Morecambe church to host first public performance on new Coronation organ

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 14:36

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

John Robinson (right) will perform the first recital on the new Coronation Organ at St Barnabas Church

The first ever recital on a new organ installed to celebrate the King's Coronation will be held at a Morecambe church.

John Robinson, Director of Music at Blackburn Cathedral, will give the inaugural recital on the historic Father Willis organ at St Barnabas Church, Morecambe at 7pm on Saturday May 10.

The programme will include pieces by Bach, Buxtehude, Schumann, Elgar, Widor and Vierne.

The organ, installed at the Regent Road church in honour of King Charles’ Coronation at a cost of more than £120,000, was salvaged from a closed church in Weybridge and installed by Gary Owens Organ Builders during 2024-5.

It was built in 1865 by Henry 'Father' Willis, who was widely regarded as the father of British organ building, creating many of this country’s greatest instruments in concert halls and cathedrals.

The project has been made possible by substantial private donations, and grants from the John Pilling Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the ON Organ Fund, the Royal Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund, the Williams Church Music Trust, and the Wilson Charitable Trust.

John is a choral conductor and organist. As well as his role at the cathedral, he is Director of Blackburn Chamber Choir, and of Blackburn Music Society.

He has performed in venues across the US and Europe. His choral recordings include releases on Decca Records and Sony Classical.

In 2022 his organ recording 'Laus Deo' was 'Editor's Choice' in the Awards Edition of Gramophone Magazine.

He directed the first double BBC1 Christmas broadcasts from Blackburn Cathedral in December 2022.

Entry to the recital is free, with a retiring collection, and it will last about 90 minutes, including an interval.

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