Presidency of Mr S J Burrell. The following year Mr Bence became President and Miss Gwen Phillips became joint Secretary with Miss Keall.

Records show the Presidents over the years as follows:

• 1950 - Dr. Edgar Brice
• 1954 - Mr S J Burrell
• 1956 - Mr Kenneth Bence
• 1972 - Mr Eric Royle
• 1974 - Miss Marjorie Nunn
• 1976 - Mr Marcus Knight
• 1978 - Mr David Latham
• 1980 - Mr Michael Little
• 1982 - Dr. Graham Elliott
• 1984 - Mr John Moore-Bridger
• 1986 - Dr. Gillian Ward-Russell

Records show the Secretaries over the years as follows:

• 1950 - Mr Leslie Gannon
• 1951 - Miss E M Keall and Mr Kenneth Bence
• 1954 - Miss E M Keall and Miss Gwen Phillips
• 1966 - Miss Grace Earnshaw
• 1976 - Mr Michael Little
• 1980 - Mr Robert Little
• 1984 - Miss Josephine Skingley
• 1987 - Mr Ron Woods
• 1992 - Mr Steve Knight
• 2003 - Mr Andrew Sturt

The size and activity of the Association in the first few decades after its re-formation was quite limited, but the installation of its President Dr. Gillian Ward-Russell saw the commencement of a period of growth, both in membership (currently 135) and activity. A look at the page showing the current Programme will give an idea of the wide range of events now held, catering for players of all abilities and ages, and aiming to help all of them to develop their abilities to the full.

During the past decade, with the President also a Regional Liaison Officer for the Incorporated Association of Organists (see their Web page) and Vice-President Marcus Knight serving as Advertising Manager for 'Organists' Review' (a post currently held by another Vice President, Steve Knight) the C.D.O.A. has come to national prominence as a flourishing and exemplary Association and has been able to make good use of this reputation. For instance, the Association was
invited to provide the players for a Saturday Marathon Performance in St. Peter's Church, Sudbury and also to play throughout the Spring Bank Holiday weekends at Queenswood School, Brookmans Park Herts, when the famous gardens are open to the public. It has also been possible to arrange Association visits (on separate days) to all three London Cathedrals. Dame Gillian Weir, John Scott, Peter Crompton and James O'Donnell have been speakers at Annual Dinners.

The 50th Anniversary of the Association was celebrated on Monday 19th June 2000 with an Anniversary Service. A copy of the Order of Service is in the Association Archives. It shows that 12 members took individual parts playing the organ for voluntaries and hymns, reading the lessons and conducting the Choir, which was also made up entirely of members and directed by Philip Prior, Vice Chairman at that time. Among the congregation was Kenneth Bence - the last meeting that
he was able to attend, and the only person that had been present at the re-formation of the Association 50 years earlier. Stanley Vann was unable to attend this celebration of the success of the Association that he had re-formed, but his composition "Fetes" was among the music played.

The Association was renamed as the Essex Organists' Association in 2009.

Marcus Knight March 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

President: Dr Gillian Ward Russell BA Hons, MPhil, PhD, FRCO, ARCM, LRAM, LTCL