Angels of music
Those of you who know me know that I LOVE a church. There’s so much history, so much good energy, and usually a pipe organ to go with it! What you might not know, however, is that I spent a lot of my summers in Somerset during my youth - riding the Great Western Steam Railway and skimming stones on the pretty pebbly beaches along the Bristol Channel. Taunton Minster was always a highlight with its 8th century origins and the iconic gothic tower. From its ancient inception to its Tudor finishes, this location is worth a visit. And guess what, you can!
Making music
They say that there’s a pub for every day of the year in Norwich, and a church for every week. So if you like drinking pints, saying prayers, or even both at the same time, then Norwich is the place for you! The Cathedral is a must see for any visitor, and thanks to Heritage Open Days you can delve into over 700 years of music throughout the Cathedral’s history. From their 14th century organist, Adam, to a musician who kept playing the pipe organ even when the Cathedral caught fire… now that’s commitment. This Cathedral has Inspector Organ’s approval, for sure.
Apotropaic marks
Pipe Organs are my first love - hence the name and the profession - but I do have another niche interest… medieval graffiti. Tewkesbury Abbey offers two tours, Historic Abbey Precincts (seeing parts of the town which formed the precincts of the Monastery of Tewkesbury Abbey) and then Apotropaic Marks Tour.
Apotropaic magic derived from the Greek word apotropein, meaning to turn away. That’s exactly what these marks and carvings would do for the medieval population of Britain, they would turn away the evil spirits that were trying to enter religious spaces and corrupt their holy minds. It’ll be a real treat to see the apotropaic marks on the remains of the cloisters, and in other parts of the Abbey, so definitely get down to Tewkesbury for this one.
Untold stories
St Alfege Church in London has a link to a very famous composer, Thomas Tallis. He used to be the organist there! It’s also his burial place back in 1585, during the reign of Elizabeth I, so it was a special location to the man who is nicknamed “The Father of English Church Music”. But we’ve heard enough about the history of me, haven’t we? It’s time for women to take centre stage. Join in with this tour to hear the fascinating stories of women connected to St Alfege - from organists to bellringers, and scientists to suffragettes. You’ll even get to visit the bell ringing chamber!
A poetic home?
Some people call me eccentric. Can you imagine that? Inspector Organ, eccentric?! They’ve obviously never heard of Lord Byron; the man who kept a pet bear in his University dorm room at Cambridge and drank from human skulls. Weirdness aside, Lord Byron was a literary powerhouse who defined the Romantic movement and is considered as the world’s first modern celebrity. In a world before social media and globalisation, almost everyone knew who Byron was and that’s down right impressive. It would be well worth your time going to immerse yourself in Byron’s ancestral home at Newstead Abbey, once a 12th century Augustinian Priory, later the seat of history’s most famous lothario.
'Historic Organ' (officially!)
I’ve chosen Gainsborough because one of my best friends grew up nearby and I have fond memories of wandering around the town, learning about its history. The United Reformed Church in Gainsborough holds a particularly special gem - its Pipe Organ! The magnificent Foster & Andrews instrument has heritage status and is simply magnificent to see and hear. The church also has strong links to John Robinson, Pastor to the Mayflower Pilgrims, with an exhibition room dedicated to the history of the Pilgrims who sailed to the Americas in 1620 to establish Plymouth Colony.
"Mighty" Wurlitzer
Here lies one of the UK’s largest theatre pipe organs, and on 19th September you have the chance to see it up close! These instruments played a big part in our everyday society and have entertained millions of Britons over the previous centuries. Not only will you get to learn about all of this, but you’ll get to hear it blasting out of its 1,300 pipes. A true one-man orchestra and a fantastic experience that’s got limited space so you don’t want to miss out on this.
Let the light in
I’m not going to get into the whole History of the reformation, but there’s a reason why it’s so hard to come across Roman Catholic Churches in this country. One of the most magnificent examples, however, of a modern church in Britain is indeed Roman Catholic! It’s called Our Lady of Fatima and you can find it in Harlow, Essex. I’ve chosen this as one of my Heritage Open Days highlights because stained glass windows really help me to connect with the divinity of nature; there’s nothing quite like feeling the sunlight bathing the interior of a church through stained glass. At Our Lady of Fatima, 60% of the entire church is made from stained glass windows! It’s incredible. Visit on the 14th September and see for yourself.
Normans and nuns
A wise man once sang, “Norman window, Norman wall, they were built to impress us all.” That man was me. I always take any opportunity to see some Norman architecture because I simply love it. Something about the fortress-like nature of Norman architecture, whilst simultaneously looking so delicate and fragile, aged by a thousand years of history. Nowhere is this more present than at St Mary’s Abbey, founded as a Benedictine nunnery in 1090, and now used by Anglican nuns. When you visit you’ll see a 13th century cloister, 18th century neo-Gothic house and a wonderful Norman tower. On the tour you’ll get access to all areas, including the nuns private cloister area and the 11th century Chapter House. I can’t wait for this one!
Choral festival
It could be said that I’ve saved the best until last. That’s because there’s nothing quite like hearing live music in a beautiful, sacred space. And what have St. Bartholomew’s in Armley done? Well, they’ve only gone and organised that for you! They’re hosting a Choral Festival between the 12th and 20th September and it’s the perfect opportunity to hear their world-famous pipe organ too. A Schulze Organ that people travel from across the globe to come and hear. There are a hundred other reasons to get involved with this particular event, not least because it’s *clears throat* FREE! All Heritage Open Days events are here to give us free access to history, music and culture. So go and enjoy!
PLEASE NOTE - These events were accurate at the time of publication but details are subject to change. Check the individual entries for more - including any booking details needed.
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