"What about the Organ?"

A review of St Mary's R C Church by Bill Slessor written on Monday 9th of August 2010

I was organist at St Mary's for many years, particularly during the time of Mgr. Ronchetti and Father/Canon Parker. Even in those days the life of St Mary's was under threat because of falling congregations.

Christmas Midnight Mass was always well attended though.

And what a wonderful organ and accoustics. Does anybody know what is happening to that wondeful instrument?

We still managed a few musical high spots.

Dr Francis Jackson from York Minster gave a recital after the instrument had an overhaul and clean and in July 1977 "Sunday Half Hour" went out on the radio from St. Mary's. I still have the booklet. The organ I knew was the second one in the church. It was moved from Cleckheaton Central Methodist Church and was orgionally built by the firm of Booth from Otley.

The first organ was built by a famous Belgian company - Annessens that had a reputaion for being the loudest, I think, in Yorkshire and I believe St Mary's had a very fine band before the organ was installed.

I wrote a history of the two organs many years ago but seem to have lost the last copy. I wonder if any survive but I do have a history of the parish, again written may years ago and finishing about the time of Mgr Ronchetti.

Then there were the paintings around the nave. Painted by a Belgium refugee during the war. He painted the likenesses of many parishoners into his creations. And the walls that sloped outwards at the top but according to Simpson the architect that's how they were intended.

The labour for most of the building was provided free by the parishoners they must be very disappointed now..

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