New organ in place at St Mary's

THE major overhaul of the organ at St Mary's Church, Bungay was completed this week - and the renewed instrument will be christened on Sunday at a recital by organist Liz Vennard.

The Friends of St Mary's have spent more than £10,000 on the overhaul at the redundant church, and as she practised this week Liz said the money had proved well worthwhile.

“The organ is absolutely gorgeous now,” she said. “There is still a bit of fine tuning to do, but it now sounds much brighter, much richer, much fuller. It sounds as if it has had a really good clear-out!

“Before the work (carried out by organ experts Boggis of Diss) it sounded like a trumpet full of dirt - now it sounds sparkly.”

Liz, who plays the organ at several churches in the area, including Holy trinity at Bungay, where she lives, was born in Sheffield where she studied the piano and clarinet.

She later moved with her family to the Isle of Man, where she achieved grade eight in both these instruments and began to study the church organ under the instruction of Alec Smith, a retired Vicar and marvellous organist.

After five years Liz and her two children moved to Bungay, where she soon became the organist at Holy Trinity Church, and shortly afterwards the organist at St Mary's Church, Ditchingham, and Broome Church.

Liz, who has a teenage son and daughter, plays for weddings, funerals and many other services in churches in the surrounding towns and villages. She is a piano teacher, teaching from home every evening, and has recently become the rehearsal accompanist for Bungay Choral Society. She also works part-time as a night worker in a women's refuge.

In her concert, Liz will be playing some major works by J S Bach, including his Toccata and Fuge in D Minor, music by Boellman, Wesley, Handel, and the well known Toccata by Widor form his symphony no5.

The concert, being staged by the Friends to mark the completion of the work, is at 3pm, with admission £4 (children free).