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- Organist Charles Macpherson, 1870
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Charles Macpherson FRAM (10 May 1870 - 28 May 1927) was a Scottish organist, who served at St Paul's Cathedral. He was born in Edinburgh on 10 May 1870. His father was Burgh Architect. At the age of nine he became a chorister at St. Paul's Cathedral, later studying music at the Royal Academy of Music. He was organist at St Clement Eastcheap between 1887 and 1890, before returning to St Paul's as assistant organist between 1895 and 1916, being made organist in 1916, a position he held until his death.
He married Sophia Menella Newbolt, the youngest daughter of Canon Newbolt in 1910. Their son, Alasdair Charles Macpherson (born 1911), died in 1941 while serving with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
He was Professor of Composition at the Royal Academy of
Music and was elected a Fellow. He was President of the
Royal College of Organists from 1920 to 1922. Two hymns by
Macpherson were included in Hymns Ancient and Modern in
1916 Exsurgat Deus, and Stonypath. He
composed a Thanksgiving Te Deum for the
thanksgiving service at St Paul's on 6 July 1919, which
marked the end of the First
World War and was attended by King George V and
Queen Mary.
He died suddenly on 28 May 1927.