A correspondent writes:

Christine Phillis, who died on 22 February, aged 89, was a musician and teacher, and, for 73 years, an organist.

Chris's musical career began at the age of eight, when she was bought her first piano by her father. She worked her way through grade examinations in the 1930s, and in the early years of the Second World War, aged 16, played the piano and accordion in the local church organist's dance band in London on Saturday nights.

In 1942, the organist was called up. The vicar said to Chris: "You play the piano, don't you?" An affirmative reply got her the position of organist at St George's, Waddon. She had one lesson from Lesley Smith, organist of Croydon Parish Church (now Minster).

Chris was a founder-member and the first secretary of the Croydon Bach Society, and this led to a closer association with the Parish Church; ultimately she became choir mistress of the "9.30 Choir", and organist at the 9.30 service. Over the years, the choir became a girls' choir, and, in 1970, Chris organised the first choir holiday to Devon and Cornwall; this included the choir's first evensong at Truro Cathedral.

That led to a 28-year association with Truro Cathedral, where her choir sang after Christmas, at Easter, and during the summer for many years. Hers was the first girls' choir to sing at Truro, as well as at several other cathedrals.

The choir went on to sing in the cathedrals of Llandaff, Wells, Portsmouth, Ely, Birmingham, Arundel, St Paul's, and Westminster Abbey; in Bath Abbey, Buckfast Abbey, and dozens of other churches around the country, and in Germany, Belgium, and Holland.

Chris and the choir gave secular concerts, and entertainments for organisations as diverse as livery companies, charities, care homes, and fire stations.

Chris was a talented teacher, and trained her choirgirls well. Many felt that Chris made a difference to their lives. Her love of teaching went back to her early years at Sefter School in Pagham, West Sussex, where she was evacuated in 1939. She was reading with the primary-school children for some months before her school caught up with her.

The love of teaching took her back to school for three years in the late 1960s, and, in parallel to her church music, she became a mature student. After her teacher training, she taught secondary- school music, and, in her second year, became Head of Music at Lady Edridge Grammar School for Girls in Croydon. After six years at Lady Edridge, she moved to Norbury Manor High School for Girls, and taught there until she was 70.

Aged 73, Chris retired to Pagham. On the day she moved, Martin How telephoned her from the RSCM to say that St Richard's, Aldwick, a couple of miles from her new home, needed an organist and choirmaster. It got a choir- mistress.

Chris played at St Richard's until August 2014. Despite memory problems, and the progression of dementia, she could sight-read anything given to her. On one memorable occasion, she extemporised on a hymn tune for 15 minutes at a funeral, until we realised that the congregation had turned into an audience enjoying the performance.

Chris taught more than 3000 children in schools, and many hundreds in choirs. Her joint passions of teaching and music enabled her to make a difference to many lives. Her talent, wit, and humour will be sorely missed by all who knew her.