Omagh Methodist Church Men’s Breakfast Fellowship

John Buchanan [left] with Mr Jack Wilson

On Tuesday 8th October 2025 the guest speaker at an evening meeting of the fellowship was Mr Jack Wilson, Master of Music and Organist, St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.  The meeting was held in the church to provide Mr Wilson with the opportunity to talk about his music and play both organ and piano.  He was warmly welcomed by Mr John Buchanan who explained that he had got to know Mr Wilson after his grandson Emmanuel, had become a chorister in St Anne’s Cathedral.  Never one to miss an opportunity John invited Jack to a meeting of the fellowship to share his journey of faith and ascendancy to the important position he now occupies.

Following opening praise and prayers Jack began by recounting his childhood in Londonderry where his parents and grandparents were stalwarts of St. Columb’s Cathedral.  While still at primary school he became a chorister in the cathedral choir and began to learn how to play a church organ. During his teens he honed his keyboard skills before taking a degree in Music at Queen’s, followed by post-graduate study at Cambridge.  He was 24 years old and principal organist at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire when he was offered the post of Master of Music and Organist in St.  Anne’s Cathedral.  He readily admitted that it was a steep learning curve!

Before playing for those present, Mr Wilson identified the Omagh Methodist Church organ as having been built by “Evans and Barr”, the leading maker of church organs in the 19th century. It was called “The Ideal Organ” because it was ideal for small congregations and could be readily played by anyone who could play a piano. Despite having no pedals, a short keyboard and only a few stops, Mr Wilson able to show the range and texture of the sound it was capable of producing. He demonstrated with a magnificent piece which he described as an improvisation on the Boys’ Brigade hymn “Will your anchor hold”.  In similar vein he displayed his mastery of the piano by improvising on the music of Psalm 23.

In closing Rev Eleanor Hayden expressed her appreciation to Mr Wilson for two memorable performances before saying grace and inviting everyone downstairs to the Peter Good Hall for supper.