HRH King Charles III and Brandon McPhee at Canisbay Church
Alan Cairns
Added at 11:13 on 07 August 2024
We were delighted and honoured to welcome HRH King Charles III to the morning service in Canisbay Church last Sunday 4th August. There was a large attendance of church members and visitors to enjoy the service which was led by our minister Rev Janet Easton-Berry and organist Liz Geddes. The church was beautifully decorated by flowers provided and arranged by Christine Shearer and Rosemary Muir. All the hymns sung were personally chosen by King Charles, which included a rousing version of Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah sung to the tune Cwn Rhondda. Murray Watts from Freswick castle wrote a fascinating dialogue specially for the service, and performed it personally with Janet's nephew Josh Easton-Berry, and both rightfully received a generous round of applause for the performance. Local music star Brandon McPhee sang a very moving version of How Great Thou Art, accompanied by Manson Grant on the piano.
During the service it was acknowledged that it was the 124th anniversary of the birth of the King’s much-loved grandmother, the late Queen Mother. Brandon commented “To be singing in the church on such a historic day for Caithness, and for the Royal Family, I really felt honoured. It was just such a pleasure to be there." Brandon went on to praise the Rev Easton-Berry by saying “Janet is incredible as well. She is very welcoming and she is certainly held in very high esteem by everybody". A full account of Brandon's experiences at the service can be found in the John O'Groat Journal via this link:
Brandon McPhee with the Rev Janet Easton-Berry
Brandon with local musician Manson Grant
HRH King Charles III with Rev Janet Easton-Berry, outside Canisbay Church, August 2023.
Photo © copyright 2003 Neil Buchan