Illogan Highway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Illogan Highway |
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 Illogan Highway Methodist Church and Church Hall |
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| OS grid reference | SW672418 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Redruth |
| Postcode district | TR15 |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
Illogan Highway is a small village located in Cornwall, England. It's found west of the town of Redruth, right along the main A30 road. This village is part of the civil parish of Carn Brea.
Contents
Discovering Illogan Highway's Musical History
Illogan Highway might be a small village, but it has a special connection to music. A famous composer named Thomas Merritt lived and worked here. His music is still enjoyed by many people today.
Who Was Thomas Merritt?
Thomas Merritt (1863-1908) was a talented musician and composer. He was born in Illogan, which is very close to Illogan Highway. His father was also named Thomas Merritt.
Thomas Merritt became the organist at the Methodist church in Illogan Highway. He played the organ there from 1889 until he passed away in 1908. The church building is shown in the picture at the top of this page.
Merritt's Famous Compositions
Thomas Merritt is best known for writing several Christmas carols. These are songs sung during the Christmas season. Some of his well-known carols include:
- "Hark the Glad Sound! The Saviour Comes"
- "Lo! He Comes, an Infant Stranger"
His carols are very popular, especially among people from Cornwall living all over the world.
Other Musical Works
Besides carols, Thomas Merritt also composed other types of music. He wrote a long musical piece called an oratorio, titled "The Christian Soldier." He also created a sacred cantata, which is a vocal piece, called "Shepherd of Israel."
A Royal Connection
Thomas Merritt's talent was recognized even by royalty. He was asked to write the Coronation March for King Edward VII in 1902. This was a very important piece of music for the King's crowning ceremony.
Thomas Merritt is buried in the churchyard of Illogan. His musical legacy continues to be celebrated.
