Catherine Mary Palmer,
January 22, 1928 – September 13, 2023

Yorkminster Park Baptist Church was blessed beyond measure by the musical talent, inspiring leadership and deep devotion of Catherine M. Palmer who served as the church’s Director of Music for twenty-six remarkable years beginning in 1970.  Building on the church’s well established English choral tradition, Catherine attracted countless singers, both professional and volunteer, to join the Yorkminster Park Choir, which was distinguished not only by its large size, but above all by its musical excellence.  Annually, she took the choir to new heights, offering special concerts such as the Bach Passions. Under her leadership treasured recordings were made, and tours of English cathedrals undertaken during which the choir set itself apart in the offering of daily Evensong services.

Catherine Palmer was also a gifted church organist who influenced a generation of church organists, including her successor, William Maddox.  Both students and choristers alike testify to her brilliance as a teacher, conductor and performer.  Catherine was a profoundly spiritual woman influenced and informed by her spiritual heritage.  Not only was Catherine the daughter of an Anglican priest, but also the great-granddaughter of General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army.  Catherine felt a special link to her grandmother, Catherine “Kate” Booth-Clibborn, also known as La Maréchale, a woman who, like Catherine, offered remarkable leadership.

Much has been written and said about Catherine’s years prior to her appointment to Yorkminster Park spent in England and Canada, including her years of leadership at Toronto’s Holy Trinity Anglican Church, her service with the Royal Canadian College of Organists and her appointment to the faculty of the Royal Conservatory of Music.  In the final chapters of her life, Catherine was blessed by the love she shared with her husband, the Rev. Nicholas Morkel.  With Nicholas at her side and Christ in her heart, the music of her life continued to soar.

William Maddox and the Yorkminster Park Baptist Church Choir are honoured to be participating in a Memorial Service of Thanksgiving for her life, to be held on Thursday, September 28th at The Church of the Ascension, 33 Overland Drive, Don Mills, where Nicholas is the Parish Priest.  Yorkminster Park’s Minister of the Congregation, the Rev Dr. J. Peter Holmes will also be paying tribute to Catherine on that occasion.

Visitation will take place at the Church of the Ascension on Wednesday, September 27th from 7 to 9 p.m.  The funeral is Thursday, September 28th at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Ascension. In lieu of flowers, donations in Catherine’s memory would be most appreciated towards the campaign to repave the Church of the Ascension parking lot.  We continue to keep Nicholas in our prayers during this time of grief.