| St Bart's Organ Refurbished |
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The service was lead by the team rector, the Reverend Tom Ringland (right), and the guest organist was Dr Christopher Johns, the Director of Music at Leicester Cathedral (left). They are both pictured here with the organ restorer Mr John Burns (centre). The service took, as its theme, the story of the bible in hymns. The oder of the hymns was O Praise ye the Lord!, Bright the vision that delighted, O little town of Bethlehem, My song is love unknown, Thine be the glory, Angel voices ever singing, O thou who camest from above, All my hope on God is founded, Lo! He comes with clouds descending, On conclusion of the service, Christopher Johns gave a recital of JS Bach's Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV541, which was rapturously received by the full congregation gathered to join in the celebration.
The refurbishment work had been made possible thanks to a generous single donation from ex-chorister, Mr Ron Kinns, who is now retired and lives in Norfolk. He had maintained loving relationships with families in Kirby Muxloe and his keen interest in the beauty of the church and its organ was demonstrated in the donation made towards the end of 2010. The service took the form of a Songs and Praise ser vice at the request of Ron but, unfor tunately he was unable to be present due to ill health. Ron had developed a passion for organ music since his boyhood and he remembers teh huge organ and recitals at Blackpool and the Compton Organ at Great Yarmouth. This passion stayed with him throughout the years and, as an accomplished organise and pianist himself, his home in Norwich now houses four organs. (Photographs by Colin Brooks ABIPP) |
A special Festival Songs and Praise was held at St Bartholomew's church, Kirby Muxloe on the evening of Sunday 17th July to celebrate the refurbishment and enhancement of the church's 1906 organ.
The regular organists at St Bartholomew's (l to r: Marilyn Eales, Sheila Brady, Jeanette Kinder, Peter Webster) were all thrilled at the beautiful and improved tones of the refurbished instrument and were extremely grateful to Christopher Johns for coming and demonstrating its qualities.