Rolling Stone Sir Mick Jagger makes surprise trip to Saddleworth

The 78-year-old traded his guitar for the church organ to relive a bit of his family history on the same day that Saddleworth marked Whit Friday on June 10.

The rockstar was greeted by Reverend Barbara Christopher at St Mary’s Church where his grandfather David Jagger was the organist for more than 20 years.

Speaking about Sir Mick’s visit on the BBC’s North West Tonight programme on Friday, Reverend Christopher said: “He arrived with his partner Melanie and their little boy Deveraux who’s five and they came into the church.”

“They admired the church and I asked him if he played the organ and he said, ‘not particularly’ but he did sit at the organ and played”, she added.

A screenshot of Reverend Barbara Christopher speaking to presenter Annabel Tiffin on North West Tonight. 

The impromptu performance followed the Rolling Stones’ show at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool as part of their SIXTY tour just the night before.

Mick Jagger during The Rolling Stones performing on stage during the first UK date of their SIXTY tour at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool.

Reverend Christopher described Sir Mick to presenter Annabel Tiffin as a “very quiet” and softly spoken” gentleman who was “polite” and “friendly” during his visit.

The Reverend admitted she had not really been a fan of the Rolling Stones but “might be now” and called the church’s connection to Mick Jagger its “claim to fame”.

Sir Mick’s grandfather, who has a plaque dedicated to him in the church, was also the headmaster at St Mary’s CE Primary School.

Following his church visit Sir Mick reportedly went for a stroll on the moors.