© C. Parker

We are Charles and Julie Parker and amongst other things we are musicians. Charles is a clarinet player and Julie is a Singer, and as you can see here we are also both keyboard players.

We are members of the Maranatha Community – a scattered community of Christians from all church traditions in Britain and abroad who come together in worship and are committed to unity, prayer for the nation, healing and renewal. Charles works full time for the community as their Office Manager looking after finance and administration, and the team of volunteers. We sometimes lead the music at Maranatha weekend retreats or conferences, as in this photo.

From 1991 to 2003 Charles was the Director of Music at All Hallows Church, Cheadle, Cheshire, where he had overall responsibility for music and ran one of the two music groups. Since our wedding in April 2004 we both now worship at St. Edmund’s in Whalley Range, Manchester, where Charles is the organist and keyboard player in the music group (and treasurer) and Julie is the lead singer in the music group.

Video of Charles introducing himself at the organ in St. Edmund’s

Charles is a supporter of the Music and Worship Foundation, a charity which provides training and practical support for church musicians across all denominations and music styles throughout the UK. He served as Northwest Network Secretary from 1993 to 2003 and Northwest Regional Coordinator from 2003 to 2010 helping to organise 71 training events all over the Northwest of England. MWF’s aim is to envision, resource and train worshipping communities to use a breadth of worship expressions and musical styles, combining creative skill and integrity of heart. From Sept 2011 this has been realised through the ministry of EngageWorship.org

Prior to moving into full time service with Maranatha Charles worked in the electronics industry as a Project Manager (initially with Ferranti Computer Systems) having graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in Electronic Engineering.

Julie studied singing at the Royal Northern College of Music and trained as a teacher at Manchester Metropolitan University. Since then she has pursued both a teaching and a musical career. From 1993 to 2007 Julie worked full time as a primary school teacher in Gorton, Manchester, specialising in Year 6, during which time she also performed as a singer giving recitals in England, France and Japan. In 2007 she joined the curriculum team of Salford Music and Performing Arts Service (MAPAS) travelling round different schools teaching singing and taking classroom music lessons.

In 2012, following a restructuring of MAPAS, Julie left to set up her own company JPMusic Manchester Ltd. providing whole-class and individual music lessons in primary and secondary schools. She also teaches beginner piano, clarinet and recorder, and coaches singers from beginners to advanced, both in schools and privately.

In 2020 Julie trained as a Kumon Instructor and took over the running of the Chorlton Kumon Centre, helping children of all ages and ability to progress their skills and develop a love for learning using the unique Kumon method.

Julie is a member of the Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD) and is the conductor of Urmston Choral Society and Irlam Mixed Voice Choir (formerly Irlam Male Voice Choir). From 1994 to 2009 she was the conductor of Manchester Girls Choir Junior Singers, and subsequently Salford Youth Choir. Julie also works as a professional solo singer, singing with a number of choral societies, a swingband, and with our friend Phil in residential homes.

Both Julie and Charles play clarinet in the Werneth Concert Band.

Charles can be contacted on charles@mwfnorthwest.org.uk
and Julie can be contacted on julie@mwfnorthwest.org.uk