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The Parish Church of The Holy Trinity, Balsham,
the original building was built two hundred years before the present
building which dates back to 1014
As we have already reported the present church dates from the from mid 1200
and the ordering of the church is mid 1400s, Some scholars believe
it was at the behest of Hugh of Balsham, Bishop of Ely and founder
of the oldest Cambridge College, Peterhouse.
Bishop had a residence here as it was a
convenient stage on the journey between London and Ely which
explains the size and the importance of the Church.
Nowadays it houses a small two manual Walker pipe organ which
is not big enough, or loud enough, for the vast nave. The church is
effectively cut in to two as the rood screen is glazed with
Perspex. The glazing continues from the top of the screen to the height
of the chancel arch.
A Gem electronic organ was installed in the nave with
speakers on the screen. This electronic organ was in an advance state
of decay and the reproduction of sound was compromised. Organist,
Richard Skinner had a vision for a new musical era at Balsham
Church. For Richards plans a three manual instrument was required
and it should be
capable of supporting large Christmas and Easter Congregations. The
search began.
Richard had long telephone discussions with
Anthony Bogdan Organs. Anthony suggested the swell and great
divisions were to be sited on the screen with the choir and pedal
divisions placed behind the pipe font on the north aisle
The idea worked well and the swell strings drift
round the church with the pedal softly emanating from the pipe
front. The ensemble is crowned by the ethereal clarinet again from
behind the north aisle pipe front. The solid English diapason chorus
with majestic full swell and the pedal division under pins the whole ensemble. The solo tuba does it's
job and crowns the whole organ.
I will let organist Richard Skinner take up the
story............................
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