St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church, Gosberton
The installation of the organ – big deal!
This wonderful musical instrument was installed in the church in 1882, replacing a far inferior instrument, a harmonium. So grand was the new organ, that the opening ceremony and church services, held on Thursday, September 28th, 1882, were considered a red letter day for Gosberton. The whole village was decorated with flags and banners. The shops closed early in the afternoon and the remainder of the day was observed as a general holiday. At intervals during the day the church bells were rung. Services were held at the church. Hymns were sung and, as reported in the Boston Guardian on 30 September 1882, the “concluding voluntaries brought out the full power of the new musical instrument.”
When the organ fell silent
In contrast, the organ fell silent in 1943 for the funeral of Miss Nina Noble, in tribute to her 46 years dedicated service as church organist. In memory to Miss Noble, money was raised to install an electric blower for the organ, which was installed in 1947. The days of the choirboys and others having to manually ‘blow’ the organ were now over!
A brass plaque adorns the organ, which reads
“The electric movement of this organ was installed by public subscription in memory of Nina Florence Noble, for 46 years organist who died on June 23rd. 1943.”
