Full job description in PDF can be downloaded here

The Vacancy

Following the retirement of our long-serving organist, Houston & Killellan Kirk seeks to appoint an Organist and Choirmaster to run the music ministry in this busy church at the centre of the local community.

The candidate will be a competent musician familiar with church music in a range of styles but with a strong focus on traditional hymn accompanying and the church choral repertoire. With diminishing numbers in our choir we have been exploring alternatively ways of involving the congregation including augmented choirs at Christmas and Easter and scratch choirs on the occasional Sunday. We would be looking to the successful candidate to continue this work and seek ways to involve more of the congregation and community in our music ministry.

Applications should include a CV, a covering letter (outlining suitability for the post), and the names and contact details of two referees, at least one of whom should be a professional musician with recent knowledge of your work and preferably with experience of music in Christian worship.

Short-listed candidates will be interviewed and auditioned by members of the Kirk Session and congregation and will be advised of the format if selected.

Applications should be made by to: Dr Matthew Alexander, Deputy Session Clerk, Houston and Killellan Kirk, preferably by email to matthewalexand@gmail.com

Commitment

• Sunday morning worship begins at 11:15am (from October 2024). The Choir meets for rehearsal before the service at 10:45am.

• There are occasional early Sunday morning services.

• There is a twice yearly service of Holy Communion. On Communion Sundays there is an additional evening service at 6.45pm.

• 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 is in line with the Scottish Federation of Organists recommended salary scale, level C, (salary will be determined by level of candidate experience). See: https://www.scotsorgan.org.uk/salaries-and-fees

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

• The organist would be a church key holder.

• 6 weeks holiday per annum

The Organ and other instruments

The organ was built in 1981 by Church & Co in Neo-Baroque style and is situated at the back of the church in the Choir Gallery (see images below). The organ is tuned to Werkmeister III temperament.

• There is an upright piano in good condition in the church.

• There is a Yamaha digital piano for rehearsal.

The Choir

• The choir contributes an introit and anthem each week during term time (September to May).

• The choir is very committed, hard-working and has a reasonable standard of sight-reading.

• The Choir has access to an extensive library of music covering all seasons of the church year.

Worship Style

Worship is in a traditional Church of Scotland style. Morning worship consists of hymns drawn principally from The Church Hymnary Fourth Edition. Occasionally hymns are taken from other sources such as The Church Hymnary Third Edition, Junior Praise, and Mission Praise.

• The Choir contributes an Introit and Anthem each week during term time.

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

Potential for Development

• The church is situated in a thriving community with many families. The church has a large Sunday school and the local Primary and Secondary schools are among the best in the region. There is considerable potential to introduce a junior choir which may in time feed into the adult choir.

• The church has excellent church hall and associated facilities to the rear of the church, making the church an attractive venue for concerts and other musical activities.

Location

The church is situated 15 miles west of Glasgow city centre in the attractive conservation village of Houston. Travel times:

• By car from central Glasgow: 25 minutes

• By car from central Edinburgh: 1 hour 10 minutes

• By train from Glasgow Central (to Johnstone Station): 15 minutes

• By bicycle from Johnstone Station via disused railway line: 25 minutes

• By bus from Buchanan Bus Station: 45 minutes

Address:

Houston & Killellan Kirk

Kirk Road

Houston

PA6 7AS

https://houstonkillellankirk.org/