Too much grinning on youtube. Keep your serious delivery please.

How much I agree with that as it was such a comprehensive presentation. I just wish he would smile more as it seemed like the whole video was depressing for him. I kept wanting to say "oh cheer up a bit mate"

That wasn't a fairground improvisation, it was Sortie in e flat by Lefebure Wely, Ben plays it elsewhere on this channel.

@@rowejon Ah ok. Ben himself referred to the sound as ‘fairground’ which was an accurate description of the tremulant effect. But I’m happy my little error gave you the opportunity to show your knowledge 👍🏻

Thanks for clarifying whether the tongue was fully in cheek. I was a little unsure myself.

I agree. I had organist tell me once that one never used the tremulant. He followed it up with … everyone knows that. Interesting. Then why do so many organs have a tremulant stop? I think some folks need something to show snobbery. In this instance… people who like a tremulant effect. Or carnival music.

😂 I play keyboards at small church. I know exactly what you mean!! I told minister’s daughter I was jealous of her kids who could fidget, and just lay down on or underneath the pew during the surface.

I agree, but I do quite like chancel rings though!

Have you played the De Montfort Hall organ in Leicester? It's a fine example of a Taylor organ.

Perhaps the biggest problem (other than lack of congregation) is lack of organists to play such machines. Many churches simply don't have an organist or competent pianist in their congregation. And when there's not enough money coming in the collection to sustain the building it's hard to justify repairing an organ that you haven't got anyone to play it.

Many are not open every Sunday. Services alternate around the area. Mostly older people. Ironically it’s often the countries we colonised and converted who are the most church going now it seems to me.

@@nicolad8822 I concur with this. In my area of rural Kent we have 5 parish churches in our group and the main Sunday service alternates round the five so mostly each church only gets a service once a month. The congregations average about 30 to 40 people per service, and they do mostly seem to consist of the older generation; I'm 61 and I'm probably one of the younger members of the congregation.

Unfortunately it's seems to be the C of E that's driving many people away. I attended a service in Salisbury Cathedral a couple of years back and it was political on every level. Nothing for the spiritual uplifting of the people actually attending, just endless lecturing about "the third world" and how somehow it's all our fault. Then Covid, of all the times for the Church to step up and lead, give comfort where it was needed, they were at the forefront of shutting everything down. I mean in a building that can easily seat a couple of thousand people, they couldn't hold any services at all? In an area where the rate of infection was amongst the lowest in the country. Now this Christmas they have an art exhibition celebrating refugees. You know the fit, young men invading the UK in small boats after crossing numerous safe countries and who come from countries where there are no wars. These churches have survived all these years but I seriously doubt they can survive the current leadership. Partly because the current leadership despises the people and the country.

Nicht ich!

Yes 😄 Everything- filming, photos, outdoor walks, background music and editing are all done and performed by me! Glad you enjoyed it :)

He did say it was a 200-year-old Bishop and Sons, so there you go 🙃