This weekend Hillhall Presbyterian Church on the Hillhall Road outside Lisburn will resound to the sound of music for 24 hours from 8pm on Friday 1 October till 8pm the following evening as Rev Jack Richardson completes another of his 24 hour organ playing marathons.
This will be the tenth such marathon session undertaken by Mr Richardson and while in the past the money raised has been for the benefit of Hillhall, this time the benefit will go to Whitehouse Presbyterian Church, which, in common with Hillhall, suffered severe fire damage in recent years.
"I'm glad to say that our hall destroyed by fire some years ago has now been rebuilt and paid for," says Mr Richardson. "However we felt out of gratitude and as a thank offering to God for the generosity and assistance we have received from the whole community we should do something in return. What better than to help the Whitehouse congregation who are rebuilding their place of worship after it was destroyed, like our hall, by fire two years ago."
His previous marathons have raised a total of around £100,000 through donations, sponsorship and the feeding of those who come at all hours of the day and night to enjoy the music. Sponsorship forms have been distributed in both congregations and appropriate cuisine will be available for visitors to Hillhall from a full Ulster breakfast through to high tea depending on the time of day.
Mr Richardson's repertoire will include much sacred music, classical music composed especially for the organ and of course church music with hymn tunes including selections from the recently published Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook which he helped edit. The event will end with an epilogue from Whitehouse's minister Rev Liz Hughes.
With just a five minute break every hour it does become tiring says the 62 year old minister. "People tend to expect my fingers to be sore but sitting for so long and having to play the pedals of the organ with my feet, it's my back that really feels the pain," says Mr Richardson. "However, with the encouragement of those who come along particularly in the last hours before the 8pm finish as the whole event reaches its climax usually with a full church singing our favourite hymns it is a very uplifting and enjoyable experience."
In June the foundation stone was laid at Whitehouse where rebuilding of the fire destroyed church is expected to be completed in early 2005 at a cost of £900,000.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive