St Mary's Church organ has a story to tell

One of this country's oldest voices will be raised on Thursday at a recital to help pay for 850th anniversary improvements to St Mary's Church, Long Sutton.

The voice is that of the church organ, parts of which could date back to 1600, and it will be brought to life by Andrew Reid, a former director of the Royal School of Church Music.

Andrew, also a former director of music at Peterborough Cathedral, says the organ at St Mary's is older than those in most churches in the country.

"There's a Father Smith organ of 1702 as part of it, though it potentially goes even further back to around 1600 or so," said Andrew.

He says most church organs here are romantic ones from the latter half of the 19th century, and have bigger, broader sounds for congregational singing.

Andrew says the St Mary's organ pre-dates congregational singing and describes its sound as "sweet and gentle and colourful".

He has a love of Lincolshire churches, many of which he's enjoyed exploring, and says he "helped out at Boston Stump with their music in 2015-2016".

Andrew will give a recital at the Stump on Thursday lunchtime before heading to Long Sutton in time for the 7.30pm performance there.

As sub organist of Westminster Abbey, Andrew played at many services including the funeral service of the Queen Mother.

These days, as well as giving recitals,Andrew is managing director of a renowned firm of British organ makers and restorers, Harrison & Harrison.

Father Jonathan Sibley explains that the St Mary's organ has written its own chapter or two in the history of the Long Sutton Church.

St Mary's had an organ in Tudor times and Father Jonathan says Thomas Allen set up a fund to have music played in the church during the reign of Elizabeth I (1533-1603).

"Originally, the organs were only made of leather and wood," he said. "There was no metal in them."

He says the church had a Father Smith type organ in 1702, during the reign of Queen Anne, the last of the Stuarts, but it was almost "lost" in 1826 when the church tried to sell it to get a new one in its place.

There was, instead, a major restoration of the instrument and the Victorians - when they moved the organ from the back of the church - and placed it on the grave of Thomas Allen in The Choir.

Benefactor Thomas Allen left money that to this day is still helping young people from the community with grants for education and apprenticeships.

Admission to the concert is £5 on the door.

Previously ...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Maintaining Long Sutton’s church for future generations