Organ Recital

Sat. 18th April 2026

7.30pm

Our current organ was installed in 2020, during the Covid lock-down, so having a concert at the time to celebrate this great addition to the church was not possible. Our centenary celebrations this year seems an appropriate time to belatedly show off this fine instrument.  The organ was donated to the church in loving memory of the late Rev'd Judy Cook, by her brother. Judy was a loyal servant of this church, acting as Assistant Curate.     

Our guest Organist ~ Harry Brown

Harry Brown is currently in his third year at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Here he is studying for a BMus in organ performance under the tutelage of Daniel Moult and Nicholas Wearne. Alongside his studies, Harry is currently organ scholar at Birmingham Cathedral (St. Philips) and Assistant Organist at Solihull Parish Church (St Alphege). He is also the Organist at Shirley Parish Church and regularly accompanies the Bewdley Choral Society and Palace Singers, Lichfield.

In 2021 after completing his A-levels, Harry was awarded the Organ Scholarship of Carlisle Cathedral, a position he held for two years. His main role here was accompanying the Cathedral Choir and the Cathedral Consort for some of their seven weekly choral services. During this time, he received organ tuition from the Cathedral’s Assistant Organist, Edward Taylor. Harry also returns to Carlisle regularly to deputise for the Assistant Organist, including playing for the 2025 Christmas Services.

Harry first began his musical training with piano lessons in 2014 and at Egglescliffe School and Sixth Form College, Teesside. He began Organ Lessons in 2019 with Robin Harrison while he was the Organ Scholar at Yarm Parish Church and Organist at Kirklevington Parish Church. Harry still returns to Teesside ad North Yorkshire regularly to play for services where possible. This has included playing here at Nunthorpe on our new organ - an instrument he says he loves!

Programme

The programme will include:

The World in Union.  Lyrics are by Charlie Skarbek, set to the tune Thaxted by Gustav Holst.

Jerusalem. Lyrics by Willaim Blake. Composed by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry - one of Judy's favourite hymns.

The remainder of the programme yet to be finalised.

Our Organ ~ Makin - Windermere 3

Like its predecessor, this organ, with its low profile, has been installed so that the organist is facing outwards. This means that the organist isn't reliant on using a mirror to see what is happening in the body of the church and can feel more connected with the choir and the congregation. In most churches, for purely practical reasons - particularly with pipe organs - the organist is left facing the wall and they can be somewhat remote from their choir.

The main speakers for the organ are situated at the back of the church and a subsequently added Victor 26 Organ amplifier/speaker adjacent to the organ provides a localised sound source for the organist and choir. 

Rev'd Judy Cook

Rev'd Judy Cook was a loyal servant of this church from 1968 until 2019 in various roles. Following on a from a career in caring professions, including therapy and child protection, Judy became a Licensed Reader at St Mary's. She subsequently trained for the priesthood, and was then ordained minister, ending up back at St Mary's as Assistant Curate. Here she helped with the full range of services at St Mary's and with Pastoral matters. 

The picture shows Judy at her ordination in 2009 at York Minster, with the then Archbishop of York, Rt.Rev'd John Sentimu, and accompanied by her husband David.