From | To | Name | Notes |
1731 | 1783 | James Parrin | Nominated by Jane Brooke and ratified by the Earl of Derby; first Organist & Choirmaster following the Restoration and the installation of the new Organ by Samuel Shepard |
1783 | 1835 | Michael Heathcote | Celebrated by a memorial on the inside West wall of the South Tower, Heathcote had the longest tenure of any of the incumbent Organists in the church’s history. |
1835 | 1846 | Thomas Harriot | Formerly chorister under Heathcote; Harriot had assisted Heathcote during his final illness and was the last Organist to be nominated by the Earl of Derby under the provision of Jane Brooke’s will. Hariot was also quoted in George Lea’s ‘Handbook to Ormskirk’, published in 1893 |
1846 | 1888 | James Watts | Formerly of Bristol Cathedral. b. Kingswood, 1809; d.1888 and buried in Ormskirk, along with his wife. Lived 17, Stanley Street. |
1887 | 1887 | George Watts | Son of James Watts. Born Wootton-under-Edge, Gloucs., 1845. Assisted his father towards the end of his tenure |
1889 | 1889 | William George Watts | b. 1849, Paulton, Somerset. Nephew of James Watts, whom he had assisted for many years |
1889 | 1899 | Edwin Heild | Covered when William(?) George Watts was detained, and seemingly continued in post on his return. b. 1854. Lived West View |
1903 | 1926 | Joseph Ormesher | FRCO, LRAM, &c. Born in Ormskirk, 1873. Originally worked in shop of his father, who was a boot & shoe maker. Lived 13 Wigan Road, where he taught piano. Also taught organ. Founding member of Liverpool Organists’ Association; 2nd. Chairman in 1911/12. Note from web: Joseph’s musical career saw him play on the stage of the Working Men’s Institute on Moor Street for a benefit concert hosted by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool (the Hon. William Oulton) to raise funds for the destitute minors after the Tawd Vale Colliery Disaster in 1898 |
1926 | 1935 | FA Watts | No indication of any relationship to the earlier or later Watts organists |
1936 | 1962 | Edward Bamber | b.1914; ARCO, ChM, LGSM. Salary increased from £75 to £100 in 1947. Moved south in 1962. Left bequest to the value of half of his house to OPC |
1942 | 1943 | Charles W Bridson | FRCO; Organist of Liverpool Parish Church which had been burnt out in the blitz; temporary appt. whilst Bamber away on military service. Returned to LPC in 1943 Succeeded Jos. Ormesher as Chairman of the LOA, 1912/13 |
1943 | 1945 | Roderick Brown | Succeeded Bridson in filling in for Bamber |
1962 | 1966 | Arthur Berry | From St Paul’s, Skelmersdale |
1966 | 1967 | Graham Watts | No known connection with previous eponymous ‘Watts’ organists |
1967 | 1968 | Peter S Jones | ARMCM; taught at Sunnymede School, Southport |
1968 | 1979 | Ronald Sandbach | ‘Ron’ Sandbach was well-regarded by the congregation in Ormskirk and provided some stability after a series of short tenures. |
1968 | 1969 | Mrs Audrey Burgoyne | Recognised as Deputy Organist to Ron Sandbach |
1969 | 1987 | George Crompton | Recognised as Deputy Organist, 1969; continued under subsequent Choirmasters |
1979 | 1982 | Paul Melville | Appointed as Choirmaster; Organist and Choirmaster became split roles. Resigned 1982 to take up Organist’s role at St Helens Parish Church |
1979 | 1983 | Tony Nightingale | Had offered to re-amalgamate the role and take over on resignation of Paul Melville. Went to Sefton Parish Church |
1984 | 1986 | David Evans | Choirmaster. Offered then subsequently withdrew request to resign as Choirmaster, 1985 |
1984 | 1986 | Philip Bell | Organist; Resigned Christmas 1986 |
1987 | 1994 | George Crompton | Deputy redesignated as Organist |
1986 | Alan Hood | Choirmaster only | |
1994 | Steve Kyriacou | Choirmaster only; date of succession from Hood unknown | |
1994 | 1997 | Richard Bailey | BA, MA, PGCE; re-established joint role of Organist and Choirmaster |
1997 | 1999 | Christopher Lennie | Resigned due to work commitments |
1999 | 2011 | Michael Kelsall | Resigned to take post at St Luke’s, Orrell |
2011 | present | Mark Rawsthorn | Formerly Priory Church of St Thomas-the-Martyr, UpHolland; previoiusly St Agnes, Ullet Road, St Mary, Walton-on-the-Hill, and St James’s, West Derby |