For those 11,000 of you who haven't subscribed... It Costs You Nothing to Subscribe... Not a Measly Penny. You won't get Unwanted Requests for Donations, nor unwanted emails. If you Ring The Bell, it lets you know when the next video is uploaded. It's as simple as that... and if you have enjoyed his videos, then it is Entirely Up To You if you choose to make a donation to his channel. I have made a donation, because I love Churches and Organ Music and I really appreciate Ben's efforts to show us these old churches and their organs. So, go on, Subscribe and make it possible for Ben to continue his endeavours to visit these old, out-of-the-way churches which most of us will never get to visit in person. Please note; that although I lived in Salisbury 30 years ago, I do not know Ben and have never met him, so I'm writing this entirely of my own volition, as he deserve our support. Russ. Portsmouth, UK
Well said Russ, and hopefully more people will subscribe to this wonderful channel as a result. I’ve also made a donation as, like you, I love Churches and Organ music. Who could not appreciate these fantastic videos? Many thanks to Ben and Billy for his help on this one.
These episodes are just excellent - long may they continue! And God Bless from an English Anglican (of the arch traditional breed) exiled in central Mexico for his last chapter(s) most likely who appreciates what you do very much! Now please, Gentlemen, do try all you can to help get that English revival going and all those magnificent empty parish churches teeming with the next generation of saints - … as sooner or later it IS going to kick-off, Christ knows! 🏴🙏
Subscribing is definitely important, and I subscribed before the first video finished playing. Comments are also valuable! When viewers leave comments RU-vid sees a community interacting and will send Ben’s excellent films to other’s feed. Go Billy, go! Thank you for making this video possible!
It’s young talented people like Ben that make me realise that civilisation hasn’t completely died. I’m not religious at all but intelligent enough to know that these ancient churches and their music form the bedrock of our culture.
Remember the words of the world famous French literary giant- "England has two books.Shakespeare and the bible.England made Shakespeare but the bible made england " .
We had our 50th wedding celebration on 30 March 2024 and decided to give each guest a flash disk with our 50 dearest music pieces. We often communicate through music, those emotions and messages which are hard to put in words. This hymn, under the title "Tochter Zion" as well as your "How great Thou art" were included. Thank you for lifting my spirit and easing the harshness of living in this broken world. God is well pleased with your work. May love and peace be your portion.
Nobody will appreciate an Organ in the same way an organ builder will. Happy memories of life at the bench, releathering motors and reservoirs, building a console, drilling endless holes in toe board's and slider chests. Happy Happy day's. Pipe organ shops are a lot like Churches. A place of meditation and steady focused attention. I miss all my old friends on the shop floor. The banter, the laughter, a good natured bunch of lads.
@@joschmoyo4532 I thought of going into organ building in the sixties, and Manders would have been the company. But the bright lights of rock'n'roll led me astray.........................
@@bertspeggly4428 NP Mander is gone now. I think a few of the staff set up outside of London. Rock n Roll is for those who can't handle pipe organ building ! Harrison's is still going. Don't know about George Harrison. There used to be a whole bunch of organ builder's in Victorian times. Not many left now.
Absolutely beautiful! As an “old” organist, it does my heart SO much good to see a talented young man giving these instruments a voice again. Thank you! Thank you for the choice of pieces, as well. Bravo!
This is what church is supposed to be, man communing with God through great beauty, and great music. Whether singly or in groups, makes no difference, as long as there is love and hope.
I've been waiting to hear the organ and find out how it was repaired. Thanks to your brother Billy for his help. As usual, you matched the music to the organ's capability. You are such a gifted organist!
Pity the bird left…he was probably waiting to hear the concert and sing along! Lovely to hear Bach on an authentic pump organ, you definitely brought it to life! ❤
Action Packed Episode!💥🎶🎶🎶🎶Bird Rescue, 2 Man Operation, Gym work Out for Billy, Bach Prelude, an Old Hymn Tune and Retro 70's Thread Vibes courtesy of your brother. Enjoyed hearing the Organ properly this time!
If I was inspired by your first visit to the Rev. George Herbert's church and its organ, I was moved to tears of joy by your return visit. As a cleric, choirmaster and singer of Herbert's poems and hymns, I was deeply moved by this wonderful combination of my favorite English poet, my favorite English organist, and this wonderful historic instrument. So delighted you have fixed the cyphers, and that your brother was able to assist you on this pilgrimage. Now in my mid 80's, I get to church seldom and sorely miss its music. You have made this Sabbath special for me. Thanks immeasurably!
As ever: wonderful! All things bright, beautiful, organic, majestic, peaceful, ornithological, contemplative, illuminating, melodic, respectful and no enigmatic cyphers. You both make a great team! Thanks Ben.
I took an Easter service in a village church which has acquired a very decent upright piano - the music for reflection after the address was the Bach prelude you played here. I used to have a recording of St Mary Rotherhithe where the sparrows nesting in the wire guards of the windows proved impossible to eliminate. All part of the unique charm of each of the parish churches of England.
Thank you Ben for going back and playing the organ you could not play last time you visited also thanks 🙏 to your brother for pumping the organ it’s hard work I really enjoyed your video again 😊 keep them coming god bless you
Love your site. I used to play a JW Steere in Goshen CT USA from Springfield Masscsts1894. In 1974 the blower fritzed on Christmas Eve. "No problem said our Sexton who pumped it when he was a boy living across the street. He got a teenager to get behind, pulled out a brace and instructed the 30 year old organist how to operate the blower signal When organ had bellows and leathers replaced for first time in 1994 it was kept playable by pumping just in case. Thankyou. I recognize all you play and appreciate that you play without a lot of 'body English'.
“Hello Ben”….i just stumbled upon this lovely film by chance this morning. What a talented and thoughtful young man you are, and how wonderful that you are discovering these old brilliant churches, and allowing us all to visit alongside of you. I’ve subscribed immediately. Imagine George Herbert the poet played the music here , wow! I well remember his poetry from my school days eons ago now. It was good of your brother to film and pump the organ, phew! bet his arm ached that night. I got chills when you started to play and then shed a tear. How beautiful the old church is and so very obviously cherished and well kept. You are quite right the church approach is so lovely, and the folk whizzing past in their vehicles are seriously missing a trick! It was as though we had all tripped back to days gone by, and it was easy to imagine the box-pews filled with honest working people and see the ladies skirts brushing the trees lining the pathway, as they walked home after the service. Thank you so much for this. It is clearly something that resonates within your heart to discover these hidden gems. Brilliant!! 😘💫💫💫💫💫💫💫
That is a truly magnificent hymn, and music, which captures the essence of Easter. Along with the George Herbert ''prelude' (and his hymn/s) earlier played by you, I feel blessed. Thank you!
This was wonderful - George Herbert's poetry meant a lot to me when I studied it at school (it still does) and to hear the organ played as he would have heard it is very special - thankyou so much! Great video!
Beautiful. Thank you. Even 400 years ago believers had deep and meaningful revelations of who we are in the Lord. The words are just as profound today.
A beautiful organ offering up one of Herbert's finest set to music. An expression of faith and musical art I love. Of course, Americans sing it to a different tune. We're goofy that way.
Dear Ben, your posts are spiritual food, and I am most grateful. Beyond the immediate benefits of hearing your narrative and the lovely music you play, I take great delight in reading comments from so many of your followers. Could there be a more ringing endorsement of your efforts? My heart is joyful when I read about the impact you've made on many people. Blessings to you, Ben. I am happy to help support your work, as I am able, via PayPal donations. Warmest wishes to you from Seattle! // William
Excellent video. You have quite a gift for compelling narration, you could put that to great use. And you are 100% correct about the road outside, it is a horrible intrusion into the peaceful atmosphere of the church. And I subscribed on seeing your first video!
I was going to call your brother "Billy Biceps" for his pumping skills....but man your family is blessed with *magnificent* hair. Wow. Glad the landscapers, landcaped off before your session was ruined. I wonder how many freezing cold church organists died of consumption/pneumonia over the centuries. I noticed Billy the Pumper's tempo was changing. Did he know he had to change pumping based on the speed of the notes, or is the mechanism responsive enough to let the Pumper know if it needs to be pumped faster/slower?
For those of you who were watching Billy pump the organ... There was a weight on a piece of string hanging close to the pump, with a marker both above and below the weight. The other end of the string is attached to the top of the Internal Bellows and Billy was keeping the weight roughly equidistant between the two markers. As Ben came to the end of the music and Billy stopped pumping, the bellows collapsed and the weight rose upwards, so at all times, Billy knew how fast or slow he had to pump, to keep that weight between the markers. Watch the video again, to see for yourself.
Thank you Ben and Billy. It really does make a big difference with a good cameraperson present. Beautiful church, wonderful organ. And Ben, you have inspired me to play JS Bach's Prelude in C Major for my prelude at church next Sunday morning. Thanks! I donated 10 quid. Sorry that it isn't more, as your videos are priceless gems, but I'm on a low income, being a small village church organist. I don't understand why more of your watchers do not simply push the "like and subscribe" buttons. I guess that a lot of people may not understand the importance of supporting the free and easy RU-vid algorithms. Cheers, - Matt, Mendocino Presbyterian Church, California
Wonderful video, I've never seen a pump organ in action before, very interesting to watch and a lovely mellow tone. Excellent watching on a Monday morning here in NZ. I've been a subscriber for a while now, I'm not a churchgoer now although I grew up in a Presbyterian family. The organ music used to almost bring me to tears sometimes because it was so gorgeous. I can't deal with the happy clappy music that so many churches use these days. I enjoy all sorts of music from jazz to rock to house, and my friends would be astonished/ horrified that now in my 60s I'm regularly getting my fix of " classical" music by watching YT channels such as yours and those featuring baroque singers and musicians. Absolutely beautiful and so soothing in todays messed up world. Thank you for the work you put into these great videos - the church stories are also really interesting
Thank you so much for this clip. I suddenly came across it. I can cry to see what has become to beautiful places like this n now the state of this country - taken over by the Islamist. I am Sri Lankan by birth, but have lived in the UK for 25 yrs. I love the old church architecture n the organ music, which was all done for the glory of our Lord. God bless u n yr brother.
The hymn Thine be the glory for me as a German is always a hymn connected to Christmas as it sung to the words Tochter Zion, freue Dich... Thank you for bringing this old organ back to life in such an auhentic way in such a beautiful church.
Thank you Ben, I love your videos, not only the music but the bit of history, some of your tunes remind me of my school day hymn singing, keep up the good work, Best Wishes from Jan
Beautiful, it fills my chest with something i feel like crying. Wish i could visit England. I feel like I've been to Church. Modern songs are not like this.
Thank you Billy for showing us how the air is pumped and for helping with the filming. It was interesting to hear that the bass notes in the Bach were almost inaudible. If Billy had pumped faster would that have made a difference to the sound or is there a recommended maximum speed of pumping otherwise something might break? (part of the organ or Billy‘s wrist!)
So grateful to have “happened” upon your site ! I see you’ll soon be in Dorset, next on my places to visit, as “Whethams”:hail from this area , my paternal grandparents ! Look forward to seeing and more importantly hearing your subsequent offerings. Anne ( Brit wannabe 2 generations removed 😂) N Vancouver Canada
In the Hymnal 1982 (Episcopal Church), we have the George Herbert’s king of glory King of peace to a different tune called General Seminary. It is named after one of the seminaries in the Episcopal Church in New York City.
I've got to 25 but as I am not on socical media or even internet competent I will have to replay on demon AI I suppose but have followed you instruction! Super stuff and well done brother bellows man! Rob
I do love the music though. Especially Baroque! The late French romantics are rather great too. What about Daphnis et Chloe by Ravel? Or a bit of Ralph Vaughan-Williams English folk songs or Von Holsts English folk tunes?😊
Just came across a video about a chapel that you might find interesting. The channel "100 Chapters" has just put up a video about "The Tin Chapel" near Pately Bridge in Yorkshire, which is looked after by the local Boys Brigade organisation. Found it very interesting, and it seems to have a harmonium / foot pedal organ (probably not playable). Certainly worth a watch.
Again many thanks Ben and I think many thanks to your brother Billy for helping you Is the church in the care of the Church’s Conservation Trust? It seems well looked after
@@richardschulenburg758 It's Ben's own composition - an extemporisation, played on the organ in Salisbury where he is resident organist. It's available on one of his CDs for you to buy online. Best, Michael x
