Gisborne church concerts: St Andrew’s organ recital and The Messiah dates

Guest organist Thomas Nikora will accompany the Gisborne Choral Society when it performs The Messiah this month. He is pictured with Amanda Maclean on the timpani.

St Andrew’s Church will be filled with music again when Roy Tankersley returns to play a lunch-time organ recital next week.

Catherine Macdonald, director of music at the Presbyterian Parish, said she was thrilled St Andrew’s was being used again before its closure.

The Gisborne Herald reported last October that the Gisborne Presbyterian Parish, made up of the churches of St Andrew’s and Matawhero, will close on June 30 this year because of falling congregations.

As part of the dissolution process, the Presbyterian Parish has invited former ministers to return and take services at St Andrew’s and Matawhero.

The Very Reverend Pamela Tankersley was minister at St Andrew’s from 1988 until about 1995.

“She and her husband arrived just in time for Cyclone Bola and found themselves part of the clean-up team in no time flat,” Macdonald said.

“She’s a Very Reverend because she went on to become a moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ. There is a new one appointed every two years, but it is an honour.”

Serving moderators are referred to as Right Reverend and past moderators are Very Reverend.

After her time in Gisborne, Very Rev Tankersley served on various national and international church boards involving many overseas postings.

Her husband, Roy, is a nationally recognised choral conductor and organist, as well as an organ builder and repairer.

“He’s bringing his tools to Gisborne hoping to make least minor adjustments to the St Andrew’s organ, which is in major need of repair,” Macdonald said. “While he’s at it, he will attend to the harpsichord.”

The organ is often used during church services, but when an organist came last year to accompany a whole concert for the Choral Society, it proved unable to sustain several days of heavy use, so their accompanist, Thomas Nikora, used the piano.

Nikora is back to join the local orchestra for the 60^th anniversary performance of Handel’s The Messiah.

Macdonald said she was delighted to have Thomas back for this celebratory performance.

“His recital is the cherry on top,” she said.

COMING UP

Matawhero Historic Church Harvest Festival with Very Rev Pamela Tankersley, Roy Tankersley at the organ. Sunday, March 15, 10am.

Organ recital by Roy Tankersley. St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Wednesday, March 18, 12.30pm

St Andrew’s Church, Very Rev Pamela Tankersley with Roy Tankersley at the organ. Sunday, March 22, 10am.

Gisborne Choral Society presents The Messiah. Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Sunday, March 29, 2pm.