Forum Topic

Local Churches with an Organist?

A fine experience was to be had in the old days in Brentford and Chiswick ... a competent organistencouraging the joyous singing of hymns etc.Gunnersbury Baptist Church for starters in the 1950s)These days the strumming of a guitaris not quite the same uplifting experience ... for me anyway.My soul could do with a rousing sing song. Which local Church should I be checking out.

Jim Lawes ● 54d27 Comments

Thank you for this post as I love listening to both the organ and the schola cantorum choirs. I agree that there are a few fantastic churches in the area that have a functioning organs and organise beautiful played and sung services. My son (and some of his same age friends 15/16 years old) is an organist and a chorister at the Brompton Oratory Schola Cantorum and loves studying this beautiful instrument and I agree with many of you that St Michael and All Angels' organ is one of the best in the area. In saying so I highly appreciate all your other posts as I have learnt more about other organs in the area. If you are interested and it's not too far, the Brompton Oratory in Knighstbridge offers a few Masses with organ and its own Schola Cantorum every saturdays at 6pm and on Sunday mornings + organ recitals on a regular basis. Happy New Year!

Nicoletta Pilardi ● 45d

Re-posting in reply to Jim’s original post!Apologies that I’m late to the discussion but thanks to Robert Fish for mentioning the terrific organ at St Michael & All Angels and to Tim Henderson for his fond memories of the Hymnathon. He will be delighted to hear that as part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Bedford Park we are holding a ‘Hymnathon 150’ on Saturday March 1st. Not the whole hymn book this time (as we did in 1987, 2012 and 2017) but the top 150 hymns chosen by the public. Other churches and choirs will be taking part and it’s open to all. Details to be announced but you can read the anniversary plans here: https://smaaa.org.uk/2024/11/28/bedford-park-celebrates-its-150th-anniversary-in-2025/

Torin Douglas ● 45d

Apologies that I’m late to the discussion but thanks to Robert Fish for mentioning the terrific organ at St Michael & All Angels and to Tim Henderson for his fond memories of the Hymnathon. He will be delighted to hear that as part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Bedford Park we are holding a ‘Hymnathon 150’ on Saturday March 1st. Not the whole hymn book this time (as we did in 1987, 2012 and 2017) but the top 150 hymns chosen by the public. Other churches and choirs will be taking part and it’s open to all. Details to be announced but you can read the anniversary plans here: https://smaaa.org.uk/2024/11/28/bedford-park-celebrates-its-150th-anniversary-in-2025/

Torin Douglas ● 45d

Christ Church Turnham Green 9.30am service on Sundays normally has 3 hymns plus organ music before and after the service, too.

Fay Kazemi ● 47d

Be careful of those church mice Jim. 😉

Janice Evans ● 47d

No one has mentioned St Michael’s in Elwood Road. We have a traditional sung Eucharist every Sunday at 9.30 with organ and choir. It’s too late now for Christmas Services but we held an excellent Carol Service on 21st December with over 20 in the the choir. Do come and try us out if you are a middle of the road C of E person. I should say that we cater for all with a more happy clappy service at 11am, too.

Susan Jennifer Thackray ● 47d

Tie optional, trousers preferable as it does get a bit draughty but come as you are Jim when you want.

N V Brooks ● 48d

Hi Jim,The following is taken from The Times 24/12/24If you’ve enjoyed a carol service this Christmas, you may have been struck by the beauty of the music or the community spirit of the festive season. You may also have noticed physical changes in your body. Researchers have found that those who attend religious services that focus on sung music experience a fall in their heart rate, leaving them less stressed and “significantly more tranquil” than when they entered. The results of a study showed that attendees “recorded an overall declining heart rate across the 47-minute duration … and completed it with a distinctly lower rate than when they began”I attended a Service of Lessons & Carols at Our Lady of Victories Church on Kensington High St. a week before Christmas. It was absolutely packed and people were standing in the aisles.The choir (or Schola Cantorum) was from The Cardinal Vaughan school. They were accompanied by The Grand Organ, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones, a timpani and a large cymbal where appropriate. It was spectacular! Truly marvelous!I hope it will be on again this year and I hope I am around to see it. Bit late for carols now but the whole performance is on youtube and I will post the link if you wish.

Marlene Plimley ● 48d

Thank you for the many suggestionsThere's plenty of churches for me to try outMaybe I need to do an "Andy Hayler" assessment at each one!Ambiance, quality of the organ playing, choice of music and hymns,rate the sermon (uplifting?) and how I felt afterwards.I did meet a middle aged lady on a bus some months ago who said that she had been banned from a Church near Stamford Brook as she didn't wear her best clothing!I would wear a tie wherever I attend... of course.

Jim Lawes ● 48d

At the 10.30 service on a Sunday the organist plays for 3 hymns plus before and after the service.

Chris Lucy ● 49d

Really sorry to hear that. We were also in der line but our new incumbent is revitalising the parish with simple hard work and a tireless parish administrator that she has appointed. We were full for our Carol Service and attendances are holding up well. I hope that this trend is shared by.other churches.

N V Brooks ● 49d

Not sure whether Isleworth Congregational is too far out for you Jim but we have an organist!  Always best to check first as there are times when she's elsewhere, maybe attending to family business etc., in which case we use a machine which imitates the church organ sound.  But we are one of the few churches around our way with a genuine pipe organ which deserves to enjoyed by far more people than it presently is.

Phil Andrews ● 50d

Jim is a Brentford boy, I wouldn't want his head turned by the hedonistic temptations of Grove Park😆 Happy New Year one and all.

N V Brooks ● 52d

Jim is a Brentford boy, I wouldn't want his head turned by the hedonistic temptations of Grove Park😆 Happy New Year one and all.

N V Brooks ● 52d

Pleasing that Christianity is thriving in this part of west London.

Mr Denis.I. Fox ● 52d

I am surprised that no one has mentioned St Paul's Grove Park and our brilliant organist, Tom Torley. He also heads up the St Paul's brass quintet who were in action at this years (2024) carol concert. Lots on the website about previous musical triumphs - see www.stpaulsgrovepark.com/contact-us/The church's "Evening with Mike Reed" on 28th November was sold out but if you missed it, or wish to hear it again, there is a recording on YouTube. Top flight Westend musicians and singers including many local residents.For those who walk to the beat of a 'quieter drum' there are monthly Taize Services with their meditative chants. No hand waving or guitars (yet!). All this plus our stylish new(ish) Vicar, Caroline Halmshaw.

Sam Hearn ● 52d

Very nice to hear Taverner is being performed.

Nicholas Beard ● 53d

Quite a few people who have grown up in the church have an aversion to "worship bands". I guess this is why my church, St Thomas's, is going from strength to strength good old traditional services, no happy clappy, organ, choir, bells and smells on high days and holidays and a real community of nice, welcoming people who aren't ' soppy, floppy, permasmile Christians'. Love it

N V Brooks ● 53d

I'm afraid I'm another one with an aversion to 'happy-clappy' services, just give me a CofE low church, standard midnight communion. I don't think I missed one in donkey's years, certainly not since way back before I got married, and that's nearly 52 years ago now, until we rocked up to St. Paul's in Brentford a few years ago and saw drums, guitars etc. and did a quick about turn. We also were quite fond of St Johns in Isleworth until that went the in the same direction. Our actual parish church, All Souls St Margarets is another. So we have given up, I just wonder how many people who are 'old school' like us who feel the same?

Vanessa Smith ● 53d

What a line up, Chas, Benedetti and Dave perform Taverner.

Mark Frost ● 53d

Bless you all for your responsesand with thanks.I must check the time of services. I'm told I'm not a morning person!

Jim Lawes ● 53d

Fond memories of the hymnathon(s).https://www.flickr.com/photos/152731364@N04/

Tim Henderson ● 53d

International Presbyterian Church in West Ealing. No organist, but traditional piano playing. Violins also are sometimes used.

Phil Hopkins ● 54d

St Michael and All Angels, Bedford Park has a fine modern organ, from St-Martin Organ Manufacture in Neuchatel, and an excellent organist, Jonathan Dods. No arm waving - it's an Anglo-Catholic church which is as far away from happy-clappy as you can get!

Robert Fish ● 54d

Last person who went in for arm waving should be out of the cast soon🤣. The roof doesn't leak so no need to thrust hands skywards to check.

N V Brooks ● 54d

A  quick left or right turn up Boston Manor Road and keep going for just over a mile. First church on your left is St. Thomas the Apostle next to Elthorne Park on the E8 and 195 routes, car parking and secure bike parking outside.Now the good bit a recently restored (five year project) Walker three manual oran and some fine organists playing it. Hearty singing, friendly people and a decent cuppa afterwards.See you soon.www.stthomashanwell.com

N V Brooks ● 54d

By the way ...no arm-waving for me!

Jim Lawes ● 54d