New Organist at the Shrine

Nick Kerrison who is the Organist at the Shrine and the Parish church will be leaving us at the end of July. Nick has served the Shrine for 10 years, so the number of times he has played the Pilgrim hymn is beyond reckoning! We will miss his the excellent quality of his playing, his innate ability to create a mood appropriate to the occasion and the perfect timing of his extemporisation to fit with the liturgy. We wish him all the best for the future.

We are delighted to announce that a new organist for the Shrine and the Parish Church has been appointed. Matthew Pitts will be joining us shortly and we look forward to welcoming him!

Matthew has held a number of organist posts, including Organ Scholar of Chichester Cathedral and Organist of St Peter Mancroft, Norwich. Since 2009, he has worked as a freelance organist based in his native county of South Yorkshire. He is presently Organist and Director of Music at St Margaret’s Church, Swinton, a position he has held since 2020.

Matthew writes:

‘When I was preparing to leave Norwich in 2009 to begin a new role in my native county of Yorkshire, little did I realise that exactly fifteen years later I would be making plans to move back in the opposite direction and return to Norfolk! God does indeed move in mysterious ways, and we can never be quite sure in which direction we are going to be called and moved on, but it is a singular privilege and honour to be invited to serve Him in this most remarkable and holy place.

My wife Nadya and I have worshipped for the last four years at the parish of St Margaret’s, Swinton, which we will miss very much after a most enjoyable and fruitful time here. At the same time, we are full of joy in anticipation of the move to Walsingham to begin my new roles as Organist at the Shrine and at St Mary’s Church, and we greatly look forward to the time we will spend in the community there with you all.’