Friends of St Laurence’s Church, Chorley present their Cathedral Classics Launch concert featuring our Rector Fr Neil Kelley and our Director of music Alan Winstanley. The church and the town have close links with the Pilgrim Fathers and the concert will include Mayflower related music.
Neil Kelley was born in Portsmouth and educated on the Hampshire Specialist Music Course (Winchester). He was awarded a Scholarship to the Royal College of Music where he studied with Nicholas Danby (organ), Geoffrey Parsons (piano accompaniment) and Norman Del Mar (conducting). During his time at the College he won many prizes for piano accompaniment, organ and choral work. He has also held the organ scholarships of St. Alban’s Cathedral and St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
As organist, he has performed in the Royal Albert Hall (Saint Saëns's 'Organ' Symphony) and many of the cathedrals in this country as well as three American tours and performances in France, Germany and Canada.
Whilst studying theology and training for the Priesthood at Cambridge, he was Director of Music at Pembroke College Chapel. He has broadcast for Classic FM, has worked for BBC Television and Radio both as a performer and conductor and has recorded the harpsichord music for the highly acclaimed Derek Jarman film ‘Caravaggio’.
Following his ordination in St Paul’s Cathedral Neil served two parishes in the Diocese of London before moving to Liverpool to the parish of St. Chad, Kirkby. During his time in Kirkby Fr Neil organised a successful ‘Kirkby Summer Arts Festival’ and in 1996 was responsible for devising a programme, with Bishop Michael Marshall, for 'A Celebration of Faith and the Arts' at Lambeth Palace at the request of the then Archbishop of Canterbury.
In April 1999 Fr. Neil was inducted as Vicar of the United Benefice of St Faith, Great Crosby with St Mary the Virgin, Waterloo Park and in 2006 was appointed Diocesan Adviser for Liturgy and Worship. Following some years as Rector of Bushey (Hertfordshire) Fr Neil returned to the north of England when he became Rector of Chorley in 2017.
Neil combines his priestly duties with an active musical career (as piano accompanist, organist and chamber musician) as the demands of ministry allow!
Alan Winstanley – Director of Music first began learning the organ at Wigan Parish Church with David Cutter and while in the sixth form at the Deanery High School he became a member of the British youth choir. He furthered his studies at London College of Music with Gordon Phillips. He was appointed organist at St Peter’s Notting Hill Gate and after graduating undertook a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at King Alfred’s College, Winchester. In September 1982 he took his first teaching post at UpHolland High School. In August of that year Alan was appointed Organist at St. Laurence’s. In 1986 he became Head of Music at Ormskirk Grammar School and in 1996 was promoted to be in charge of the Arts Faculty. The School merged in 2001 with Cross Hall High School to form Ormskirk School.
After 28 years at school Alan took early retirement in July 2014. Alan was conductor of the St Nicholas Singers and for the last thirteen years has been conductor of Chorley Choral Society. Alan is a senior examiner for AQA Examination Board for A level music.