Dr Christopher Maxim
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ORGANIST


Chris is a liturgical and concert organist.  His principal teachers were the late Patricia Phillips (St Andrew's, West Kirby), Roger Fisher (Chester Cathedral) and Dr Glyn Jenkins (University of Bristol).

He was Organ Scholar at Calday Grange Grammar School on the Wirral (sadly the school no longer has an organ) and was appointed to his first Organist & Choirmaster post (St Michael & All Angels, Newton, Wirral)  in 1987 at the age of sixteen. Two years later, he took up a University of Bristol Organ Scholarship at St Paul's, Clifton. From 1993 to 2000 Chris was Organist & Director of Music at the University Anglican Chaplaincy Church of St Andrew & St Teilo in Cardiff, where he led the project to restore the 1886 Vowles Organ. From 1998 to 2000 he was the first President of the South East Wales Organists’ Association. He was Organist and Director of Music at St Matthew's Bethnal Green in London from 2003 to 2021. His History of the Organs of the Parish Church of St Matthew, Bethnal Green, London may be found here. Chris is now Organist of St Mary Magdalene's East Ham.

Chris has played for many services in cathedrals and on BBC radio.  He has given numerous organ recitals and concert performances at venues that include:
Bristol
  • Bristol Cathedral
  • Broadmead Baptist Church
  • St Mary Redcliffe
  • St Paul's, Clifton (also see Organ Gallery)
  • The University of Bristol (Great Hall and Victoria Rooms)
Cardiff
  • Cardiff University
  • City URC
  • The National Museum of Wales
  • St Andrew & St Teilo's, Cathays (also see Organ Gallery)
  • St German's, Adamsdown
Essex
  • ​St Andrew's, Boreham
​
London
  • Our Lady, Help of Christians, Blackheath
  • Our Lady of Victories, Clapham
  • St Anselm & St Cecilia, Holborn
  • St Dunstan's, Stepney
  • St John the Evangelist, Islington
  • St Matthew's, Bethnal Green (also see Organ Gallery)
  • St Margaret’s, Lee
  • St Mary's, Wimbledon
  • St Marylebone Parish Church
  • St Mary-le-Bow
  • The Temple Church​
Wirral
  • Calday Grange Grammar School, West Kirby (see Organ Gallery)
  • St Peter's, Heswall (also see Organ Gallery)
  • St Michael & All Angels, Newton
  • St Bartholomew’s, Thurstaston​​

As a student Chris played organ pieces by Byrd and Gibbons on a recording of Tudor music on the Herald label (no longer available); and has performed music by himself and other contemporary composers in the Annual Festival of New Organ Music.

PictureThe 1970 Rushworth & Dreaper organ in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Hewall, Wirral. Photo credit: Isabelle Crammond
Some performances by Christopher Maxim of his own and other contemporary composers' organ music
​available on YouTube
  • Fanfare (Christopher Maxim) played on the organ of St Marylebone Parish Church
  • Invocation & Paean (Christopher Maxim) played on the organ of St John the Evangelist RC Church, Islington
  • Mourning Blues (Fredrik Sixten) played on the organ of St John the Evangelist RC Church, Islington
  • Prelude & Fugue (Christopher Maxim) played on the organ of St Margaret's, Lee
  • Prelude & Fugue (Christopher Maxim) played on the organ of St Marylebone Parish Church
  • Processional (Christopher Maxim) played on the organ of St-Mary-le-Bow
  • The Mystic Bourdon (Marco lo Muscio) played on the organ of St Marylebone Parish Church
  • Three Pieces Founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes (Christopher Maxim) played on the organ of St Mary-le-Bow
  • Chorale Prelude (Christopher Maxim): Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein
  • Chorale Prelude (Christopher Maxim): Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit
  • Chorale Prelude (Christopher Maxim): Ach Gott, erhör mein Seufzen und Wehklagen
  • Chorale Prelude (Christopher Maxim): ​O Welt, ich muß dich lassen
  • Eleven Chorale Preludes (complete) (Christopher Maxim)
  • Elegy (Christopher Maxim)
  • Processional (Christopher Maxim)
  • Toccata Nuptiale (Christopher Maxim)


Music for the Soul

40 pieces for Lent, recorded by Chris on his home organ during the Spring 2020 Covid-19 lockdown.

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