Tribute paid after death of well-known Lancaster church organist
A well-known church organist in Lancaster and Morecambe for 60 years has died aged 79.
Philip Rouse played first at the former Skerton Methodist Church and then at nearby St Luke’s Church and Morecambe St Barnabas’ Church and finally at Skerton St Chad’s Church until shortly before Christmas.
Born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire in 1947, Philip moved to Lancaster with his parents at the age of four and attended Ryelands Primary and Skerton Boys’ Secondary Schools.
He was a member of the Cub pack at St Chad’s and spent many church parades pumping the harmonium for the organist.
Betty Wilson, later Morrow, was Philip’s music teacher at Skerton School and it was through her that he began singing with Lancaster and District Choral Society, of which he was a member for many years and she was conductor.
His love of music was a mainstay throughout his life.
He volunteered for several years as a hospital radio DJ and shared his skills at social events, including at St Luke’s and the Church of the Ascension, Torrisholme.
For 15 years he was the lollipop man at St Joseph’s School in Aldrens Lane.
At his funeral Mass at the Church of the Ascension on May 20, the Vicar Fr Damian Porter told the story of how Philip met his future wife, Daphne.
It was because of a shared building agreement between St Luke’s and the Methodist Church, which led to their marriage at the Methodist Church.
In his working life, Philip was in catering and then in hospital theatres.
He used his cooking skills to support the Nutmeg lunch club at St Luke’s and Advent and Lent lunches at St Barnabas. He was a Freeman of Lancaster.
Fr Damian described Philip as a lovely, gentle man, quiet, kind and generous with a witty sense of humour, always very caring and a great friend.
He was a man of deep Christian faith and good work.
The organist at Philip’s funeral was Paul Gee.
Philip died on April 30. Donations in his memory were given to St John’s Hospice in Lancaster.