Organist and Choirmaster Vacancy - Orchardhill Parish Church, Giffnock

The Vacancy

Orchardhill Parish Church, 12 Church Road, Giffnock, Glasgow G46 6JR seeks to appoint an Organist and Choirmaster.

Orchardhill is a suburban church on the south side of Glasgow. It was founded in 1900 and celebrates its 125 th Anniversary this year.

Following recent developments within the Church of Scotland, Orchardhill has entered into a linkage with its neighbour Merrylea Parish Church. This means the two churches will share Rev Gillian Rooney as Minister, but will otherwise remain separate. The Orchardhill vacancy therefore does not pertain to arrangements at Merrylea, which has its own Organist.

The vacancy arises following the very sad death of our long-serving organist, David Fisher.

The candidate will be a musician familiar and comfortable with church music in a range of styles which will include leading traditional hymns and choral repertoire from the organ and contemporary praise from the piano. The congregation appreciate both a strong lead and a more sensitive lead as appropriate.

We have a choir with all parts represented, which customarily takes a Carol Service at Christmas and an Easter Service, usually on Palm Sunday, with anthems from time to time during the church year.

Orchardhill has a separate music group called Crosswords which focuses on more modern styles of worship. Crosswords meets separately from the choir and is independently led. Crosswords participates in services from time to time; the vacancy does not include playing for Crosswords other than at such services.

Applications should include a CV, a covering letter (outlining suitability for the post), and the names and contact details of two referees.

Candidates will be interviewed by a Kirk Session Committee.

Applications should be made by to: Neil Mackenzie, Orchardhill Parish Church, 12 Church Road, Giffnock, Glasgow, preferably by email to neiljmackenzie@msn.com

Commitment

• Sunday morning worship begins at 10:15am (from January 2025) and lasts around an hour.

• The Choir meets for rehearsal mid-week, currently on Wednesday evenings, from September to late April/Early May, from 7.30pm to around 9.00pm.

• There are a small number of extra services during Holy Week and at Christmas.

• There are a number of wedding and funeral services throughout the year for which the Organist and Choirmaster has first refusal.

Salary

• Remuneration will be in line with the Church of Scotland Recommended Salary Scale for Organists category B.

• Fees for weddings and funerals are paid in addition to the basic remuneration.

• The organist would be a church key holder.

• PVG screening may be required.

• 6 weeks holiday per annum

The Pipe Organ and other instruments

The original organ was apparently funded by Andrew Carnegie and was (re)built in 1940 by Hill, Norman and Beard. It is situated at the front of the church in the chancel. It was extensively cleaned and renovated by Hill, Norman and Beard in 1990, is regularly tuned and is believed to be in good condition.

The Organ specification can be found at : NPOR | Survey [D07061]

• There is a Kawai CA67B digital piano in the chancel.

Worship Style

• Worship is in a broadly traditional Church of Scotland style and consists of hymns drawn principally from The Church Hymnary Fourth Edition, supplemented by more contemporary praise chosen by the Minister.

• Organ voluntaries are played before the service, during the uplift of the offering, and at the end of the service.