Open day held at St Mary’s Monken Hadley to encourage future generations of church organists

Young trainee organists had a chance to try their hand at the keyboard of the 135-year-old church organ at Monken Hadley during an open day held as part of the 2025 “Play The Organ Year”.

Jonathan Gregory (above, far right), a retired professional choirmaster and organist, who is director of music at St Mary the Virgin, Monken Hadley, organised the event which concluded with a Bach recital.

Over the years he has introduced generations of boys and girls to the organ and is keen to encourage the organists of the future.

He learned to play himself at the age of 14 and is no stranger to organ music: his father was an organist and so were his two brothers.

St Mary’s church organ, which dates from 1890, was built in Hull by Forster and Andrews and is said to be a fine organ for playing Baroque music.

It was installed at Monken Hadley in 1999 after having been restored following a fire at a church in York.

Noah Morley (above), who learned to play the organ at Queen Elizabeth’s Boys School, is gaining further experience at local churches, including Barnet parish church of St John the Baptist, where he has played at services several times a month.

Noah (16) was delighted to have the chance to take part in the Monken Hadley open day.

“Some people think that playing the organ is old fashioned, or perhaps rather exotic, so it is great to have an open day like this with presentations and demonstrations.”

Yuna Arao (14) was equally enthusiastic about the chance of get hands-on experience playing on such a majestic church organ.

Demonstrations and visual displays were provided by Duncan Paulson who helps to organise musical activities at St Mary’s and who often plays at the church.