In
November 1908, a group of church organists met in a cafe in
Oldham to discuss the formation of "An Organists Fellowship",
to be known as The Oldham and District Organists'Association,
It is believed that this was only the third such Association
to be formed in England. In December, the annual subscription
was fixed at two
shillings and
sixpence, and a set of very strict rules was adopted. You had
to be an organist with a church appointment to be admitted,
and if you lost or resigned the appointment, then your
membership was terminated forthwith!
Meetings in those early days where held
quarterly, and included regular recitals on local organs,
lectures on organs and all aspects of church and organ music,
various social meetings, and an annual summer outing - the
first one being to York in 1909, Visits to organs in
Ashton-under-Lyne and Rochdale soon followed. In November
1913, Frank Greenwood, borough organist at the time, gave the
first recital for the Association on the new organ in Rochdale
Town Hall. Eminent organists who played for the Association in
its formative years, either in local churches or during visits
to important instruments, included Dr. E.C, Bairstow, Dr. E.A.
Hull, C.H. Moody, S.H. Nicholson, T. Tertius Noble, and Dr. J.
Kendrick Pyne.
Choirmasters were admitted to membership for the first
time in 1923, and the name of the Association was amended to
The Oldham and District Organists' and Choirmasters'Association, reflecting the
change. In 1945, a group of members
from the north of the area then covered decided that the
time had come to branch out from the Oldham Association, and so
was formed the Rossendale Association (now sadly no longer
in existence). We kept close ties with them, and were always pleased to
welcome their members at our meetings. It goes without saying
that the same warm welcome is extended to members of all
kindred Associations, who in turn are always happy to see our
members at their meetings.
An
important step towards our acquisition of Charitable status
was taken in 1979 with the adoption of a new Constitution.
Membership was now open to all with an interest in music of
any kind, without restriction. Our aims and objectives were
now clearly set out, as were our financial obligations. The
opportunity was taken to change the name of the Association to
that presently used - often abbreviated to ORTOA - using the
names chosen for the recently formed Metropolitan Districts
covering the area served by the Association. It was not until
1985 that the Association finally achieved Charitable status,
being registered in England as Educational Charity No.
516899.
