St. Mary’s Church
Donations
To make a donation please go to the main St Mary’s page
September 2018 – The ‘New’ Organ
Installation of the replacement organ was completed on 20th September 2018.Â
The restored organ was built by Porritt – a firm based in Northampton. It’s exact age is not known, but it previously served in the Baptist Church in Long Buckby. Now fully restored and rebuilt by David Stalley and his team from the Village Workshop, and with a new electrified action, it is a joy to see, hear and play,.
The PCC thank everybody who supported this magnificent project. The ‘new’ organ will serve the community for decades to come.
September 2017 – Update on replacement Organ
At the Epiphany Singers’ concert in 2016 I asked the audience to become Organ Donors. On this occasion the request was not medical, but to support our project to replace the St Mary’s church organ, soaked by rain from a past leak in the roof, and slowly becoming irreparably damaged.
Walsham responded to this appeal with incredible generosity. The late Dr Russell and his family took a keen interest in supporting the future of the organ, and the irrepressible Ian Toulson undertook a cycle tour of every cathedral in mainland UK to raise funds (see below).
During the interregnum, the PCC felt they could not justify placing the organ appeal ahead of the pressing need to be able to fund a priest for the Benefice, and the needs of the church fabric. Even though the project was temporarily suspended, the organ appeal fund continued to swell to its current amount just short of £30,000. Community interest in the future of the instrument has never been lost.
Now, at last, with a new vicar at the helm, and a (nearly) watertight church, we have news for all our generous supporters. A Porritt Organ, beautiful and perfectly sized to replace our much-loved instrument, is available and, equally important, affordable. This organ has the approval of our team of organ experts, including David Hill, of the Epiphany Singers. It will have more variety of sound, and an electrified action. It should last for at least 50 years and probably many more.
There are still many formalities we must complete before we can embark on the actual work of organ transplant, but we are very hopeful that mid 2018 will see the new Porritt organ in place.
Once the project is up and running, we hope to involve supporters with activities such as a trip to the organ workshop, and a talk about church organs.
On behalf of Rev. Merry and the PCC, many thanks to all who have supported this aspect of the church’s future, and we shall keep you updated as the project becomes reality.
Matthew Lockyer
September 2017 – Talk By Mark Lane, Buckingham Palace Head Gardener
Ron and Ella Higginson had the idea and the drive to make this happen. They would like to thank Mark himself and everyone who came to the talk. A total of £746.30 was raised towards St Mary’s Church fabric fund, £114.30 of that was from the sale of tea and cakes. Special thanks go to the bakers who excelled as they usually do! Joan, Angela and Debbie were also our amazing tea ladies on the day.
Ron and Ella would also like to note that this event could not have got off the ground without the help and organisation of Maggie Barber, Judith Harlow and Ian Bartholomew.
Early 2017 – Ian Toulson’s Cathedral Tour Cycle Ride around Britain
Those of you who were lucky enough to attend the Epiphany Singers concert in January, and those who are assiduous readers of The Walsham Observer, will have been made aware that Ian ‘Red Sox’ Toulson undertook another of his long distance cycle rides for charity in early 2017, this time to raise money for St Mary’s Church Walsham. Seventy-five percent of the money raised will be going to The Organ Fund and the remainder to the Fabric Fund.
All expenses, for the ride and its promotion, are being met from Ian’s own pocket – although a number of kind friends are providing him with overnight accommodation where his route miraculously passes their homes.
Follow Ian’s progress here on the village website where regular posts will be made as he lets us know of his current position on the route.
If you would like to sponsor this act of pedalling lunacy, taking in a number of Cathedrals in England Wales and Scotland whilst covering a distance of some 2,500 miles, then please complete the sponsor form. Find out more about all Ian’s previous fundraising cycle rides here.
Alternatively you can scan and email to Ian at iandmj@tiscali.co.uk
Ian will contact all sponsors on his return.
Get Ian’s Diary of an Organised Cycle Ride documenting his trip.