Alan Parish, assistant organist at St John the Baptist Church, Barnet, for over half a century, was at the console as an accompanist for a valedictory choral evensong to celebrate what was described as his remarkable contribution and exemplary dedication.

His return visit – after he stepped down in July – took the number of times he had played the organ at the parish church to a grand total of 12,124 occasions – just one of many amazing statistics at Alan’s fingertips.   

Past and present choristers, fellow organists, parishioners, and clergy joined the congregation at a thanksgiving celebration (4.9.2022) to mark his departure after an association with High Barnet that began in 1969 with an advertisement in the Musical Times.

He advertised his services as an organist, deputizing or assisting at weekend services, anywhere around London for a fee of £1 10 shillings, or two guineas for weddings – plus travelling expenses if over 5 miles from his home in Willesden.

His offer was taken up almost immediately and he was offered and accepted the post of assistant organist at High Barnet.

The many tributes to his work in over half a century made special mention of his remarkable skills as accompanist for the choir and congregation and his unstinting support for the church’s organist and choirmaster Terence Atkins.

Terence, who took up his post at High Barnet in 1976, said their long-standing partnership had made his task so much easier and Alan’s contribution towards sustaining the choral tradition at St John the Baptist was “incalculable”.

His “truly remarkable skills” as accompanist and his utter reliability had been “pure gold” for the parish church.

“Whenever a congregation sings a hymn, it can be sure of a satisfying experience through Alan’s immaculate sense of timing and wise use of the organ’s resources.

“Similarly, generations of choristers of all ages have been able to sing with confidence through Alan’s reassuring and sensitive accompanying, whatever the demands.”

Alan described Terence as “the maestro, the organist and choirmaster” and he thought it remarkable to find a situation when two people had work for so long together without a major disagreement.

“But this is testimony to the overriding wish of both of us to maintain a choir of men and boys with as high a standard as possible despite the difficulties of recruitment, directives from the diocese, and other problems.”

Alan recalled that when he arrived in 1969 the then parish church council saw the value of having two organists as this enabled them to perform virtually as a cathedral choir.

“At the time, there were 24 boys, eight probationers and 18 gentlemen. The repertoire was enormous, and it even included some items which were commissioned by the church.”

One of the former choristers who took part in Alan’s leaving service was Daniel Jack (right), now a student at Leeds University, who spent ten years with the choir after joining at the age of seven and going on to become head chorister.

Another returning for the service was Alistair Badger, now at university in Norwich, who joined the choir in 2010 and became deputy head chorister.

Alan’s fascination with statistics and his analysis of choir attendance records and the lists of every musical performance meant he was rarely lost for a name or date. His meticulous attention to detail in maintaining records of major choral works was of great value to Terence in planning events at the church.

The thanksgiving service opened with an organ voluntary played by former organ scholar Ben Markovic and another closed the service played by former organ scholar Ashley Wagner.

The sermon was given by the team vicar the Reverend Sam Rossiter-Peters and the lessons were read by Julien Hadwen, chorister, and Bob Burstow, churchwarden.