On Sunday 11^th December we said an emotional farewell to Gary Eyre who has been Director of Music at St Matthew’s for 27 years. During this time Gary, a distinguished composer, has constantly explored new music in settings for anthems, hymns and psalms. 

Canon Rex Davis led the congregation in showing our appreciation to Gary for all that he has contributed to St Matthew’s over the years and presented him with, amongst other gifts, a book he had requested of the poems of John Heath-Stubbs, a worshipper for many years at St Matthew’s until his death in 2006.

St Matthew’s is fortunate in having a wonderful, newly restored organ built in 1913 by the firm of JW Walker & Sons, one of the great organ-making names.  Ours is a very fine example of the English Romantic organ of the early years of the 20th century.  Gary has always done it justice and the last Voluntary he played on Sunday was no exception: an uplifting, inspiring and greatly moving rendition of William Walton’s ‘Crown Imperial.’

We wish Gary and his family every happiness in their new life in the north-east of England.