Photo courtesy of Penrith City Library.

By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc.

FINE tributes were paid to the service of Mr E W Orth organist over many years and Sunday School Superintendent Mr C H Fulton at a social function held in Penrith’s St Stephen’s the Martyr Parish Hall on the evening 15th April 1948. Numerous residents, ex-residents (including former Rectors) and visitors were among the large gathering. The Rector Reverend A M Hodgson presided. A very enjoyable concert programme included items by the Junior Choir, a violin solo by Jim Stocks, songs from Miss Mason, recitations from Mrs H Corr and songs from Mrs Blakey. The chairman said that they had two Christian gentlemen as guests of honour. The Rector said “We think of the wonderful work they have done in the master’s service and the long period in which they have laboured. We rejoice in what they have achieved, also in the fact that they are so highly esteemed.  After nearly sixty years Mr Orth had given up playing the organ at St Stephen’s. He did not know whether it was a record, but it at least must nearly be so. He had come from a parish where a lady had been organist for almost the same period as Mr Orth. Mr Fulton had laboured for years in the Sunday School. He was Superintendent in Penrith, Jamison town and Cranebrook, more particularly in those outlying parts and they appreciated what he had done”.  Mr Hodgson said, “We are very fortunate to have Mr Blatch in Mr Fulton’s place and also mentioned that Michael Dyer was doing good work at the organ”. Numerous apologies were received in appreciation of the services of Mr Orth and Mr Fulton. Among others who wrote were Reverend J W Ferrier (ex-Rector of Penrith), Mr H J Witts, Reverend A A Mutton (formerly of Emu Plains), Cannon Hisley (formerly Rector of Penrith), Reverend E Cameron, Reverend Angus Tipping, Reverend W B Gurnett, Mr J J Price, Reverend L G B Rose, Miss Alice Neale, Reverend R S Meyer, Reverend H N Powys of Vaucluse, (formerly of Penrith) expressed pleasure at being present to do honour to two men who had laboured abundantly in the work of the Church. Reverend Powys said “twenty-four years ago when he was in Penrith they were going very strong. With Mr Orth I was associated in the choir work. Not only here but we were able to go to places in the country taking our choir.” Mr Fulton said “Reverend Powys resembled his great-great-grandfather Reverend Henry Fulton who was the first Rector of this parish. The work that their guests had done should be an inspiration to the people who lived in this parish in the present day. Sometimes people took on jobs in the church but dropped them. Sometimes the will to carry on was lacking. Here they had two splendid fellows who had done the job and he counselled the young men to follow in their footsteps”.  Reverend R S Chapple of Rozelle said “that during the eleven years that he had the privilege of serving the people of Penrith as Rector, he had the support of many wonderful people among whom were the two they were honouring that evening. Mr Orth’s name was almost a by-word as he had been here so long. He had done faithful work for the church in an unobtrusive manner and referred to Mr Fulton’s fine work for the Sunday School picnic which had been his “baby” in the last few years, at any rate in other ways also he had served the church well”. Reverend I D Armitage said that “the work of Mr Orth and Mr Fulton had been of utmost value to the church and when they listened to Mr Orth’s playing they felt that they were uplifted by it and I hope that the younger generation in years to come can be as truth fully spoken of as we can speak of Mr Orth and Mr Fulton”. A former resident Miss Hall of Penrith was glad of the opportunity to wish the guests every happiness. Churchwarden Mr R F Smith spoke in similar strain wishing the guests a very happy retirement. On behalf of parishioners Mr N Burrows the church warden presented Mr Orth with a weekend bag and rug. Mr Orth in returning thanks said “that he was not sure that the things they had said of him were true. During the long time he was organist he thought he was only late twice and after the first occasion they presented him with a timepiece. That was in 1910 and it had been going first class ever since.  I was sorry that I had to give up the organ, it was a lifelong job and one that I was most anxious to carry on until my 60 years. Prior to taking on the organ I used to play in the Sunday School when the organist failed to turn up and I had no difficulty in taking up the organ playing in the church. My father and mother were both choristers, father at one time was choirmaster.”  Mr Orth gave some interesting reminiscences of his experience and said that he had played under ten Rectors, Reverend’s Brown, Hargraves, Holliday, Hatfield Hall, Archdall, Hinsby, Powys, Ferrier, Chapple and now Mr Hodgson. Miss Davies on behalf of the Sunday School teachers and scholars presented Mr Fulton with a rug and wallet and Mrs Fulton received a floral gift from Janice Neale (daughter of Mr and Mrs Bruce Neale) on behalf of the children of the kindergarten. Miss Davies said, “we are very pleased to pay tribute to you for the good work you have done not only in the Sunday School but in every phase of Church life.” She also referred to Mr Fulton’s great interest in the Sunday School picnic. Mr C H Fulton in responding, expressed pleasure at seeing some of those present who he had taught at Jamison Town and Cranebrook, saying, “quite a number of people had come to see him who he had taught and who were now married with three or four children”. Mr Fulton also gave some reminiscences on one occasion when he held services at Waterfall Sanatorium when the organist was sick and he had to play as well as lead the singing. He thanked the teachers for their loyalty to him and said “he was retiring as Superintendent but he was not resigning from the Sunday School. He would keep the books and as far as he was able organise for the Sunday school”. Mr Orth referred to Michael Dyer their young organist saying that it was his own ability that had brought him out and he would become a very good organist. Mr Fulton was Superintendent at Jamison Town for 16 years, at Cranebrook for 17 years and in Penrith for about eight years and Mrs Fulton was a member of St Stephen’s choir for several years. 

Source: Nepean Times Thursday 15th April 1948.