Jonathan Lane

I'm not sure there is a benefit either way. In my last post I was an ex-officio member of the PCC anyway with voting rights, but stood for election anyway. I have never been afraid to vote against something and if I did so I would have no qualms about continuing to lobby against a perceived bad decision, although of course all things are subjective! I would always have a lot of scepticism for anyone who advised against standing for a PCC, either the vicar had some reason for not wanting you there or didn't agree with the way the PCC were thinking, in either case there must have been some ultirior motive! Jonathan

Again, without legal training, but with some understanding of Canon law, I believe any imposition of rules that were considered unlawful would put said PCC in a difficult position and at the least open to investigation for irregular practices. Knowing the Church of England pretty well, I suspect what doesn't get found out doesn't get followed up, but secular authorties now have some power here through the Charities Commission. What is more worrying however, is why would a PCC not want their organist present at its meetings? Jonathan

I've done a little research around this subject and whilst I don't claim to have any legal authority in such matters it is clear that PCC's now come under Charities Commission rules and as such an employee can also be a trustee. Consequently an employed organist (and they should all be anyway under tax laws unless unpaid of course, heaven forbid! - strong biblical precedent here too) is perfectly allowed to be an elected member of a PCC, the two are neither incompatible nor inappropriate. Personally, having been on a number of PCC's, both as organist and without said post, I have no desire for the politics that most PCC's tend to embrace! However, if the choice were to sit on the PCC as a co-opted member or stand for election, I would opt for the latter every time, but that's the democrat in me! Jonathan

My understanding is the only pre-requisite for being elected to the PCC is being on the electoral roll. In my last post I was an employee, but it was also my place of worship and I was on the electoral roll, so by precluding me from standing for the PCC, it would have actual gone against any rights I had as a member of the congregation.

It might be worth pointing out that DAC stands for Diocesan Advisory Committee and DOA for Diocesan Organ Advisor. In both cases they are there to give advice not to rule. The application for a faculty is made to the Chancellor through the Registrar, and I know of a number of cases where the Chancellow as overruled the DAC, although as advisory committee they cannot strictly rule, and granted a faculty against their advice, to much success. Jonathan

I would be very pleased to be a member of such a MB even if I don't have time to moderate! Jonathan

We have seen a lot more problems this year. However, a lot of churches are very aware of the issues. There is a church in South West London we currently look after who are working towards a complete rebuild which will solve many of the problems they currently face. We have already had to repair the ageing Compton switching, and the church was some nine months without any heating and despite the heating being back in action, we are now struggling to keep it in tune. We tuned ten days before Easter and by Palm Sunday the Swell had already gone out of tune. Its very frustrating as a tuner, as I like my organs to be perfect! On the positive side however, we are seeing a lot of interest in organ restoration and organ transplants, and many churches are saying they will either move heaven and earth to save their pipe organ, or are seeking a replacement for a failing electronic. Most organists I know still prefer to play the real thing too!

Exactly what I got! Will follow your further instructions.

Thanks Sébastien. I've had some success with this but the drawing stage seems to be unsuccessful and I wonder what I have done wrong. Jonathan

Thank you Sébastien for this very interesting material, I will certainly be reading through your site to learn more, although to be fair, my French is much worse than your English! Any help you can give would be much appreciated. Jonathan

Sad indeed, the few times I met him, some 20 years ago, and the subsequent correspondence I had with him showed him to be a real gentleman of the old school (and a fine choir trainer too, I have a broadcast Peterborough did in 1976 in the van at the moment, truly magical singing, especially the psalms.)

With such an historic original instrument surely funding can be found for a proper organ! However, does anyone know what has happened to the original, it sounds like it has gone on the skip.

Well everything was progressing nicely and I found the periodical on their website and ordered a print out of the relevant pages, then had this 'Thank you for your order, but unfortunately the item you require is part of our Collection Moves Programme and will be unavailable until mid 2010.' Whilst it is great they are taking such care of these items, its frustrating I can't access them! Back to the illustrious members of this board! Jonathan

Thanks to Tony & Nick, I will follow that up. Jonathan

Do any of you good people out there have access to "Church Illustrated" in particular the December 1956 issue. I am looking for a particular article and would be grateful if you could contact me off list. Thanks, Jonathan

Well as something of a Wesley fan, I think to be strict you have to remember what was available on the organs of the time, look at specs of Hereford, Winchester, Gloucester, etc., so it it highly likely he intended no changes, and perhaps this is one of the few Wesley pieces in which you can get away with it! I would vary however, and use the pedals. The swell reed in question is probably the Oboe rather than a more powerful stop. The absolute authority on S S Wesley's anthems is Peter Horton, sadly not a member here, but I may be able to find his email address.

There are a lot of organisations and individuals with money who are still willing to donate. Organisation wise, there is an excellent list of sources in an article in OR published earlier in the year about fundraising at St. Giles Cripplegate. Educational charities are worth the effort if you can prove an educational connection. I can supply more off board if you wish. Jonathan

Perhaps there is a nice career out there for someone with business acumen who wants to set up as a fundraiser entirely for organ projects. There is actually a lot of money still out there, but not in the places traditionally associated with organs. Jonathan

What concerns me is once the redundant organ is installed is there any incentive to restore the Hill. Surely, it would be better to put the money towards restoration of the Hill and work hard to raise the extra, or even do a staged restoration. Jonathan

I wonder how he manages to play all those notes while his arms flail around so much! My teacher would have had a fit with all that movement!!

This reminds me of a joke by Rory Bremner shortly after ClassicFM started, and when Henry Kelly was presenting a show on it. Bremner, speaking as if he was Kelly announced "That was Dvorak's New World Symphony, doesn't say who it was by!".

Possibly of course, appropriate for the season of Harvest!

And of course everyone must have come across Vidor's Tocatta (Tocatta often spelt in various ways, sometimes with Fugue added!)

Is that because we live in England!

It may well be by the same people although this one seems a bit earlier and is tracker action, it is 2 manuals and pedals and 8 speaking stops, being Gt: 888, Sw: 8844, Ped: 16. What is perhaps more interesting is the placing of the bellows, on top of the swll box!