Lynn organ being lovingly restored - watch video
AT LONDON Road Methodist Church, a sick, old lady is having a treat.
For the premises historic pipe organ, which dates from 1891, is painstakingly being removed to be refurbished - and will later be put back together again.
Regular organists Rachel Panton, Glenys Whiles and Lesley Evans noticed the organ - which has been patched up over the years - was getting near to breaking point.
"It is basically dropping apart," said Edmund Holmes, of specialist organ builders and restorers Holmes and Swift of Fakenham. "Keys were sticking and it was leaking air."
In fact, remarked one church stalwart, air roared out of it - competing with the central heating.
The church started an in-house appeal to fund the 27,620 cost of refurbishment - and this week work began.
Edmund, who has just completed work on the organ at St Mary's, Sandringham, expects it to take six months to complete. Parts of the organ, which has both metal and wooden pipes (around 800 pipes in all), are being removed to be taken to his premises at the Drift Industrial Estate.
Organists will use a piano in the meantime.
For two or three years prior to 1891, a strong desire had grown in the minds of the congregation to have the 'sanctuary song' improved by the introduction of an organ. In 1890, a nucleus of a fund was promised amounting to 90.
Some opposed it, and a few were neutral, though at length an organ committee was formed.
"The outlay was not to exceed 500 upon one absolute and cast iron condition that not one penny was to be added to the Chapel debt," said secretary to the church finance and property committee Elizabeth Harrison.
The cost of the organ, the selection of which rested mainly with Jasper Wright, and the wisdom of his choice, was 260; the organ gallery costing 240.
Undeniably, the organ has been an asset to the church, itself a thing of beauty as it is a classical non-conformist Victorian grade two listed building.
At installation, it was noted addition of the organ had greatly improved services of praise, and singing of the choir and congregation, led by its notes, were an inspiration.
This, said Elizabeth, held true today, the church choir now 15-strong.
One objector had said: "There are no organs in heaven."
"Perhaps not," was the reply, "but thank God there are some on earth."The organ, made by Bishop and Son of Ipswich, has proved a winner. In June 2009, is was awarded a Historic Organ Certificate by the British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS) - especially for its pipework and early 19th century Swell and Pedal - even in those days recycled parts were used.
A member of the BIOS who came to see it described it as a "likable mongrel", said Elizabeth.
And, certainly over the years, it has got the church out of a few scrapes.While best men turned up without rings and a bride without a bouquet, the organ just kept going while events descended into chaos.
It has also had a staring role in hundreds of services which would not have been the same without it.
These have included christenings and funerals as well as weddings - for members of the church as well as many non-members - and special services such as carol concerts for local groups, scout, beaver and cub parades.
Funding for the work has come about with the help of the Fitzmaurice Trust, O N Organ Fund, Paul Bassham Charitable Trust, the Allchurches Trust and Pilgrim Trust.
The majority of the funds have been raised by the congregation through various events, donations and interest-free loans.
Any else wanting to help should send cheques, payable to London Road Methodist Church, to John Rospopa, 86 Tennyson Road, PE30 5NG.
JUST CLICK THE ARROW TO WATCH THE VIDEO.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Monday 13 February 2012
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