ROBERT PARKER, C.M.G.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 27, Issue 4, 1 April 1937, Page 5

ROBERT PARKER, C.M.G.

(By One Who Knew Him.) The death of this distinguished Church musician has robbed the Church m New Zealand of one of its most outstanding personalities. Robert came to New Zealand m 1870, solely on account of his health,

his first appointment being at St. John's, Christchurch. After two years at St. John's, he removed to St. Michael's, at that time the proCathedral of Christchurch. In 1878 he removed to Wellington, where he became organist and choirmaster at St. Paul's pro-Cathedral, where he remained until his death— a period of nearly fifty-nine years' unbroken service, surely something of a record. Mr. Parker's extremely high ideals and unerring good taste m all that appertained to Church music was undoubtedly the outcome of his period as assistant to the late Dr. W. H. Monk (who was the editor of Hymns Ancient and Modern). As Mr. Parker himself remarked . on one occasion, "With Dr. Monk everything m the service was subordinated to its devotional purpose." Mr. Parker won the organ scholarship at Queen's College, Cambridge, at the age of nineteen, but was unhappily forced to resign it on account of the breakdown of his health. This breakdown, although a great grief and disappointment to himself, was \a fortunate thing for New Zealand, as otherwise we should never have had the benefit of Mr. Parker's wonderful work and influence. It would be impossible to enumerate, the many important positions held by Mr Parker during his long and useful life m Wellington. He was president of the Music Teachers' Registration Board from its inception, and his wide experience and wise leadership has been of the greatest assistance, while his unfailing courtesy and charm of manner endeared him to all who came m contact with him. It is pleasing to note that the Board has instituted a scholarship to be known as the "Robert Parker Memorial Scholarship," as a perpetual memory to the faithful and enduring work of this fine Church musician and scholarly gentleman.