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Church organist celebrates 75 years of service

BBC A grey-haired woman in a white blouse and red cardigan sits on a bench in front of a church organBBC
Rita Purves started playing the organ in the village church at the age of 13

An organist from the Borders is celebrating her 75th year of playing music at church services.

Rita Purves, 88, has lived in and around Morebattle, near Kelso, most of her life, and first took a seat at the village's church organ in 1949.

She recently received a "local hero" award - given out to mark the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament - from Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP Rachael Hamilton.

Rita, who started aged just 13, has now been part of thousands of services at churches in the area over the years.

A choir of women in white blouses, red cardigans and black trousers and skirts stand around a white-haired woman sitting at a church organ
The choir leader at Morebattle said they missed Rita "dreadfully" on the rare occasions she was away

"My aunt taught me to play,” Rita said.

"She taught various cousins as well, and when my cousin Nettie left the organist job to go to university, I started playing - I was 13.

"I suppose since then it’s just become a habit.

"I’ve always come to church and it's always been part of my life."

She has been willing to adapt over the years.

A notice board and sign for Morebattle Kirk stands in front of a graveyard and old church building in the Borders countryside
Rita has played at a large number of services at Morebattle and other churches in the area

"I like all kinds of music, all sorts of hymns, but to be quite honest my favourite type of music is Scottish country dance music," she said.

"But I just love hearing the music and being able to help the choir and the church congregations, and real organ music is so nice for christenings and weddings, and an important part of funerals too.

"There are hymns that still come up frequently, like Fairest Lord Jesus and By Cool Siloam's Shady Rill.

"But trends change and you get some new songs requested for weddings and events with some people asking for songs by the latest pop stars."

A woman with long blonde hair wearing glasses a white T-shirt with a suit-type jacket presents a certificate to Rita who has white hair and is wearing a white blouse and red cardigan
Rachael Hamilton presented Rita with her local hero award

Rita said she quite liked that challenge.

"It can take a while to learn it in the weeks before the wedding or whatever, but I think that’s what keeps my mind going," she said.

She added that one of the biggest changes at funerals and weddings was a move away from voluntaries - traditional organ music for church services - towards more Scottish music.

However, she can pick up most tunes pretty easily.

"Most of the time I don't find it difficult," she said.

"All the hymns are well programmed in there now."

MSP Ms Hamilton said it was "quite remarkable" that someone had shown "so much time and dedication" to the church and playing the organ.

Rita has been a fixture in the local churches since 1949, only having short spells away when she studied primary teaching and when visiting Australia.

She suffered a heart attack on Boxing Day a few years ago and a fractured pelvis in a fall last year, but on both occasions she was back on the organ stool within weeks.

Debbie Brown, who has been the choir leader for more than two decades, admits that it is not the same when Rita is not at her post.

A church of Scotland minister stands inside a church. He has grey hair and glasses and is wearing a blue shirt with a dog collar and a jacket with a poppy on it.
Rev Colin Johnston said they were delighted to have someone with Rita's "dedication, talent and experience"

"Having Rita at the organ is just wonderful," she said.

"She's not away often, very occasionally on holiday, but we miss her dreadfully when she's not here.

"And she has so much experience you can just give her a piece of music and she’ll play it."

Minister of Cheviot Churches, Rev Colin Johnston, said everyone appreciated Rita's efforts.

'Big question'

"She keeps up with the times," he said.

"Things change, there are new hymns, funerals have changed a lot, and people are wanting different kinds of music, and Rita has responded to all of that."

He admitted there was a "big question" of what they would do when she eventually stepped down.

"These days not so many people can play the organ so it is becoming a worry for churches but we'll cross that bridge when it comes," he said.

"For now we're just delighted we have someone of Rita's dedication, talent and experience."