Gary Hawley’s been the St. Andrews organist for the past 70 years

Craig Bakay | Sep 06, 2019

Back in 1949, Gary Hawley was 18.

Mrs. Gordon was the organist at St. Andrews Church in Sharbot Lake and getting up in years.

“She knew that I played and asked if I’d help out,” Hawley said Sunday at a lunch being held in his honour. “I said yes.”

He’s been doing it ever since.

“Lorne Consitt played for dances and was the pianist at the movie theatre for the silent films,” Hawley said. “When I was 11 or 12, my mom asked him if he’d come up and teach me — which he did.”

Hawley’s played a lot of music since then.

“We played country and western when we had our own orchestra,” he said. “A lot of square dances.

“I love all music, but I really love church music.”

In particular, he likes hymns.

On this particular Sunday, he got to play one of his very favourites — Hymn # 500.

“You get the meaning of the words,” he said. “In # 500, it says ‘you can be the servant.’

“That means a lot to me.”

He hasn’t missed many Sundays over those 70 years.

“Just this last winter, we were closed for four Sundays because of freezing rain,” he said. “If it’s freezing rain, I don’t move.”

But when it’s not freezing rain, he’s there, even if getting older brings the necessity of adapting to all musicians.

“I shake,” he said. “But you manage it.

“You lock your shoulders and God willing, I’ll keep doing it.”

He still especially enjoys jamming with other musicians and on this Sunday, he had flautist Brenda Luscott join him.

“This organ here and flute sound so good together,” he said. “If you haven’t heard it, you should.”

Outside of the church, Hawley still has many interests.

He works at a car dealership in Napanee as a fleet manager. (“I’ve been in the auto industry 69 years,” he said.)

He’s been a Mason for 67 years and he volunteers at the Perth Community Care Centre.

“My wife was there until last year,” he said. “We were married 61 years.”

He said he likes to keep working because “you get to know people (and) it keeps me busy so you feel like you’re 40.

“I passed my drivers test in March and now I’m good for two more years.”

Hawley was presented with certificates of merit from both the Anglican Diocese of Ontario and the Township of Central Frontenac.

The Township certificate revealed a little inside knowledge.

“To Gary, the man who plays the organ with his left foot wearing a sock and his right foot wearing a shoe.

“Thank you for the beautiful music that you have given our church.”