KEYBOARD ACCOMPANIST – GRANTON PARISH CHURCH

Background to Granton Parish Church and its worship

Granton is a welcoming, inclusive, community-focused church with a good mix of ages and ethnicities. Our location within an area of material deprivation challenges us to keep our services accessible and open to all and we consequently have an informal worship style.

Services are all live streamed on Zoom and Facebook and are also available on YouTube.  Our online congregation comes from across the world, with regular attendees from as far afield as the south of England, Wales, Italy and British Columbia.

We have one communion service each month (the last Sunday of the month).

At present we do not have a full-time Minister but are ably steered by a part-time Ordained Local Minister, Revd Mary MacLeod Rivett. 

It is highly likely that, by the end of 2026, we will be entering a Union with Newhaven Church.  Specific details for the Union are under discussion, but it is anticipated that each building will continue to be a Sunday morning worship centre, with occasional joint services in both locations.

During our Sunday service, we sing a combination of modern and traditional hymns, particularly drawing from CH4, Mission Praise, God Welcomes All, Common Ground, New Scottish Hymns and Stuart Townend/Keith & Kristyn Getty.  Hymns are selected by a Worship Group, in consultation with the Minister. (It is expected that the keyboard player will attend Worship Group meetings.) We are always keen to learn new music, introducing a Hymn of the Month several times each year.

We currently have a Music Team Leader (one of our Church Elders) whose role is to manage the practicalities of ensuring that hymns are chosen timeously and all music is provided in advance.  She also currently leads our small Singing Group but would warmly welcome shared responsibility. If community choral singing is an area of interest, we see
this as a potential area of development.

Although we do have a pipe organ, this has fallen into disrepair and there are no plans for its renovation. Accompaniment for all services is on a good quality Kawai digital piano. There is a small band, currently consisting of acoustic guitar, flute and cajon who join our accompanist at most services. We are always keen to encourage amateur musicians.

Granton Parish Church’s grounds is also the location of the Community War Memorial meaning that our annual Remembrance Service is a major focus for community attendance by dignitaries and uniformed organisations.

Main duties and responsibilities

• To play keyboard at Sunday morning services and additional services as agreed with Minister / Music Team Leader (to include Christmas and Holy Week).
• To support and encourage our small band of amateur musicians.
• To accompany occasional singing practices (on average one evening every 6-8 weeks)
• To work with the Music Team Leader in encouraging our small community singing group, taking a leadership role if this is an area of interest.
• To support the Music Team Leader in identifying music suitable for the singing group.
• To participate in Worship Group meetings, including selection of hymns, approximately 6 times per year.
• To check slides prepared for each service, ensuring congregation and band music corresponds.

Person specification

Skills / aptitudes

• Proven musical ability on piano/keyboard (to be demonstrated at interview).
• Willingness and enthusiasm to embrace a wide range of musical styles.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the Minister, Music Team Leader and Worship Group.
• Comfortable using digital communication (email, shared PDF documents) to receive, review, and collaborate on materials

Referees

Please provide the names and contact details of two referees, both of whom should know you in a professional musical context.

Application

Application is by covering letter and CV, which should be sent electronically to: Dan Docwra, Session Clerk: dan@granton.org.uk (Copied to: karen@granton.org.uk )

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Karen Docwra, Music Team Leader: karen@granton.org.uk (07985 091714)

The closing date for applications is Friday 25^th September at 5 pm.  Interviews will be held on Wednesday 30^th September.