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Cumbrian Society of Organists |
Six members met at 12 noon on Wednesday 11th September at St. Andrew’s Church in Borrowdale. Three additional members joined us for lunch and most then continued to St. Mary’s Church, Thornthwaite.
The St. Andrew’s organ was built by Blackett & Howden in 1901 for a church near Scarborough. It was moved to Borrowdale by the late Sam Hicks, a former CSO member, when the old organ was damaged beyond repair by water. It has recently been restored and enlarged by John Lightbown & Sons. They have added a 3-rank mixture to the Great and a (very loud) floating Trumpet, playable on all divisions. The old Swell Larigot has been converted to a Fifteenth.
Mike Town presented a short demonstration before several members played a variety of pieces. With the exception of the trumpet, the stops are all modestly voiced, but it is nevertheless more than adequate for such a small building and the pedal 16’ reed is a rare treat on a small organ, despite some slight misbehaviour on the day.
Lunch was enjoyed at the Ruddings Hotel in Braithwaite, albeit slightly delayed by sheep, buses, and tourists on the Borrowdale road.
Thornthwaite has an 1890 Harrison & Harrison organ which was being held in storage after the church was flooded during storm Desmond in 2015. It was returned to the church in 2023 with all the necessary restoration. Although less than half the size of the Borrowdale instrument, with only 7 speaking stops, we found it more than capable of filling the rather larger building.
Thanks are due to Mike Town for organising the event, and all members who played to make the day most enjoyable.
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