I am a Methodist

Methodism is one of the major denominations of Christianity. I was brought up in a Methodist family, was baptized as an infant in Edinburgh Methodist Mission, and became a member of Edinburgh Methodist Mission in my teens at the first opportunity. In 2008, four Edinburgh Methodist congregations merged to form City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, and I am now Director of Music and Organist there, as well as an active member in other directions.

For many years before I became Director of Music and Organist, I sang in the church choir; I deputized as organist and choirmaster; I played the piano for Sunday evening services; I volunteered in The Well, our church café; and I taught in Breakout, our Sunday school.

This is an essay that is important to me, reflecting a lifetime’s thought:

These are a selection of presentations that I wrote for the oldest Breakout group (age 12 to 16) for teaching and discussion:

These are talks that I have given to the adult congregation, where I have more freedom to express my own views:

During 2020 and 2021 when we were unable to use our church building because of the COVID‑19 pandemic, I prepared videos of hymns and other musical items for our online worship. These are a representative selection:

This is an article I wrote for our monthly church newsletter, calling for excellence in our choice of music:

These are materials that I prepared for fellowship and Bible study groups, either in each other’s homes (house groups) or online via the video­conferencing software Zoom:

This is an essay I wrote at school:

This is a short story:

And these are two lighter pieces: