He’d taken piano lessons since he was 5 and had attended Advent Christian Camp in Mechanic Falls with his family since he was a baby. The camp needed someone to play up to three times a day at services.

“I was young, I was foolish — I knew I could do it, so they let me do it,” Marshall said.

He stepped up, then never stepped down.

Now 85, he’s been camp organist for 70 years straight.

The annual camp meeting was a 10-day commitment each summer for years; it has since dropped to eight. Marshall juggled it with family, a career and a second streak as the regular West Auburn Congregational Church organist.

For 40 of those years, he also played every Sunday for a third church, sticking with the job even when the building changed hands.

“They just called Charles another fixture for the church —  they were giving him, too,” said his wife, June.

Marshall, who grew up in Auburn, said his mother and father were involved with the Advent Church and the camp when he was very young, bringing him, his brother and sister each summer.

“I was carried there as an infant and worked my way up to now,” he said.

Marshall began playing there in 1943. In 1945, still in high school, he was the pianist with the Edward Little chorus when it was invited to perform at West Auburn.

“We had the concert and I’ve been there ever since,” Marshall said.

That’s 68 years, every Sunday, and counting.

In 1965, he started playing for the Federated Church in Lewiston, staying with the building when members turned it over to Calvary United Methodist Church, which was looking for a new space.

Marshall’s routine from 1970 to 2005: Playing the West Auburn service at 9 a.m., then leaving in time to make the Calvary United service at 10:30.

West Auburn takes off every July and August, leaving Marshall time to fit in the Advent camp.

“I enjoy playing,” he said. “I believe that’s my gift to society, to churches. I don’t take any glory for myself.”

The pump organ has long since been retired; it’s all electric these days. Marshall plays gospel music and hymns, and though his knees sometimes ache, his fingers and hands are just fine. He skips practice and any sort of warm-up routine.

“I do a lot of thinking,” Marshall said. “I can open up a piece of music and I can hear how I’m going to play it.

“Many times during the day, I’ll be thinking what I’ll be doing next Sunday,” he said.

As best as he and June can remember, he’s missed one Sunday in all his years of playing. Marshall has also played hundreds of weddings, funerals and regular performances of old-time music at the Market Square Health Care Center in South Paris.

He’ll play the camp every night at 7 p.m. this week. Part of the plaque given to Marshall by the campground on Sunday reads:

“For his faithful service as organist at the campground for 70 years. Thousands of people of all ages have been blessed by this ministry of music done so skillfully and inspired by his commitment to serving our Lord and Savior.”

He was surprised, but happy to receive it and said that this week, while of note, won’t be much different than the 69 before.

“I don’t change my style of presentation,” Marshall said. “It’s practically the same as I first started, only I’m more mature. I’m not a kid anymore.”

kskelton@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link