An organist retiring after more than 70 years of playing was given a surprise opportunity to perform a farewell recital at Ripon Cathedral yesterday.
David Wilberforce has been the organist at West Park United Reformed Church on West Park, and before that at Trinity Methodist Church.
Now, he and his wife Ann, who is also a key member at West Park, will be moving to Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, so members at West Park sprang a surprise by arranging for him to play the organ in Ripon Cathedral for a private gathering of church friends.
David and Ann Wilberforce
Despite only having 48 hours’ notice, David prepared a mini-recital of some of his favourite pieces and hymn tunes, performing them with his renowned dexterity and skill.
David told the Stray Ferret:
“We’re about to move house, so I’d packed up all my music, but fortunately I did manage to find some. I’d never played in Ripon Cathedral before, but after a period of terror in the afternoon, I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. Quite a number of people from West Park turned up, which was lovely.”
Originally from County Durham, David began playing the organ at the age of 11. He taught history in various schools, including Silcoates in Wakefield and Woodhouse Grove near Bradford, and played the organ wherever he lived. He retired from teaching in 1999, but continued his passion for music through the church. Well known in Harrogate choral music circles, he arranged the music for the annual Gilbert & Sullivan Festival service. He said:
“Music has been the greater part of my life. I’m not intending to take up a position in music in Buckinghamshire – age and arthritis take their toll – but I wouldn’t mind still being able to play occasionally.”
As a tribute to David, at the joint service between West Park and St Paul’s churches this Sunday, Adrian Selway, organist and choirmaster at St Paul’s, will play the famous Widor’s Toccata as a closing voluntary.
Harrogate village church dating back to 1904 to be sold
Hampsthwaite Methodist Church, which closed in October 2021, has been put up for sale for £175,000.
The church, which dates back to 1904, has been a feature of Hampsthwaite life for more than a century. It served as a Sunday school as well as a place of worship.
It is among a group of churches being sold by Nidd Valley Methodist Circuit in Harrogate. The asking price has not been revealed.
Rev Ben Clowes, superintendent minister of the circuit, said:
“Hampsthwaite chapel stood at the heart of the community for over 100 years and the work of the people there is remembered very fondly by many across the area.
“The time has come to sell this property as our mission to the village of Hampsthwaite continues from our other local churches.”
The single-storey building on Hollins Lane includes a main hall, two school rooms, a kitchen, toilets, a small basement and garden space at the front.
The organ was relocated to another Methodist church in Hebden Bridge by a specialist company from Norfolk, W & A Boggis, which dismantled it, transported the parts and then rebuilt it in situ in Hebden Bridge.
Commercial property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton, which has been instructed to find a buyer, has said the site has development potential for a variety of uses, subject to planning permissions and other consents.
Richard Corby, director at Lambert Smith Hampton, said:
Ripon’s Bank Holiday weekend of double celebration“We are excited to be marketing this outstanding opportunity to acquire an important historical asset in the beautiful North Yorkshire village of Hampsthwaite, just 5 miles from Harrogate.
“Several individuals have already come forward with a wide range of proposed uses for the building, so we need to assess what will be the best outcome for the church.”
The countdown has started to the Queen’s platinum jubilee festivities in Ripon, with decorations now in place on the town hall.
In a year of double celebration for the city, this Bank Holiday weekend also sees a packed programme of events marking the 1,350th anniversary of Ripon Cathedral.
The doors of the iconic building open this morning at 9.30 and, up until 12.30pm, Hazelsong Theatre, will be offering free activities for families, ranging from calligraphic bookmarks to showing how manuscripts were made.
From 10.30am, there will be a guided tour, on which an experienced guide will talk about the cathedral’s hidden history and between 11am and 11.30am there will be an opportunity to meet the organist and have a go at playing the cathedral’s historic organ.
The sound of mini-bells will be heard from 12.30pm, with an exhibition of campanology in the nave.
Art In Churches producer Chris Bailey will talk between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on the specially-commissioned art celebrating the work of Wilfrid, Ripon’s patron saint, who established the church in AD 672.
Ripon is getting dressed up in readiness for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
The organist meeting will also take place at 3pm and between 3.30pm and 4.30pm, professor Joyce Hill will give a lecture on medieval manuscripts.
Following the evening prayer service between 5.30 and 6pm, at 8pm a Son et Lumiere themed on Sunday Wilfrid’s miracles will be held. Tickets can be obtained from Eventbrite
At 9pm, a hornblower will carry out the setting of the watch ceremony at the obelisk.
Tomorrow, the Festal Eucharist service from 10.30am until 12 noon, will be followed by a guided pilgrimage between 1.30pm and 3pm.
The opportunity to raise a toast, or two, to the Queen’s jubilee year and the start of the 1,350 programme and will come on Monday with the return of Ripon Cathedral’s famous beer festival, with drinks and food served in Dean John Dobson’s garden. Tickets can be purchased on line on this link.
New series of monthly organ recitals to be held in Harrogate
A new series of monthly organ recitals will begin in Harrogate tomorrow.
The series will see some of the country’s finest organists give hour-long recitals on the new digital organ at St Wilfrid’s Church on Duchy Road.
The organ console will be situated in the middle of the nave, which should enhance the audience experience.
Anthony Gray, director of music at St Wilfrid’s, said:
“We are beginning the fundraising process to restore our pipe organ, which will cost over £500,000.
“This series should be an excellent showcase of the capability of digital organs, and in our relatively cavernous acoustic, it sounds very exciting and rich.”
Anthony Gray
Mr Gray, who is among the organists due to play in the series in the Grade 1 listed building, added he was trying to offer something different to organ recitals held in places like Bradford, Leeds and Ripon by giving each recital a short title, hinting at what is on the programme.
He added:
“We are also offering some slightly different recital experience with a jazz recital next month, a showcase of the entire music department in the summer, and some interesting celebrations of specific composers too.”
John Longstaff, from St Peter’s Church in Harrogate will begin the series this week. Alexander Berry, from Bradford Cathedral and David Pipe, from Newcastle Cathedral, are among the names that will follow.
John Longstaff
The concerts will take place on, or as close to as possible, the first Wednesday evening of each month, beginning at 7:30pm. Admission is £6; under-18s are free,
The full programme is here.