I TOOK advantage of the offer to attend an 'open day' at St John the Baptist Church, Bircle, on Sunday and what a revelation it proved to be. I received a warm welcome and found a beautiful church.

It is several years ago since I attended there - for the funeral of a beloved headmaster - and the change was staggering.

However, it seems sad that after such a wonderful transformation it is necessary to wait for an organ . . . and then it is to be a digital organ. Meanwhile, a small keyboard is in use.

I wonder what happened to the lovely pipe organ played at the funeral of my friend.

Music in the north of England is inspiring! Last Saturday I listened to an organ recital given by the renowned organist Guido Graumann on the magnificent Binns organ in Rochdale Town Hall. The programme was music, entirely composed by northern composers, including "Song of Triumph" by Oliphant Chuckerbutty. And who would not be triumphant with a name like that! So, in spite of the musical deprivation of the people of Bircle, all is not lost. There are many other venues where we can listen to good music.

The magnificent Bridgewater Hall hosts many lovely programmes with wonderful artists. What an asset it is to the city of Manchester and, indeed, to the world.

However, to my mind there is nothing quite so moving as to sing along with others from our lovely heritage of hymns, and there are many good, modern hymns these days. Singing in a lovely country church - such as Bircle - to a sweet-sounding pipe organ, which is quite capable of bringing out a good fortissimo, concentrates the mind and lifts the soul.

I do hope most sincerely that the good people of Bircle do not have to wait too long for their pipe organ. What wonderful Christians they are, helped and encouraged by their young and enterprising vicar.

CHURCH ORGANIST,

(retired),

Northwood Gardens, London.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.