Steven Miles
New member
Save our church organ! Say the people of Broadbottom
When the Cheshire village of Broadbottom celebrated the 100th birthday of their church organ in December 2007 with an recital by organ virtuoso Simon Lole, little did they realize that the Parish Church Council of their mother church at Mottram would decide that the lovely Edwardian “brass plate” organ would have no place in the plans to reorder the church after the conversion of the back of the building into the Broadbottom Children’s Centre.
Villagers were dismayed to read in the local press that the Mottram Church Council, alarmed by a report from a Manchester organ firm that suggested that £20,000 would be required to make urgent repairs to the instrument, had voted to give away the organ to the organ firm and let them try and sell it, probably on the continent. In fact, that same firm had said, after refurbishing the organ some years back, ‘You can look forward to a further lifetime’s service from this organ without major expenditure.’ In fact, according to a local organist, it is in very good health and needs only its usual twice yearly tune up to keep it in trim.
For over a century, the church organ has provided the musical accompaniment to weekly church services, funerals, and celebrations - including the church’s centenary, school services, and the village carol service. The church has long been the home of the Tameside Festival Chorus and the venue for many concerts. The loss of the organ would deprive the local community of such prestigious events and leave the area culturally poorer.
A group of concerned villagers has formed an action committee to Save Broadbottom Church organ. They hope to persuade the Mottram Parish Church Council to think again about the plan to remove the organ. They feel that there is ample room in the church for all sorts of music making. Surely it makes sense to retain this wonderful instrument, which has been at the heart of Broadbottom village community life for over a century.
Follow the link below to join the "Save Broadbottom Church Organ" facebook group:
http://tinyurl.com/y9bc843
When the Cheshire village of Broadbottom celebrated the 100th birthday of their church organ in December 2007 with an recital by organ virtuoso Simon Lole, little did they realize that the Parish Church Council of their mother church at Mottram would decide that the lovely Edwardian “brass plate” organ would have no place in the plans to reorder the church after the conversion of the back of the building into the Broadbottom Children’s Centre.
Villagers were dismayed to read in the local press that the Mottram Church Council, alarmed by a report from a Manchester organ firm that suggested that £20,000 would be required to make urgent repairs to the instrument, had voted to give away the organ to the organ firm and let them try and sell it, probably on the continent. In fact, that same firm had said, after refurbishing the organ some years back, ‘You can look forward to a further lifetime’s service from this organ without major expenditure.’ In fact, according to a local organist, it is in very good health and needs only its usual twice yearly tune up to keep it in trim.
For over a century, the church organ has provided the musical accompaniment to weekly church services, funerals, and celebrations - including the church’s centenary, school services, and the village carol service. The church has long been the home of the Tameside Festival Chorus and the venue for many concerts. The loss of the organ would deprive the local community of such prestigious events and leave the area culturally poorer.
A group of concerned villagers has formed an action committee to Save Broadbottom Church organ. They hope to persuade the Mottram Parish Church Council to think again about the plan to remove the organ. They feel that there is ample room in the church for all sorts of music making. Surely it makes sense to retain this wonderful instrument, which has been at the heart of Broadbottom village community life for over a century.
Follow the link below to join the "Save Broadbottom Church Organ" facebook group:
http://tinyurl.com/y9bc843