READY TO PLAY: Flora Sloski is right at home on the Boston Presbyterian Church organ.

A historic centuries-old church tucked away in Milton's picturesque countryside has a special place in Flora Sloski's heart.

Boston Presbyterian Church has been Sloski's home away from home for more than 60 years. And for exactly 60 years she has been its organist: the pulse of traditional hymns sung every Sunday during its service.

Recently, church members celebrated Sloski's milestone, holding an affair at the church in her honour.

"It was an informal, nice evening," says Sloski.

It was an evening she won't forget anytime soon, nor the memories that were summoned with it.

One of the gifts she received was a scrapbook that pays tribute to the years gone by. The pictures tell a story of a different time and place.

So, too, does the old-fashioned victrola music box, another gift.

Sloski was born in 1924 in Burlington. Her family moved to Milton when she was a year old.

Sloski attended the former Milton Presbyterian Church until her last year in high school. It was then that she chanced upon Boston Presbyterian Church.

CHANCE DISCOVERY

It happened just like that, by chance. Sloski's friend had a horse she liked to ride. Often, she'd trade her motor scooter for his horse when they went on expeditions together.

So it was on horseback that she discovered the church off the beaten path.

Sloski, who loves the countryside, found it inviting. She decided to become a member and has never looked back.

"They're almost like a family out there, they really are," she says.

Sloski recalls that her first time playing the organ at the church was around June 1948, during an anniversary service.

"It was push organ when I started," she notes.

The church has a lot of history for this 84-year-old. Sloski got married there, and her daughter was also christened there.

One of the highlights has been the nativity story as acted out by the children at Christmas candlelight services.

"In the early days we had a lot of children (in the congregation)," she says.

Sloski, a retired teacher, adores children. Her first teaching position was at Quatre Bras, a little country school that was in the same area as the church.

Sloski used her musical talent to teach students rhythm at the E.C. Drury School for the Deaf for 16 years.

AT HOME ON THE KEYS

Sloski has an organ and piano at home, and after all these years, her fingers find it second nature to play.

"I don't practice too much anymore. I think I know most of the hymns by heart," she laughs.

Still, she attends choir practice every Tuesday night at the church.

For the summer, though, she'll be taking a break, and true to her country spirit, will be heading to her cottage at the Lake of Bays, Ont.

As for the cottage, she has been there 41 years.

When she comes back at Thanksgiving, she will resume her role at the church.

Sloski quips, "I'm only 84...I'm too young to retire."

For such an active and upbeat lady, it isn't hard to believe.