Choir and Music at Holy Rude

“The one who sings, prays double.” — Martin Luther, Protestant Reformer (1483-1546) 

Music has played an important part of worship at the Church of Holy Rude for many years.             

The 4 manual organ is Scotland’s largest pipe organ and is suitable for creating sounds from the quietest whisper to a thundersome full organ sound filling the whole building. 

Here you can enjoy an organ recital or a major concert in spectacular medieval surroundings.

Pipe Organ at the Church of the Holy Rude 

Located in the North Transept, the Pipe Organ stands as one of the finest romantic organs in the Britian. This majestic instrument, gifted by John Risk in the late 19th century, plays a pivotal role in the church’s musical heritage. 

History of the Pipe Organ 

The Church of the Holy Rude’s Rushworth and Dreaper four-manual pipe organ, with its 80 stops, occupies a prominent place in the North Transept. Installed to meet the growing needs of the church, this organ replaced an inadequate instrument originally placed in the East Church. This ambitious project, costing £9,000, was fully funded by John Risk, the local distillery owner, who also provided the window for the new South Transept. 

As a condition of his generous donation, Dr. Baird Ross, the renowned organist and choirmaster of the church, oversaw the design and implementation of the organ. The result is one of the finest examples of romantic organ building, a treasure that still stands today as one of the great organs in the world. 

Renovation of the Pipe Organ (1992–1994) 

The church underwent major renovations between 1987 and 1994, during which it became clear that significant work was needed to preserve the integrity of the pipe organ. Rushworth and Dreaper, the original builders of the organ, were tasked with restoring and upgrading it to meet the demands of the 21st century. 

Renovation Phases: 

  • Phase 1 (1992): Work at the console end of the organ was completed at a cost of £50,000, funded largely by generous donations from individuals and groups within the congregation. 
  • Phase 2 (1994): A major cleaning operation within the organ loft brought the total cost of the restoration to around £90,000. 

Today, thanks to these efforts, the organ is restored and ready for future generations to enjoy. 

The Organ Fund 

The Friends of the Holy Rude are actively engaged in raising funds for the ongoing maintenance and restoration of this iconic instrument. By contributing to the fund, you are helping ensure the continued legacy of this magnificent organ for future generations. 

The Choir  

The Church of the Holy Rude Choir 

“The one who sings, prays double.” — Martin Luther, Protestant Reformer (1483-1546) 

At the Church of the Holy Rude, we are a dedicated group of amateur musicians who come together to create beautiful music. Our main role is to lead the congregation in praise during Sunday morning services, where we perform an introit, anthem, and occasionally an offertory. 

In addition to our regular Sunday services, we sing at weddings upon request and occasionally offer concerts featuring both sacred and secular music. 

We are always welcoming new members to join our choir, particularly Basses and Tenors. If you’re interested in learning more or would like to become part of our musical family, please contact the Director of Music. 

Our Director of Music

Ian Boulter is our Director of Music.

Ian began to play the piano and trombone at the age of nine, starting to play the organ a couple of years later. Undergraduate study was made at the City of Leeds College of Music where he obtained a 1st Class. This was followed by Postgraduate study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he was awarded the Postgraduate Advanced Performance Diploma (PgDipRNCM). After graduating, Ian spent a period of time working as a freelance musician, working all over the UK with various orchestras, theatre orchestras and brass bands.

In 1991 Ian moved to Scotland where he was appointed as a Music Instructor with Central Region. Over the last 32 years Ian has been involved with many theatre companies as Musical Director, and was Organist & Choirmaster at Carriden Parish Church, Bo’ness for more than 16 years. At the start of 2008 Ian was appointed Director of Music at the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling. For the last 16 years Ian has also been the conductor of the Falkirk Senior Schools’ Youth Orchestra, and for the last 9 years has been the Accompanist & Assistant Musical Director of the Stirling City Choir.

The Holy Rude is also a venue for concerts and recitals, with several local groups using the church as their regular performance venue. At various times throughout the year, there are other concerts and recital by visiting groups from around the world.

Details of services, concerts and recitals are available elsewhere on the website links.