77-year-old Brenda Staples from Winsford, is undertaking an 8 hour organ recital marathon on Saturday 14 August, to raise funds for St Mary’s Church. As part of her challenge Brenda is going to play a verse from each hymn in the hymn book, all 829 of them, some she’ll add in an extra verse to make the number a nice round 850.
Brenda says she wanted to do something to help boost the coffers at St Mary’s, because the church, like many others, has lost a lot of income due to the restrictions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. St Mary’s would usually, host major fundraising events such as a Summer Fete and Flower Show, but for two years in a row it has been forced to cancel these well attended occasions.
So rather than abseil from the top of the church tower, something Brenda said she wasn’t keen to do, she decided to take on the rather unusual organ recital challenge. But she’s not daunted, she says, “I get lots of practice as I am the organist for 4 churches and often practice for up to three hours twice a week.”
Brenda has been playing the organ in church for more than twenty years, she first started in 1998, when they needed a new church organist and her husband asked if she’d like a go. She hasn’t looked back since. Asked which hymn she is most looking forward to playing, Brenda said she enjoys most of them, but is particularly partial to some of the Christmas carols.
Brenda won’t be alone in the church; a team of volunteers will provide tea and cake to visitors invited to drop in to enjoy the music, and the bell ringers are on hand to play when Brenda takes a break after four hours. In the late afternoon Brenda plans to play a few familiar tunes so people can join in and sing. The challenge will end on a fitting note with a verse from the hymn, The Day Thou Gavest Lord Has Ended.
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