St. Anselm’s organist retires after long service

Nearly 70 summers have past since Ben Moyls first volunteered to play the organ at services in a Vancouver church. Ben, who is 85 and who has been the volunteer organist at St. Anslem's (near the University of BC) for the last 50 years, began his career on the organ at Holy Trinity, Vancouver. Under the tutelage of Alfred Chard, organist there, Ben was allowed to practice for an hour a day, which cost his family "a small fee for electricity and $2.50 once every two weeks for a lesson."

Moyls did not become a professional musician. Rather, he devoted his life to the study and teaching of mathematics. He played thousands of hymns in his years as a church organist, but his favourite is "Cwm Rhonnda" (Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah). A concert and reception to honour Moyls was held at the church, and he was written up in the local community newspaper, V6T Community News.