Friends of Woodthorpe Grange Park 2023
DEDICATION OF THE ORGAN
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13th June 1938
Martin’s Church, Sherwood
NEW ORGAN DEDICATED BY THE BISHOP OF SOUTHWELL
The new organ installed at St. Martin’s Church, was dedicated by the Bishop of Southwell, Dr. H. Mosely, last night, when among the large congregation were the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Councillor Hooley and Miss Sylvia Hooley, the Sheriff Alderman Walter Halls and Mrs. Halls, Mr. L. H. Gluckstein, M. P., Councillor L. Mitson and Mr. J. S. Scott. Assisting the Bishop were the Provost of Southwell, Rev. W. J. Conybeare, the Lord Mayor’s chaplain, Rev. E. F. H. Dunnicliff, and the vicar, Rev. E. Lysons.
Following the dedication Mr. H. O. Hodgson, organist of St. Mary’s Church, Nottingham gave a recital.
The two-manual organ, which was built by Messrs. Harrison and Harrison of Durham, has cost £720 (£49,712.18 today, 2021) of which £400 has already been raised by direct giving. The collection was devoted to the organ fund.
In his address the Bishop said that the organ and choir in a parish church were not to take the place of the congregation, but to give a lead and help. In a cathedral or in St. Mary’s, Nottingham, which is almost a collegiate church with a highly trained choir, it was fit that music, quite perfectly rendered, should be given by the choir, but the method and the system of a cathedral could not be employed in a parish church.
“Your organ and choir are not to give you a spiritous entertainment of fine music, but to help each one to take a glorious part in praise and thanksgiving,” said the Bishop, who added that he wanted St. Martin’s to be an example to Nottingham. “Do not be too lavish in ceremonial, keep it simple and dignified,” he concluded.
The assistant curate at St. Martin’s, the Rev. H. Smith, formally curate at Newbold, Chesterfield, acted as Bishop’s chaplain. Following the service, a reception was held in the Church Hall.
The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Nottingham, Councillor W. Hooley and Miss Sylvia Hooley, knelt in prayer with a crowded congregation at St. Martin’s Church, Sherwood, when the Bishop of Sherwood, when the Bishop of Southwell, Dr. H. Mosely, dedicated the new organ last night.
After the dedication the organ, which up to this point in the service had been silent, sounded soft notes of praise, swelling into a triumphant crescendo as the congregation rose to sing “Praise My Soul the King of Heaven.”
Mr. H. O. Hodgson, organist of St. Mary’s Church, Nottingham, played an organ recital, as follows: -
Toccata in C, with pedal solo, Bach; 17th Century Parade, Cherambault; Allegretto from “Hymn of Praise” (Mendelssohn; vocal solo, “Praise then the Lord”, Mendelssohn, by Master Ronald Morris, St. Mary’s Church Chior; Scherzo in G Minor, Bossi, Choral Prelude, “St. Peter”, H. O. Hodgson, Finale in C Minor, Boellmann.
LORD MAYOR WELCOMED
After prayers by the Lord Mayors chaplain, the Rev. E. F. H. Dunnicliff, the Bishop welcomed the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, the Sheriff, Alderman Walter Halls, and Mrs. Halls, and Mr. L. H. Gluckstein, M. P. for East Nottingham.
Dr. Mosely then spoke on the value of music in church worship. “The whole idea of music in worship,” he said, “is to enhance the meaning and effect of the words we sing.”
Dr. Mosely praised the beauty of the organ. “There is nothing more needed in this world today than care in workmanship,” he declared.
The Bishop applauded the enterprise of the people of St. Martins.
“In an ordinary parish church such as this, I am sure that it is quite the right thing to have an organ. Remember, though,” he warned, “that the organ is not here to give us spiritual entertainment, but to help each one to play his part in the glory of worship.”
The most vital point of public worship was reality, and to gain reality in worship every one of the congregation must join in praise and prayer.
DR. MOSELY’S APPEAL
Dr. Mosely concluded an appeal to the people of St. Martin’s to be by the beauty and impressiveness or their services, an example to the city of Nottingham.
The lesson was read by the Provost of Southwell, Rev. W. J. Conybeare.
Priests from all parts of the city, including the Rev. E. Lysons, vicar of St. Martin’s, and a representative of the makers of the organ, Harrison and Harrison, or Durham, were present.
After the service a reception was held in the church hall.
The Bishop’s chaplain at the dedication of the organ was the Rev. H. Smith, A.K.C. the new assistant curate of St. Martin’s, who came from Newbold in Chesterfield, and commenced his ministry at St. Martin’s on Sunday.