NEIL KELLEY was born in Portsmouth and educated on the Hampshire Specialist Music Course (Winchester). He was awarded a Scholarship to the Royal College of Music where he studied with Nicholas Danby (organ), Geoffrey Parsons (piano accompaniment) and Norman Del Mar (conducting). During his time at the College he won many prizes for piano accompaniment, organ and choral work. He has also held the organ scholarships of St. Alban’s Cathedral and St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
As organist, he has performed in the Royal Albert Hall (Saint Saëns “Organ” Symphony) and many of the cathedrals in this country as well as three American tours and performances in France, Germany and Canada.
Whilst studying theology and training for the Priesthood at Cambridge, he was Director of Music at Pembroke College Chapel. He has broadcast for Classic FM, has worked for BBC Television and Radio both as a performer and conductor and has recorded the harpsichord music for the highly acclaimed Derek Jarman film ‘Caravaggio’.
Following his ordination in St. Paul’s Cathedral Neil served two parishes in the Diocese of London before moving to Liverpool to the parish of St. Chad, Kirkby. During his time in Kirkby Fr Neil organised a successful ‘Kirkby Summer Arts Festival’ and in 1996 was responsible for devising a programme, with Bishop Michael Marshall, for “A Celebration of Faith and the Arts” at Lambeth Palace at the request of the then Archbishop of Canterbury.
In April 1999 Fr. Neil was inducted as Vicar of the United Benefice of St. Faith, Great Crosby with St. Mary the Virgin, Waterloo Park and in 2006 was appointed Diocesan Adviser for Liturgy and Worship. Following some years as Rector of Bushey (Hertfordshire) Fr Neil returned to the north of England when he became Rector of Chorley in 2017.
Neil combines his priestly duties with an active musical career (as piano accompanist, organist and chamber musician) as the demands of ministry allow!
