Executive Members

Executive Members of
The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Besides the Officers, the following are members of the Executive.
If elected for a further term, they cannot be reappointed for one year.

Mr Terence Atkins

2026

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Terence Atkins was born in South Woodford and attended Buckhurst Hill County High School, where he benefitted from the inspired teaching of John Rippin.  While at the Royal College of Music he spent two years as Organ Scholar at St George’s, Windsor, under Dr Sidney Campbell; his other teachers included...
John Crothers

(2023)

John Crothers portrait

John, following a career chiefly as a grammar school Modern Languages teacher, moved from Northern Ireland to Paris in 2001 to teach English at university and upper school level. He has now retired, but uses his ‘spare’ time to play the church organ, conduct a choir and to compose hymn tunes and anthems for the Church.

He studied the organ with Dr Donald Davison, Belfast City and University Organist and music editor of a number of Anglican Hymnals...

Rev'd. James Dickinson

2026

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To be added
Fi Dunn

2026

Fi Dunn

Fi Dunn has always been singing, ever since she was a small child, as well as playing various musical instruments, including piano, guitar, ukulele  and accordion. Singing and making music were her favourite things to do at school, where she learnt many styles of music, including hymns.

As a young adult, she started attending church, after a powerful conversion experience in a Gospel choir concert, and her passion for hymns deepened.

Michael Gisborne

2026

Michael Gisborne

Michael Gisbourne is an Anglican priest serving as a Residentiary Canon of Ripon Cathedral in North Yorkshire. Born in Blackburn, he graduated from Leeds University with a degree in Geography before gaining theological qualifications through the Universities of Nottingham and Lancaster. Ordained in 1992...

Nicholas Markwell

2025

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Nicholas does not wish his photo to be on the internet

Nicholas Markwell has sung in church choirs since he was a boy, and became choirmaster at All Saints, Caddington (a village near Luton) in January 2000, and has been researching the original texts and music of hymns (mainly in the British Library) ever since. He also researches and edits sacred choral music for London Gallery Quire and With Cheerful Voice, amongst others, and is passionate about singing hymns in harmony...
Elise Massa

2026

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Elise Massa is a songwriter and hymn writer currently residing in Durham, England. Her interest in hymnody grew exponentially while serving at an Anglican church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (United States) which encouraged 'blended worship,' integrating organ led hymondy alongside contemporary worship and grassroots songwriting. Elise continues to champion...
The Rev'd Dr Andrew Pratt

(2024)

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Andrew Pratt is a British Methodist Minister and Hymn Writer. Born in Paignton, Devon, he studied Zoology at university, took a Masters in Marine Biology and then taught for seven years in secondary schools. He trained for the Methodist Ministry at Queens College, Birmingham serving in various Circuits in the North West of England. He researched the hymns of...
Philip Price

(2024)

Phil Price
Philip Price was born in London, and studied modern languages at Worcester College, Oxford, graduating in 1981. He pursued a career in marketing and management in the food industry. Retiring from full-time employment in 2019, he works (very) part-time as an interpreter in French and German, and otherwise spends as much time as possible as...
Dr. Gillian Warson

(2024)

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Gillian Warson trained as a professional viola player and then worked as a church musician and teacher in Germany. Since completing her Ph.D. on the development of the hymnbook in hymn singing cultures, she has continued her interest in hymnody. In 2006 her biography of Fred Kaan was published by Stainer & Bell Ltd and she thoroughly enjoyed working closely with Fred while this book was in preparation. Since then ...