The SADDEST Church Organ Ever.

[@SalisburyOrganist]

Dear All, It seems strange to judge my own videos, but I feel this one best reflects my feelings about English country churches, their surroundings and our own mortality. Thank you everyone who has commented so far and please keep your feedback coming. It’s very moving to read. ❤

[@JonathanRWilliams]

As it does mine, Ben. Beautiful rendition of Thaxted - dare I say haunting, even. The slower pace allows one to feel and reflect upon the emotions it stirs up within one, in contrast to the more usual and faster tempo.

[@FruitofSilence]

I agree - there is something particularly insightful and moving about this video.

[@limitstoprogress]

@@FruitofSilence Best. Video. Ever!

[@PortsladeBySea]

@@SalisburyOrganist Your doing a superb job Ben, ably assisted by Billy, Sophia and your ever loyal trolley 👍

[@lindsayspalding6608]

Yes, even by your own, high standards, there is something extra-special about this evocative wander around this sad and neglected, but intensely fascinating, ancient place of worship. It is such a delight to watch and to listen to this lovingly created video: each word and image and sound deeply evokes the deep, abiding passion that you obviously have for these invaluable buildings that have 16:25 such a long history (and, so many ghosts, as well, for those who are sensitive to such things....Many thanks.

[@heatherwarner489]

I like that beautifully sad piece you played for this church. So melancholy!

[@tonigould2589]

The Albinoni Adagio is one of my favorites, and your harmonium/synthesizer duet was such a lovely, evocative rendition! For that, and for all your visits to English country churches, which I especially love, thank you so very much :)

[@KenG557]

I think it is so neat that you have those beautiful walking paths all through your English countryside!

[@chrisburn7178]

That is another part of English life under threat, from greedy selfish landowners spurred on by successive governments that are either full of the landowners themselves, or best friends with them. "Right to roam" is an increasingly hot topic.

[@BernardfromBucks]

I owned a harmonium with a broken strap. Minutes to repair. A simple strip of upholstery webbing and a few tacks. They are never dead, they just sleepeth , awaiting a revival.

[@maryjanewesterlund9958]

Thank you for the enchanting excursion, and, the stirring concert.

[@Alter_Onkel]

Mr Maton, you are one of the last of the true Romantics! Few young people know how to read rhymed poetry as you do: Read as prose in a sense, so that the rhyme seems to happen by chance! Rhythmic recitation is rarely effective, as you know. Thank you for your wonderful videos, and the chance for us to experience your beautiful country in sight and sound. The Albinoni Adagio is so beautiful. Your "Ghostly Duet" was breathtaking! I am not usually a fan of synthesizers; you know the best ways to bring out amazing beauty. Well done!

[@SalisburyOrganist]

Love this. Thank you for your feedback and yes, I love reading poetry. Glad you enjoyed it

[@Alter_Onkel]

@SalisburyOrganist Again, I thank you, Mr Maton.

[@Belaugh]

@@SalisburyOrganist I hope you know D H Lawrence's Piano; one of my favourite and nostalgic poems.

[@tomarmstrong1281]

This episode came as near to connecting with the ethereal nature of our existence and of those things we create during our lives. Ben has a special, and I would suggest an innate talent to create connections with the past and the present.

[@scottnyc6572]

Well said

[@deborawalker5757]

Since I live in the U.S. where there are no buildings as old as in England, it amazes me that this church and many others are still standing. You said the paintings on the walls were made in the 13th century. Wow! And they are faded, but still visible. The music you played was appropriate for the surroundings. I bet that was interesting editing the organ and synthesizer together. Thank you for sharing!

[@micheleshave323]

You have come a long way since I first started watching your videos. Your approach to the churches, the history you give us and your cheerful enthusiasm and excellent playing make your videos so enjoyable. This is the first church that I remember seeing on your channel that has not undergone a Victorian restoration. Listening to you as you walked through the church and seeing this ancient building in its original form really gave me a sense of going back in time that I do not quite get from the restored churches and it was wonderful!! I hope that in the future you might take us to more churches like this and maybe even bring your harmonium so we can get a feel for what it must have felt like to attend a service way back then. Would also love to see more of Billy and Sophia as well when they are so inclined. It makes my elderly heart glad to see young people like you take an interest in places like this and the kind of music you play. May your life always be blessed with good fortune.

[@SalisburyOrganist]

I’m delighted to read this. Thanks for taking the time to write and express your thoughts :)

[@micheleshave323]

@ I didn’t get to see the end of the video till later which is why some of my comments might not have made sense. When I did see the rest of it the duet you performed with yourself was equally wonderful. Thank you again for all your hard work.

[@aletheiaschmidt2253]

I am thoroughly convinced the Lord has put into Ben's heart the love to visit these churches. I hope Ben realizes what enormous favor he's doing to England's history by keeping the history of these churches alive. 🙂

[@Anagrams458]

I am quite sure that he does know. He has a rare soul.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Excellent comment ❤🛐👍

[@bettyrouch1833]

I devoutly hope and pray that very soon no church building in England will be "redundant" anymore, because people will come flocking to the churches, seeking to know God and His Son whom He has sent to be their Saviour. I hope God will pour out His Spirit to awaken a hunger and thirst for genuine Christian faith and practice. That revival is certainly not coming from the top at this present time! Barring a great miracle of repentance among the bishops, it will have to come from the grassroots. God bless England with spiritual renewal.

[@christinawatkinsyoutube]

Amen! Beautifully said. I stand with you on this prayer. The churches will be full again! believing for revival with you.

[@betht60]

My prayer for the Church here in the United States, as well. ❤

[@barriesmith3489]

I fear the end is near for the church age and the believers gone as Islam grows Christianity is fading as many forsake the church. Faith is like this church abandoned and almost forgotten thanks to Ben and friends and family we get to see and enjoy these building after all the church is the fellowship that meets in these buildings .

[@barriesmith3489]

Thank you Ben very sad tonight almost a lament.

[@giuliakhawaja7929]

@@barriesmith3489 but Christ said “the gates of hell shall not prevail “ against His church.

[@midgerhys5627]

The English Church was, until the devastating destruction wrought by King Henry VIII, the largest Church outside of Italy. It had more than 800 religious houses, in addition to all its parish churches. Western civilization was built on the values of Christendom. As goes the Church, so goes society. If we do not frequent our churches, we will lose our Christian heritage and values.

[@SalisburyOrganist]

Thank you for expressing it so beautifully, and poignantly.

[@Knappa22]

But the monastic life had already begun to deteriorate well before Henry VIII. Many of the religious houses had few monks / brothers / nuns in residence and were already becoming neglected and ruinous. I do agree it’s a shame so many were completely destroyed though.

[@kateleurs5012]

.​@Knappa22 ..may I suggest you read, "The Stripping of the Altars." You will be edified as to the reality of medieval Christianity and perhaps weep for what was destroyed.

[@Knappa22]

@@kateleurs5012 I know a lot was destroyed especially art, sculpture, stained glass and intricate woodwork to name but a few but this was continued during the republic when they attacked cathedrals with religious fervour. Even the 19th century ‘restorers’ did a lot of damage to medieval fabric and artefacts that had survived the reformation and the republic. Protestants might well argue that it was worth it to rid the country of Roman Catholicism. I don’t quite agree with that as the protestants just wanted to replace one dogma with another, however the reformation did pave the way for a literate people and once you become literate and can read the scriptures without a mediary it’s only a matter of time before most people realise what a load of hokum it is. And that’s a progressive step forward So it’s a toughie. Was the reformation good or not? It needed to happen but it could have happened better without the need to vandalise the artistic and architectural legacy of the nation.

[@adienowed6366]

Your posts I find absolutely fascinating-a star in the sky of what is to be found on U-Tube.

[@garya4997]

Thank you for bringing us this beautiful little church. The wall paintings are such a rarity, together with the rough walls, it breathes centuries of history. So glad that this church has been saved from the wrecking ball, it is obviously well loved.

[@PortsladeBySea]

I totally agree. I love visiting old churches, many of which are located in stunningly beautiful places and lovingly looked after by a small team of dedicated helpers 🛐❤️👍

[@gregcrease8066]

A beautifully synced duet. The adagio is often used to express immense sadness in films, and that is exactly what I felt for that poor abandoned harmonium, never to sing again.

[@noelbolingbroke-kent3009]

Albinoni’s Adagio is the perfect Requiem for a sad organ in a standalone church. Ben’s visits to ancient churches are now more influential in our lives than the Book of Common Prayer. When Ben played the organ at St. Martin’s, he attracted people there for the same reasons as Thomas Hardy attended Stinsford Church.

[@davef.2329]

It's indeed refreshing to see a young person embrace faith and spirituality, as you do. Thanks.

[@bettyrouch1833]

I hope you're correct, but how do we know he does? Unusually for his generation, he embraces the cultural heritage, traditions and monuments of historic, English Christianity, but he understandably keeps his personal beliefs close to the vest.

[@barriesmith3489]

@@bettyrouch1833 we never can know the heart of another only the Lord knows his own, Ben may not yet we pray for him to find the peace that Jesus gives and hear it in his playing

[@davidwilliams8405]

There is something so quintessentially English about walking through those winding, country paths, finding their destinations in a small church or village. It's like that old adage that states that, "It's not the destination but the journey itself that brings joy and purpose." Can't wait to see you on that huge organ in Wells Cathedral; a thousand years ago, during the previous Millenium, while at the Cleveland Institute of Art, I wrote an essay on Wells Cathedral, Freshman Art History...I forgot what the main gist was, but it was the inverted arches in the nave that caught my attention, and why that device wasn't to be found in other cathedrals of that time. Well done, as always Ben, Cheers and keep on keeping on!

[@andrewb.bartholomey3639]

I read today that over seventy church buildings, including some cathedrals, have been added to an ever lengthening list of sacred buildings at risk of serious deterioration. A lamentable state of affairs. Ben‘s palpable joy as he approaches, enters, explores then performs in these ancient spaces is a true delight for me and others who follow his KZbin journey, and which go some way to raising awareness of the plight our Christian heritage. Ben‘s work is poignant and very moving. He brings a flicker of continuity into ancient buildings where thousands of people over the centuries have worshipped. This continuity is faltering in our age. People like Ben help to keep the flame alight, however feeble. Where there is light there is hope. Thank you Ben

[@SS-zz4pi]

I visited this church on a Churches Conversation Trust tour, along with two others - Whitcombe (also has medieval paintings) and Winterbourne Came. Your evocation of its mystery and remoteness is perfect. We need more young people like you, Ben, bringing the irreplaceable glories of our parish churches to the world.

[@SalisburyOrganist]

Thanks for mentioning the two other churches. I shall investigate ….

[@roberthayter157]

Being a nerd, I couldn't resist working out what was written on the brass plaque that appears at 13:32: St Mary's Tarrant Crawford The Church is a valuable example of the work of the end of the 13th Century. In 1893 during the incumbency of E.H. Highton, M A. priest. The chancel was restored. In I910-11 the nave & the porch were restored, the tower was underpinned and the bells were re-hung. On April 24 1911 the church was re-opened for divine service by the Right Rev. W.W. Perrin, DD. Bishop of British Columbia acting for the Right Rev John Wordsworth, DD who was seriously ill. The restoration cost £653 subscribed by many friends. Generous gifts furnished the church. Philip Bernard Wingate, M.A. priest incumbent J.W. Drake Churchwarden

[@ankavoskuilen1725]

Thank you!

[@SalisburyOrganist]

John Wordsworth founded my old school, so I was particularly touched by it.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Sadly many old churches now have insufficient funds to either maintain the building, or repair equipment such as the organ. In Brighton and Hove, where I live, many old churches have been sold off, or giving to other religious groups. Most young people who still attend church are attracted to the happy-clappy churches which provide a rockmusic style, loud amplified singing, drums, electric keyboards and guitars 🫢🎤🎸🥁🎧

[@GAballetfan]

Truly one of your most evocative vlogs ... the meandering stream, the autumn countryside... the ancient walls of the church, the play of light and shadow on the wood of your harmonium... the beautiful music. Can't get enough! Thank you, Ben

[@richardrye7200]

A marvelously beautiful church in a mystical, gorgeous setting! Thank you for this video!

[@SalisburyOrganist]

It was one of my favourite churches actually. I’ve wanted to show it off for a while!

[@MarjorieFlohr]

I love pump organs and I’d bet that someone could fix this one. It’s hard to think of just giving up on it. Perhaps at some point, repairs will happen and you will be able to play it, and we will get to hear it. Thank you for showing us the inside of a church that was never remodelled by the Victorians. The wall paintings are amazing.

[@SalisburyOrganist]

Intriguing. Yes- I wonder how tricky it would be to fix. Kinda looked like there were no reeds inside it…

[@CharlesHarrod]

When I was a young teen, we had a pump organ at Emmanuel, Kempsville,VA, USA

[@xylopiano3]

It's so delightful to just look at the scenery where you live, along with the interiors of every church you showcase! Your cover of Adagio in G Minor was beautiful too!

[@angelasmith8721]

The duet was stunning, filled that beautiful church to its barrelled rafters. Wondering how a 23 minute video moved me so much, drew me in, captured me and gave me sustenance even without a cheese and pickle sandwich. This has to be a Ben Maton masterpiece of videography. Thank you.

[@maryannehibbard5686]

"I Vow to Thee, My Country" - I taught this to my primary students, along with the history, in my last year teaching before retiring. Thankful for my English heritage, living in middle America.

[@georgecarlson1460]

Ah, Ben. I am ... proud, honored, but mostly humbled ... to support your work. Your weaving together of history, architecture, music, literature, and philosophy into modern videography is indeed your "gift." As an amateur historian, an engineer, an amateur musician, and a reader you "hit all my buttons." I grew up with a reed organ (Estey 1881) my mother bought my father, and it is still in my living room. I have sung in many parishes with everything from grand to tolerable. And with a daughter who has been an ex-pat in UK since 1994 have visited many churches and cathedrals in UK and next week will be in my favorite interior, Wells, with its glorious scissors-arch! My only regret is that my last trip caught you in the midst of transitioning from parish organist to You-Tuber and we weren't able to meet (and, it might be, unfortunately at my age, possibly my last). IF I do get back, I will bug you again -- even if just to tow a trolley or hold a lamp and visit in between. Meanwhile, just keep doing what you are doing. It is truly art in so many ways.

[@KenG557]

Music lifts our souls to the heavens 🙏

[@gilesrevelstoke4792]

Such a wonderful, heart-felt production. I love your interpretation of the "Albinoni" Adagio. (Why we still attribute it to Albinoni when we know it is a fake is a mystery. One would have thought that Giazotto, on his deathbed, would have owned up to the falsehood. It is just amazing that those fragments just disappeared immediately after he published the piece.) I digress. I love this this hidden church, itself shrouded in mystery, and haunted in a way. Thank you for this. (I am very excited about the Wells Cathedral video. What a fantastic way to begin the Advent season. I was in Wells only for a few hours in 1984, it is a fantastic room - the famous scissor arch it quite something.)

[@victorialabarga2096]

Hola desde España. No entiendo lo que dices, pero me gusta escucharte. Los paisajes que nos muestras son preciosos ❤

[@SalisburyOrganist]

Welcome and thank you!!

[@ankavoskuilen1725]

Music is the universal language. 😊 ❤

[@melissabruhn1429]

Thank you for setting the scene and taking us all along. ✨

[@dshey6802]

That was a perfect autumnal piece on your lovely sounding harmonium. Please return to this church in the late Spring and play a light, sweet, delicate, joyful piece for such a beautiful and deserving place of peace and harmony.

[@ac1646]

What a lovely suggestion.

[@lilaporter9847]

This video struck me the hardest of any you have done. I love your work & eagerly look forward to each new video. Your love of the old churches & organs is wonderful to share. However, this one just sent shivers through me. It was as if you were playing to the church itself, to remind it that it wasn't forgotten & someone still needed it. What a beautiful tribute & the church itself is awesome. Bless you & your work, I know God loves what you are doing! So do I.

[@robertmdaniels]

Delightful walk through the countryside to view this church and then those magnificent, faded paintings inside the church! It would be delightful to see those restored and the organ restored also! Commendable spotlight on a deserving church!

[@tonyvandongen5939]

Quite possibly my favourite episode of yours.What a treasure this church is.Makes me homesick for England.

[@labncroft]

Soulfully beautiful Ben. Time only allows us to forget what we nolonger see nor care to reflect. Thank you for your capturing the heart and soul of England's houses of prayer. Your music gives them a voice drawing us in to contemplate what has been, consider what could be, and conscribe to future we choose to make.

[@janetryan9779]

This was hauntingly beautiful in every facet. A mute instrument is such a sad sight to see but your lovely duet so poignantly expressed what this old organ no longer could. Bittersweet….

[@margaretfriederich9731]

A particularly evocative church. So much history, so much atmosphere. A place for meditation.

[@theov5590]

I really enjoy your videos. Just a matter of interest..... Reed organs work on negative pressure like the English organs and American organs. A Harmonium works on positive pressure like European instruments from Netherlands, Germany and France. A good source of information is a book written by Gellerman, The American Reed Organ and Harmonium. Thank you so much for your very interesting videos. Kind regards from South Africa.

[@SalisburyOrganist]

A pleasure- thanks for your info

[@johannesreckel9036]

Thank you for shining the spotlight on this wonderful church. It may be remote but it has a local community still near it and in need of it.

[@alisonhughes2164]

Thank you for such a lovely video. The church - with its wall paintings was charming. I so much wanted to give the organ a good dusting and give it a new cover. The Adagio took me back to my schooldays (I am in my seventies now) where the tiny school orchestra I was a member of used to play it. We didn't have an organ so it was played on a piano but the violinist - who was younger than me was brilliant. Her name was Monica Huggett and she became a leading Baroque violinist. Your version is very different but it still evoked the memories and the thrill I feel every time I hear it.

[@ankavoskuilen1725]

I remember Monica Huggett when she worked with Ton Koopman in the Netherlands, where I live. She was great! Still is probably, but now I don't hear from her anymore.

[@dafadowndilly8919]

I know nothing about organs or music, but I love the way they sound. I also love the history of the churches and surrounds that you visit.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Me too 🛐👍❤️

[@robinnicholson4009]

One of the best short films I have seen.Very moving. I spent over 25 years in the middle of Dorset, working at Milton Abbey

[@brianmiller2365]

Ben, one of the best features of your weekly program is an appreciation for the reed organs and your ability to play them with such beauty. In many parts of the “organ world”, a snootiness exists that discounts anything other than a drawknob pipe organ. Thank you for showing that all musical instruments are beautiful in the hands of a musician. I love your program and usually feel inspired to play my Estey organ afterwards.

[@KenG557]

Ben, I hope your intriguing visits to these proud old 'redundant' churches spark an increased appreciation from the communities that are so blessed with their quiet presence. 🙏

[@christinawatkinsyoutube]

those drone shots and the music put together really add to your videos Ben. Magnificent, as always. Today I was able to go and see the organ at St Albans cathedral and sit in the organ chamber during the service, which was amazing. to then see this, an organ which no longer has its voice, has made me emotional somehow. Thank you for giving these lonely churches a voice ❤

[@JudyOliver-dy2wb]

Dearly love your arrangement of Albinoni’s Adagio. The combination of interweaving voices of synthesizer and harmonium is haunting. Masterfully done!

[@SalisburyOrganist]

Thank you very much!

[@michaelfurlong9004]

Adagio just stunning. Thank you. Looking forward to Wells.

[@alyswilliams9571]

Oh my goodness! I live in Wells. The cathedral is beyond stunning. I shall look forward to next week's video even more than I normally do. Ben, I mentioned Holcombe Old Church (St. Andrew's) to you a while ago as somewhere you could visit, it is only eight or nine miles from Wells. It is a little church very close to my heart.

[@melblues3847]

The organ duet was beautiful and very moving. What a lovely church too, very atmospheric.

[@AnneFelici]

This video was just so moving and to finish with Holst just perfect. 'O to be in England.....' it's beautiful in every season! Greetings from Sydney Australia and thank you Ben for making my week.

[@TheCommonGardenTater1]

Ben. This was extra special in so many ways. Thank you so much. Be Blessed ALL here.

[@jamesv9221]

One of my favorite videos. Really brilliant how you capture the soul of that old Church.

[@susanfisher4344]

Thank you for this spine tinglingly lovely and ghostly music, especially meaningful with the backdrop of the three living and three skeletal kings. I love this beautiful, remote church.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Within a few years Ben will be performing sold out concerts at the O2 London as like Hans Zimmer. His musical ability, creativity and talents are as good as Hans. My ticket last year cost me £125, but many people had paid much more to attend the back to back nightly concerts 🛐🎹🎶

[@SusanSchroeter-do2wx]

Absolutely beautiful!!! I love playing all these pieces on my flute❤❤❤❤

[@Rollinglenn]

mystical beauty in the synthesis of the living and the dead - Albinoni in G - your version reveals it. I have always associated reed and pipe organs with the living as they have "lungs" and they breath as the living do. Your synthesizer represents the non-living by imitating sounds but without breath - no life. I hope that at my eventual funeral or memorial service the Albinoni piece be played during a time of reflection on my successes and struggles while living - then a moment of silence that is total peace. Thank you, Ben, for your thoughtful and meditative Sunday presentations.

[@heidigusset8479]

Thank you! What a beautiful church with so much history. How I would love to worship there and think of all those that have worshipped there in the past. I very much hope that it will be saved and maintained.

[@mfurman]

This channel is becoming my favourite on KZbin. You created something deeply beautiful, Ben!

[@PortsladeBySea]

I totally agree 👍

[@2listening1]

I’ve never seen anything like those paintings on the wall. Amazing.

[@johnhudson6196]

A superb video Dan, and playing your harmonium was a fitting tribute payed to this beautiful little church hidden in the English countryside. Thank you. ❤😊❤ and play on……

[@jeaninerumble6503]

What a wonderful, artistic story you have told with your visit and your duet! Sad, romantic, inspiring! Thank you!

[@PeterMigliorini-x4o]

Quite an emotionally moving presentation; poetry in both music & words. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@nicolajj15]

Hi Ben, I'm new to your YT channel and extremely happy to be a new subscriber. I have been binge watching all of your previous videos and can't get enough. I can't thank you enough for the preparation, thoughtfulness and time taken to produce these videos and for that I'm grateful. I think I will need to send you an email to explain why your videos move me so much, as too much to write in the comments. Keep up the great work, from Brisbane Australia.

[@katschs3965]

Stunning, evocative, transcendent. Thank you, Ben.

[@debcarroll8192]

What a stunning church! I love the frescoes. The views during "I Vow to Thee, My Country" were also gorgeous, and so perfect for that hymn. Thank you!

[@SalisburyOrganist]

I’m so pleased you enjoyed it ❤️

[@MacWhatley]

@@SalisburyOrganist The wall paintings are really fine. I wish Time Team would come look for the abbey!

[@stephenscull901]

Indeed a most pensive and deeply moving presentation you’ve created in this video. I am a member of an Ordinariate(Catholics permitted to keep our Anglican patrimony in our liturgy) community here in the United States. We hope to make pilgrimage in another year or so to visit the tomb of our patron, St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne in Durham, and other places of our ecclesial history. We have a patronal hymn for the parish which is set to Thaxted.

[@opstudios1401]

Dear Ben. I came up your video as a mother of 12 years old son who is a young musician.He loves piano and keyboard since he was very very young age. He believes in God and Angels he is a sweet loving soul and i hve this vision of him playing organ at the church... we are from Bristol.. I think he would find your videos interesting. Certainly i am ! Thank you for your beautiful inspiration to share with worlds. I love to watch more of your video. God bless you and his Angels on every steps of your life.

[@dalecaldwell]

I have heard the Albinoni Adagio perhaps five thousand times, but this recording is the first time. Wonderful.

[@philiphumphrey1548]

There is a very similar wall painting of the three kings and three skeletons in the parish church at Raunds in Northamptonshire, also Pride and her Six Daughters (the seven deadly sins) meeting Death, who is puncturing Pride with a lance.

[@g.k.failla9389]

Having watched Johnathan Scott's video on the history of the harmonium helped in understanding his explanation of the organ. The ancient building was fascinating. I hope he talks at schools. He could give children a real feeling for history. From Chicago, U.S.A .

[@chesterwilson9796]

Dear Ben, my wife and I both appreciate the Christian ethos of this many videos and 'religiously' maintain regular viewings of these beautiful presentations whilst having our lunch on a Monday, here in Roleystone WA. The duet and last piece were most moving and the historical paintings on the wall, evinced many a poetical and Biblically based thought for me. God bless and keep going with this marvellous ministry!!

[@kesmarn]

The wall paintings...it's so wonderful that they've survived. A sort of earlier, Christian version of Ozymandias. People seemed to be so much more realistic about -- even accepting of -- death back then. No magical IV infusions of immortality drugs or planned trips to colonize Mars to escape the consequences of what we've done on/to earth. Just a recognition that decline, followed by the soul's "relocation" was as natural then as the river flowing through the beautiful countryside. Not sure we've gained much over the last 800 years.... The synthesizer/reed organ duet was both mysterious and lovely. It's clear that your hands and feet were busy creating, but I have a feeling your brain was just as much occupied with pulling it all together as you were playing. Meanwhile, the church rests there in the autumn beauty, serene in the fact that it survived Henry VIII, the English Civil War, WWI, WWII, and one fourth of the 21st century, with all it's cynicism and heartache. I suspect that when 2100 rolls around, it will still be there.

[@Isphanian]

How sad all Europe is falling apart, after forgetting and forsaking its history and heritage.

[@MichaelStBede]

Ben, very nice to hear a little of the "Orbis factor" plainchant ! More of such beautiful and ancient chants would be greatly appreciated.

[@KenG557]

Ben, you look dapper wearing that Scottish scarf. 👍

[@Suspan1]

What a beautiful duet. I love this piece anyway but this is something else. Thank you Ben.

[@elizabethlarose3632]

The combination of the synthesizer and the Harmonium Is wonderful! 💕

[@audreydaubney6047]

Beautiful. Ben thank you

[@richardholappajr.6184]

Great episode, Ben! Loved the history and the synergy of the music and the remote nature of this church. Looking forward to Wells Cathedral.

[@MichaelDenton-u7j]

Greetings from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada! I really must congratulate you on excellent videos. If you put all your videos together, along with your superb dialogue, you'd have enough material for a Mus.D dissertation! Being originally from Leeds in Yorkshire, (and a chorister in Leeds Minster, formerly Leeds Parish Church, 1961-67) I really appreciate the quiet and meditative manner in which you present. I can't begin to tell you how much I love watching your videos. I'm not sufficiently technologically savvy to send you a donation by the internet. With the current exchange rate between Canadian dollars and British pounds, I doubt what I can afford will even put gas (petrol) in your vehicle's tank! But please know how much I value what you offer by way of your video presentations. I am now 75 yrs old and wish I could walk through the countryside like you can. I'm afraid age has taken a toll on me. Keep up the wonderful work and I hope some university will see fit to give you an honorary doctorate for the great work you do to not only educate us about some of these off-the-beaten-track places, but for you to share your incredible talent. Literally, music to my ears! God Bless you, Ben and give you the strength (and resources) to carry on for a very long time. Michael Denton.

[@johnmaguire9305]

One for the “Repair Shop “! Maybe diversify into harmonium restoration….

[@lucylove1655]

Stunning duet. I commend your creativity and skills!

[@michelewhite8241]

I absolutely love your channel. I find your content so intriguing. You are very talented I appreciate you so very much

[@seriouslyreally5413]

The Adagio is so beautiful...the synthesizer floats the notes in the air while the reed organ reaches for it like grasping a vapor between its fingers in its attempts to anchor it back down to Earth. A beautiful listening experiance, Ben. Why must the message of Christ be the observance of his coming birth, a joyous occasion, followed by a life lost to the wicked hearts and deeds of men. Then the self reflection of the Lenten season, concluding to his death at Eastertide that seems so final in the hearts of us that loses the message of spiritual resurrection? Like the forces of the music... death, pointing to the resurrection, a celebration, while we cling so desperately to the Earth. I have never studied my feelings about Advent like this before. Probably because its suppose to point us to the beginings. Hopefulness. We all know how the story ends. Why reennact its alpha and omega instead of celebrating its middle?. The beautiful music reminds me of this.

[@2listening1]

O my God, relying on Thy almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ my Lord and Redeemer. Amen

[@2listening1]

That Ipse-duet is amazing!! 🎶🎶

[@johnblakeH]

Ben, this is one of the most ethereally beautiful pieces you've ever played. I'm making an official request that you add this, as is, to your next album/recording. It's perfect.

[@lizwilliams14]

Ben - I had decided that this week I’d donate on PayPal, because Patreon was my suggestion and I didn’t realize that they charged a fee. I specially enjoyed this week’s video that you and Sophia produced so beautifully. And I appreciate your “thank you” for my donation. Liz❤ ❤

[@seriouslyreally5413]

Sorry but paypal takes a cut too. But only 3% that's how they make money,charge a transaction fee. Patreon charges about 5% with the rest ( totaling about 8% in all) coming from your bank and VISA if you have a currency exchange. The bank charges a currency exchange fee and an international transaction fee. Remember, if you donate in your currency,say $5 USD the charge to you is still $5 USD but the amount given to the recipient is minus the fees.

[@lizwilliams14]

@@seriouslyreally5413I didn’t know that. Thanks for explaining. So for a creator, PayPal gives them more than Patreon. My sister who lives in England gave me her banking info and my bank paid her with that. In Canada we use etransfer. If anyone has my email address they can pay me and it gets autdeposited into my account. I have no idea if it works internationally!

[@lizwilliams14]

@@seriouslyreally5413thank you for taking the time to explain this.

[@PortsladeBySea]

⁠complicated and expensive 🫢

[@steverabb]

Still mesmerized from watching this. Sad, dark and depressing. I can only imagine the life this church once had. Watching you bring music into this building again while facing empty pews of a ghostly congregation deepened my appreciation for your work. It is an honor to support it.

[@SalisburyOrganist]

Steve- huge thanks.

[@donaldauguston9740]

Just wonderful! Thank you, DA

[@raymondo162]

aahaaa - so that's what a vox humana is all about !! sort of like an earlier version of the leslie speaker a popular addition to hammond organs. excellent episode Ben

[@SalisburyOrganist]

Thanks Ray, PS portable harmonium is a best friend of mine.

[@philiphumphrey1548]

Lovely arrangement of Albinoni's Adagio in G minor. The piece always makes me think of space monsters. It was used as the background music to a very frightening (for the time) episode of the 1970s sci-fi series Space 1999.

[@MrIvorfan]

And wishing you a happy new week too, Ben.

[@MsLinda165]

This video was art. Thank you.

[@sandrapearson728]

What a very sad sight to see. Such a shame. A beautiful location. A truly haunting sound from a lovely tune. We have a 13c grade 1 church here in Catcott, Somerset which I’m very glad to say is very much used. It’s so tiny only one person can walk down the aisle at a time. This makes funerals and weddings interesting. We are lucky to have a fairly new organ donated by our late organist. Its predecessor gave out some extremely alarming sounds whenever it felt like it!

[@2listening1]

O come, O come Emmanuel! 🕯

[@joantennant5579]

Ben thank you for another wonderful video what stories st Mary’s could tell you the wall paintings were so wonderful after all these years such a pity the church is not used these days but your organ was wonderful you played it’s so so sad the organ was in such a sorry state but with your pice of music you played made up for you it was nice to see Sophia is with you I hope you had some warm soup ha ha till next time 😊 I look so forward to Sundays you make my day 👵🏻

[@tiffanyramsey1857]

Is that drone footage??? So beautiful! I love these glimpses of the English countryside.

[@VanessaHamshere]

Lovely video. Really interesting to see the wall paintings. The first time I saw anything like that was in Pickering Church. Later, of course, I admired the Doom painting at St Thomas', in Salisbury.

[@stevesewful]

beautiful Ben. thank you