Raymond Sunderland

December 21, 1921 (age 56)

During the Second World War he served in the Royal Armoured Corps and in 1944-1945, whilst serving in Belgium, he gave a series of organ recitals from memory in Ypres Cathedral. In 1951 he gained his Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and was appointed organist and choirmaster at Burnley Parish Church in Lancashire. Whilst there he became also organist to the Halifax Choral Society. In 1955 he moved to Saint Edmunds Church, Roundhay, Leeds, before being appointed in 1957 to his final post as Organist and Master of the Choristers at Bridlington Priory Church. Raymond Sunderland"s "abilities as a performer, and not least as an improviser of immense talent, were widely acclaimed." Raymond Sunderland died in the early hours of Christmas morning 1977 in Bridlington Priory having just played the organ for the Midnight Communion. He is buried in the Priory churchyard. Organist and choirmaster, Burnley Parish Church 1951 - 1955 Organist, Saint Edmunds Church, Roundhay, Leeds 1955 - 1957 Organist and Master of the Choristers at Bridlington Priory 1957 - 1977.

Raymond Sunderland

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Background

Raymond G Sunderland started learning organ at age 12 and until 16 he studied with his father, the organist of Broadstone Baptist Church, Yorkshire.

Education

After the war, he studied with Shackleton Pollard at Halifax Parish Church and served there as Assistant Organist.

Career

During the Second World War he served in the Royal Armoured Corps and in 1944-1945, whilst serving in Belgium, he gave a series of organ recitals from memory in Ypres Cathedral. In 1951 he gained his Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and was appointed organist and choirmaster at Burnley Parish Church in Lancashire. Whilst there he became also organist to the Halifax Choral Society.

In 1955 he moved to Saint Edmunds Church, Roundhay, Leeds, before being appointed in 1957 to his final post as Organist and Master of the Choristers at Bridlington Priory Church.

Raymond Sunderland"s "abilities as a performer, and not least as an improviser of immense talent, were widely acclaimed." Raymond Sunderland died in the early hours of Christmas morning 1977 in Bridlington Priory having just played the organ for the Midnight Communion. He is buried in the Priory churchyard.

Organist and choirmaster, Burnley Parish Church 1951 - 1955 Organist, Saint Edmunds Church, Roundhay, Leeds 1955 - 1957 Organist and Master of the Choristers at Bridlington Priory 1957 - 1977.

Connections

Father:: Paul Sunderland
Mother:: Avis Marie (Peters) Sunderland
Spouse:: Terri Reed
child:: Lori Diane Sunderland
child:: Sharon Marie Sunderland

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