Two short steps by 15-year-old Anthony Gray from choir stall to organ seat saved the day at St Margaret’s Church, in Ilkley, when director of music Christopher Rathbone reported back sick on Sunday after his family holiday in Australia.
This last-minute rescue act, which the Ilkley Grammar School pupil repeated later at evensong, was spontaneously applauded by the congregation after he had wound up the morning’s music with a JS Bach voluntary.
Anthony, son of the church’s vicar, Father Philip, recently won a scholarship to Bradford Cathedral and has been assisting there two evenings a week at evensong and also singing occasionally.
He is also widening his musical experience by playing the organ at other churches in the area and has particularly enjoyed going to Steeton, where he has become a regular.
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