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When I think that all that makes who we are is slipping away, and these priceless country churches are under threat of becoming ghosts of the past, You Tube brings this wonderful young man to my attention. Reading one of my favourite authors and then playing a perfect melody, befitting the church and its setting. Thank you - all is not lost.

I am 89years old and regret how the English way of life of yesteryear has been changed beyond recognition. I was taught has a child about the New Testament of God sending his son Jesus Christ to be our saviour, at Sunday School, when we were old enough to understand the meaning of being a Christian. Thank you for doing a vlog that cheers me up by showing that some parts of England still worship the Christian faith. Have read the books of Thomas Hardy who showed how England was even at that time was changing through England's industries being more dominant than the rural way of life.

When I see young people as yourself enthusiastically embracing the love of beautiful ancient churches and playing beautiful old hymns , I have hope that all is well with the world. God blessed you with wonderful talents and you do not hide them under a bushel but use them as a guiding light .

My life has been in Church and Church music, I weep when I see what is happening to our land and our Christian heritage. Thank you for your music and passion for our Churches.

Ben is a jewel -- thank God someone still has his gifts and is willing to share them with the world.

'Completely and utterly alone'--except for the voices and tones of a thousand singers and organists who have been in that space over the centuries. And alone save for the source of all music and beauty who I'm sure is with us at all times. Thanks for bringing us to this beautiful place.

I was very moved by your visit to St Andrew’s. The guidebook from which you read was written by my uncle. On the day you posted your video, the funeral of his widow was held in the church, where she had worshipped for over 50 years. For around 30 of those, I played the organ for the annual carol service, so the Bevington is an old friend! Watching you discover this holy place reminded me of the lines from T S Eliot’s Little Gidding: ‘We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.’ Thank you.

How beautiful. I Vow to thee my Country was played at my dearest dad’s funeral. He was a decorated wartime pilot.

You can't get any more English than this. Wonderful.

Thank you for reading Thomas Hardy in such a fitting setting. Really brought his words alive. If you have not done so already, here is another poem to read out in a village church setting. 'Charles' by Leonard Clark He was born blind with the snow on a winter's day; The moon blank as marble stared at him from the full, But his mother wept to see the vacant rolling of his eyes; His father dared not look and despairingly turned away When hands like feelers fumbled in space to pull Fingers and lips to upturned face to recognize. Growing older he sat in the dark learning voices by heart, Carried on conversations with birds singing in summer trees, Heard brooks changing their sound at flood time, the angled dart Of dazzled bats diving through twilight air. But music played by wandering band or organ at the fair Moved him to tears and fingers to invisible keys So that at twenty-five he began to drown the village church With ceaseless tides of Handel, Bach and Mendelssohn, And magnified the Lord for seven-and-thirty years, With egg-shaped head he sat upright upon his perch Praying on flute we might depart in peace Triumphant came from Egypt on the bombardon, Made thunderstorms at will, stars race like charioteers, Captivity to turn, the harvest to increase; He brought sweet healing to the troubled mind, Fearlessly opened the eyes of the blind.

Another beautiful contribution from Mr Maton. I very much like the way he opens church doors, always one of the best moments of such visits. Autumn brings out the best in English churchyards.

I've just discovered Ben Maton. Thank you ever so much for the gentleness and care you show in visiting these beautiful churches and playing wonderful music. Thank you.

Your videos are intelligent, well-produced, informative and entertaining. Your passion for the subject matter is palpable and I thank you for sharing it here.

That last bit hit me. O God Beyond All Praising is my favorite hymn. You played it beautifully. I am not an organist, but rather a Seminarian in the Episcopal Church. One saying which I have always held to is "When you sing, you pray twice." God has blessed you with a wonderful vocation. Please continue to share it with the world.

That was beautiful. A wonderful bit of calm in an increasingly mad world. Thanks so much Ben.

I’m so glad I’ve found you on KZfaq… I love your passion for these old forgotten organs and the music you produce. I can only thank those who still preserve these beautiful places of worship. Thank you Ben

This is uncanny. I was speaking earlier to a friend and said that, although I’m happy living in Essex where I have been for forty-four years after leaving Salisbury when I was nineteen, Wiltshire still feels like home especially when I visit family. A couple of hours later KZfaq recommends this, which is very different from my usual viewing habits. I recognize the A354 to Coombe Bissett, the countryside and the Wiltshire accent I used to have. Ben also went to the same school as me and drives the same car. It’s good to see someone so young who is passionate about his country, it’s history and music.

Our collective English church history is so wonderfully rich! Cheers from an Anglican in Canada.

What a gorgeous gem of a church and a very satisfying organ -- I love I Vow to Thee, My Country even though I am American. It nearly brings me to tears. It hearkens me back to the friendship between America and the UK during WW2 and the sacrifices so many made on both sides of the "pond" for freedom and democracy. It's been used in many films as background to great British deeds.

I’m American that used to live in England in Lincolnshire county. Thank you for what you’re doing. It is so good to see the youth appreciate that which is old

That was Amazing, Delightful, Poignant, Beautiful. Very Special.....the Faith exercised in these Hallowed halls was the Strength of Britain...Revive again.

I really enjoy the effort you put into these presentations. These small country churches are really special and you do a great job in presenting the unique organs. Your work is appreciated.

This video is enchanting. When I was at school my English master said I read too much Hardy and that it would give me a twilight view on life. In Ben's eyes the twilight lingers on at Rockbourne.

When your vlog fell into my KZfaq queue, it was the first time. I saw the words English Music and the lovely photo of the old church and landscape. The Spirit whispered to me, “A blessing.” So I clicked on it. It didn’t take long for me to say to myself, “This is going to be some of the sweetest moments I will have today” So I lingered until the end. I love your English soul. Be blessed. I will be back!

Thank you Ben for taking me to a church I've never been to before and filling it with divine harmony. I'm sure Thomas Hardy and his country musicians would be thanking you too🙏

Why do I have happy tears going down my face? Thank you so much.

Glorious! I live in Southwest Virginia and I too mourn the closures of small rural Parish Churches, some of which date to the late 1700 s and early 1800’s

You will never be alone. Christ is there!

I am grateful for you mentioning the vesper voluntaries… Those pieces were unknown to me and they are beautiful little gems!

Thank you so much for presenting what initially seems a small simple church organ sound so comforting and timeless. Your reference to Thomas Hardy is indeed apt, and poignant, and is a recurring theme in his writings, both his father and grandfather had played in the church band in Stinsford, which he refers to as Mellstock, in his writings., They were replaced by an organist and Hardy felt this was a sign of a passing age of rural simplicity. However as you so beautifully show so many small parish churches sought to add to the beauty and dignity of their village worship by the introduction of good quality organs, which by your expertise and love of organ music prove that these trusty instruments still survive and continue to bring beauty to the liturgy of these ancient parish churches. Sincere gratitude for your visits as always both fascinating and sensitive to the history and spiritual ambience of these lovely buildings of prayer. HUGH

Wow ! The Church depicts the glorious past,embedded in rich culture,being attached to the graveyard,expressing faith in the Lord ! Wonderful Reading on the insight & organ of the church,situated in a serene & beautiful environment with even nature paying it reverence ! Thanks to U - Tube ! 🙏❤️🌹

Thank you so much. This is really one of the best youtube organ channels out there. I think it's so great that consider all aspects: the countryside, churches, history, and the organs. You are bringing the pipe organ and harmonium to people in such a unique and special way.

I appreciated hearing this beautiful music and I feel the souls in the churchyard did too.

Love these road trips. Very well put over, and lovely organ music

Yes, dear Ben is my go-to guy for relaxing amid the strife of life. 🙂🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇮🙋

These videos are so exquisitely worked. I can't believe you don't have a whole TV team behind you.

Those Elgar Vespers are quite lovely. I can imagine learning them and playing them at evensong.

Thanks for a much needed tonic in these distracted times.

Such a treat to hear these old village organs! Thank you!

No matter how stressful the day, or how busy the day, I feel so calm and peaceful after watching your videos. Thank you for your passion and dedication for love for these ancient churches and for these beautiful organs.

Beautiful and it calmed my agitation for a few minutes reprieve from daily life. I’m so glad to have found your channel. Liked and subscribed.

So so happy you popped up on my KZfaq feed as someone who loves church/ choral music and architecture. We would love to welcome you to our village church.

The music for “I Vow to Thee My Country” is also sung to words written for it by British priest and hymn writer Michael Perry in 1982. “O God Beyond All Praising” is a stunning combination of words and music which is one of my favorite hymns! Thanks so much!!! ❤❤❤

As always, a pleasure to hear you speak and play.

Thank you Ben...for the beautiful harmony, enigmatic bond of faith through history, and your passion to share all this with us.

Ben You have made some superb videos of your passion. Your love of organs, churches and the music which celebrates these spaces and places comes across brilliantly. You have reached out to many people. I hope the BBC and other broadcasters are watching. You would be fantastic on national television. I wish you all the best for the future. Nigel from Scotland.

Thank you for taking us to places we could never get to visit and hear some wonderful music wonderfully played. Your site has become one of my favorites.

This reminds me very much of the 1974 BBC film "A Passion for Churches" by John Betjeman. Thank you for rekindling the memory.

😊 So lovely, the music, the birdsong and the setting.Thank you! God bless you 🙏

I am German and love England, so this is a real discovery for me. I especially like the way you talk!

From afar...I too rue the day that we can no longer hear our organ..Earthquake regulations have closed All Saints Palmerston North...so I am very pleased to have found you Mr Maton..

Love it....👍👏

Thank you, Ben, for reminding me of Hardy's ability to conjure up atmosphere, emotion and wordless contact between man and woman. On the strength of this video I have just bought a lovely second-hand Collected Poems of Thomas Hardy. It cost me all of six pounds! I really love your mixture of music and church history.

You should be doing this on the BBC. The content, presentation style, diction, musicality, and production quality in your videos is getting better and better. Meanwhile, you should start travelling the country and interviewing other local organ enthusiasts about the organs they play on and their history of their local churches.

What a delight to stumble upon you in this delightful little church, so obviously still loved and cared for. My Grandfather was an organist and choir master in the 1920s and had a pipe organ at home, so it was a real treat to hear you play.

I’ve just come across this wonderful channel by sheer chance. We have a 13c church here in our Somerset village, we’re lucky enough to have had a new roof to keep it going not only that but a lovely new organ donated by our organist in memory of his brother. Sadly he is retiring after Christmas at nearly 90 he deserves it! Please keep sharing your wonderful gift.

Cracking tour of the wee kirk (church), and splendid organ in spite of its age. Brilliant playing of 'I Vow To Thee'. Slàinte Mhath🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Yet again another marvellous video of a almost lost village church with super music too. Keep them coming Ben.

Ben, you traveling romantic for readings and finding out-of-way small churches near Salisbury. Even with your woolen coat your hands became cold after all day finding, filming, and playing the organ of Elgar works, and the closing hymn Thank you for this video. Sunset beautiful! What a splendid November day you had in Rockbourne.

Your editing and narration are top notch!

Hello and thank you from the U.S. ; this was a complete delight!

Lovely video...please do more. StMary's Old Basing nr Basingstoke has a 2 manual Bevington Organ installed in 1878 and restored 2003. Fascinating how the overall sound is so similar!!

Thank you for the joy and peace this brought me.

How amazing all these thank you's from one and all including myself, discovered today, a thousand and one blessing for making so many people happy..

Thank you for reading Thomas Hardy's poem A Church Romance aloud within this church. Thank you for the beauty you bring together and share through your explorations and not least music.

A very nice church with an interesting organ! Oddly enough I started to smell the church as you opened the door and walked through it. Thanks for another great video!

Thank you Ben, beautiful musicality ,your expression with the poetry was great,Thank you so much

Your recitation of the Hardy poem and the Holst were so beautiful.

thanks! Some people obviously love & care for this place.

Thank you for your series. Mesmerizing viewing.

Many thanks for making such a lovely film.

I like this small churches. They create a special lovely atmosphere. It is a always a great challenge to play on small instruments. It’s like pushing your limits as an organist.

Thanks Ben. You’re a treasure across the pond as well.

Opportunities like this make me so jealous. I'd love to spend my weekends driving around the English countryside looking at classic churches and architecture.

Beautiful music Ben thank you

My first watch of your KZfaq channel. What a joy! Loved the bit of history and your organ selections. Beautiful organ. So happy it is so well preserved. You brought out it's best.

Charming video. And lovely playing. ❤

Such a sense of calm you bring into a mad troubled world Ben. Thank you. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Another positively delightful video. Thank you ❤

Absolutely beautiful and so well executed! Old England and places like France are so wonderful. Thank you Ben Maton for such a lovely presentation and homage to just a glorious St. Andrew's Rockbourne. Good Bless

I want to be you!! 😍 🎹 🎵. What a beautiful world you are sharing with us, thank you! Greetings from The United States.

I love it when you can find a church open. ❤

A prayer that these churches would be again filled to overflowing with parishioners driven by a love for God and His Christ.

Thank you Ben, I really enjoyed this video. Like many of the other comments, I am an older person saddened by the demise of many of our wonderful Country’s traditions, values and treasures. I have subscribed so I can work my way through the others !

St Andrew’s Rockbourne, beautiful church, the mixture of building materials adds to it's appeal & character..

Hearing you play my favorite song at the end makes me so homesick as I live overseas now, but do come home once or twice a year. Thank you for sharing your passion. I just joined our channel. M.

Thank you so very much for this beautiful video. I too like the solace of an old church and when I visit them I sit and think of all the people who have worshipped there, the happy and sad times they brought with them. Your playing of “I Vow to thee my Country” was very moving - thank you. I look forward to watching more of your videos.

I vow to thee, my country!

You've got me! I love the combination of church music, architecture and history in this video. Beautifully done! Following for more similar content.

Young men like this must ensure the preservation of Anglo saxons England and all it stands for.

I enjoyed this video very much. Thank you for making it and posting it for all to see.

A little Organ in a little Village Church - sounds so sweet!

Wonderful videos about churches and English music! Greetings from Italy!

Oh glorious; your video, the organ and Thomas Hardy. A lovely place of peace, revealing its humble life. All the best to you, Rodney Vancouver Island

The soft stops of that organ are beautiful.My hat goes off to you for negotiating all those different pedal boards.I could almost smell the atmosphere of that church (in a good way).Thanks again for a lovely country visit.

Just too lovely and beautiful for words 🎶🩷🎶

Thanks! I’m deeply enjoying your channel.

This was a perfect ‘random’ morning find. I’m listening from Canada. I thoroughly enjoyed the outing and music played. I knew what poem you were going to read from before (!)you read it as I discovered it years ago myself when I had eyes for a handsome young man who played the classical violin in church. I will be subscribing and looking forward to the next one. I have visited Britain many times and it is my next trip. Maybe I’ll do country church pilgrimages. Keep playing the gorgeous, singable old hymns please.

Great. You don't know but I do, I used to live in a cottage a mile up the road! Its R R R - Rockbourne Church, I told you so!! The interior of the church feels like a bigger brother to Damerham church, same type of stone, similar style. I commenced digging the Roman Villa a couple of miles to the south when I was barely eleven, old Morley Hewitt was alive then, he bought the field wherein it was situate having heard of scatterings of oyster shells from rabbit burrows, he knew exactly what they meant! I was on the strength as a trowel boy; I later went on to join the strength of amateur archaeologists with Salisbury Museum in the 60s and 70s. Happy days. Odd thing this is one church I've not been inside. I measured Damerham and Fordingbridge churches and the plans and drawings I made are deposited with the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (as it was called then). I also deposited many copies of my black & white photos of local listed secular buildings. Just over the hill is the Eyre Coote monument, the staircase to the top has been restored but the House was demolished c.1948, a sad demise of many other fine houses, but the family played an important part in the history of these Islands and you wouldn't know it from this quiet wee village. Really must visit St. Andrews when the days lengthen again. Thanks very much for all your posts (and importantly with organ music) Ben.