A Special Visit to Honour a Musical Legacy

At the end of February, we had the pleasure of welcoming a very special visitor to our church. On Tuesday 4th March, Alan Boyce, the grandson of Montague G. Charlesson, visited to see the plaque above the organ which commemorates his grandfather’s remarkable contribution to the life and music of our church.

Monty Charlesson served faithfully as our organist and choirmaster for over 30 years, and his dedication is remembered fondly by many. The trumpet stop on our organ was installed in his memory and dedicated on 30th December 1956, a lasting tribute to his devotion to worship through music.

Alan left Northern Ireland over 50 years ago, at just eight years old, to live in England. His return to the church brought a wave of emotion as he stood once more in the space where his grandfather’s legacy continues to resonate. It was a moment of reflection, remembrance, and deep connection across generations.

We are grateful to Alan for making the journey and for sharing this touching moment with us. It was also a joy to see the historic photo of the choir and orchestra from Monty’s time that he shared with us, a powerful reminder of the role music has always played in the life of our church.