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It is now almost twenty
years since the sad closure of
Ickornshaw Methodist Church,
Cowling. Built in 1875 at a cost
of £2,276 15s 7d it was
described by the Keighley News
as: "A plain substantial
building the interior being very
neat and well arranged, the
entrance being from the side
furthest from the road . There
is a gallery all round
approached by a staircase on
each side of the corridor. It is
seated for 500 worshippers, with
open benches, and the pulpit
stands in front of the organ and
choir gallery. Underneath the
Chapel is a School estimated to
accommodate 300 scholars, which
is divided into three rooms, one
large and two small classrooms"
Unfortunately the Chapel has
stood empty and uncared for for
the past twenty years until
recently Mr. Paul Anderson of
Silsden has tastefully converted
this lovely building into six
luxury apartments (2004). It now
stands proud again returned to
its former glory.
Music was always important at
Ickornshaw and at the heart of
this was the fine Laycock and
Bannister tubular pneumatic
(toccata action) pipe organ
which replaced the original
organ from 1875. This
magnificent instrument was
powered by a water turbine and
in times of hot rainless summers
had to be assisted by members of
the choir - hand pumping ! The
official opening of the organ
took place on 18th May, 1907 and
the overall cost was £497.00. A
donation was received from Mr.
Andrew Carnegie for £150 Os Od,
subscriptions etc. amounted to
£219 14s 3d sale of the old
organ raised £34 Os Od and the
balance of £93 Os Od was raised
by March 1909 when the trustees
are reported to having £3 18s Od
left from the performance of
Messiah after clearing off the
organ debt !!
In September 1911 Mr. Watson
Dawson A.R.C.M.,L.L.C.M., was
appointed organist a post he
retained until his retirement in
December 1955. Mrs. Mary (Mamie)
Robinson was then appointed, a
post she retained until the
closure of the church and for a
period of 15 years until 1971
Mrs Gladys Gott was co-organist.
Choir mistress from 1945 was
Miss Alice Whitaker (later Mrs.
Clifford Smith) who retained
this position until the church
closed. Mrs. Robinson and Mrs.
Smith were, of course sisters
and they were instrumental in
the revival of the Oratorio and
other religious works in the
district and raised choirs of up
to a hundred members from
Cowling and neighbouring towns
and villages and engaged many
well known local and
international soloists for the
principal parts.
Some of the works produced to
packed houses were Messiah,
Creation, Elijah, Hymn of
Praise, Samson, Judas Maccabeus,
Olivet to Calvary and
Crucifixion.
When the Chapel closed in May
1985 the organ was removed to an
organ builders workshop in Hull
and in 1993 was installed at the
Roman Catholic Church of St.
Vincent de Paul, Queens Road,
Hull. The cost of the removal
was £34,000.00. The organ is
tuned by Geoffrey Coffin of
Principal Pipe Organs of York
who are responsible for the
Minster pipe organ. Since the
organ was installed the church
have spent a further £6,000.00
on the instruments ' well being'
The current organist is Mr.
David Craggs.
On 24th July,2004 friends of
Ickornshaw visited St. Vincent
de Paul Church and Mrs. Grace
Smith A.R.C.M., G.R.S.M. of
Silsden a well known local
organist and teacher was asked
to perform a recital of
favourite pieces and this was
enjoyed by all present.
For the Friends of Ickornshaw.
Contact:
The Friends of Ickornshaw
Church.
The Willows,
87 Skipton Road,
SILSDEN,
BD20 9DA
Telephone and Facsimile:
01535-656248
e-Mail:
howardwbenson@aol.com |
