The Parish Church of 
All Saints'
Stand, Whitefield
Music
Director of Music
Gordon Stewart was born in Scotland and studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music and the Geneva Conservatoire, gaining a performer's diploma with distinction from the former and a premier prix de virtuosité from the latter. His teachers included Gillian Weir, Lionel Rogg and Eric Chadwick.
Gordon has appeared as concertosoloist with such orchestras as the BBC Philharmonic, the HaIIé, the Northern Chamber and Manchester Camerata, and has performed numerous recitals in such venues as Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, Birmingham Town Hall and Blenheim Palace.
For eleven years he was organist of Manchester Cathedral,
and for
the past ten years he has been Borough Organist of Kirklees
playing regularly at Huddersfield Town Hall with its magnificent Father
Willis organ.
Gordon has broadcast on BBC Radios 2,3 and 4, Classic FM and BBC television, and has recorded on the Priory, Foxglove and OxRec labels. Lionel Rogg, Dick Koomans, Michael Ball and Noel Rawsthorne have all dedicated pieces to him.
In addition to organ playing, Gordon's musical life includes regularly directing the choir for Radio 4's Daily Service. He is a Past President of the Incorporated Association of Organists and serves on the Royal College of Organists' Education Committee.
The choir
The choir currently runs to 20 professional,
semi-professional and amateur members.
They perform each Sunday at the Parish Eucharist to Noel Rawsthorne's setting. Special services are marked with additional works from Plainsong to large choral works, under the direction of the Director of Music, Gordon Stewart.
A number of the choir under the guise of "The Manchester Voices" an "The St Denys Singers" have taken part in live broadcasts of "Morning Worship" for BBC Radio 4 and performed with the BBC Philharmonic at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
The BBC recently recorded in church music for "Sunday Half Hour" to be broadcast during Advent and Lent under the leadership and direction of Gordon Stewart.
The Assistant Organist
Gordon Thorne, was born at Standish in Lancashire and was
educated at Stand Grammar School from where, in 1944, he won the
Lancashire County Art Exhibition for the Study of Architecture at the
School of Art, Manchester. He qualified in 1951, gaining a Distinction in
the Final Thesis for research on the History of the Organ Case. 
Concurrently he studied piano, and later organ, and after demobilisation from the Army he completed an intensive course on the piano with Professor Claud Biggs in Liverpool.
From 1950 until 1957 he studied organ with Dr. Francis Jackson at York Minster. He has given recitals at many Cathedrals, including York, Norwich, Canterbury, Manchester, Chester, St.David's and Blackburn and major churches throughout the country for almost 50 years.
He has a particular interest in 20th.century repertory and has commissioned two major organ works from the eminent composer, John McCabe. He was Organ Adviser to the Diocese of Manchester from 1974-1986 and Cathedral Architect at Blackburn between 1983 and 1993.
Although retired from the Recital Circuit he remains active within the musical activities at Stand and is Hon Secretary of "Stand Music and Arts".
The Assistant Organist
Leslie Green, has studied under Gordon Stewart for a number of years. more details to follow.
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Stewart Barnet, website
editor
Last revised 19th August 2005