The pleasures Ben gave us during this year were definitely not nightmares. With harmoniums, organs great and small, in churches, chapels and a cathedral, Ben, Billy and Sophia have been a fantastic team. Overcoming every kind of hardship, 2024 has been a triumphant year, with over two million views for the Salisbury Organist’s channel.
Wow over 2 million views is an amazing achievement. I’m already excited about 2025 and am looking forward to watching your videos…TH-cam at its very best 🏆🎹👍
My late father, George Stansfield, played the organ at both of the Donhead churches as well as Semley. He was a former organ builder who was never out of work as a village church organist, still playing until forced to give up driving at the age of eighty. I have fond and vivid memories of accompanying him on some of his tuning and maintenance work when I was growing up in the 1950's. I would be positioned on the organ stool - legs dangling above the pedals - and instructed to hold down the relevant note until hearing dad shout "Next!" from somewhere up in the organ loft. Years after official retirement age my father was still in demand for restoration work. I remember he supervised the removal of an organ from a redundant church in Holland at sometime in the late 1970's . The instrument was restored in Mere parish church with the inaugural concert performed by my late brother, Derek, who was assistant organist an choirmaster at Sherborne Abbey at the time. I miss them both, but every time I hear an organ strike up they are with me. I'm biased - organists are a very special breed of people.
Ah yes, the interminable torture of holding key's for a tuner. The organ builders definition of torture. Tuners are a breed apart. Usually because they couldn't make the cut in the workshop. I got roped in to holding key's a few times until I fell asleep at the bench and the tuner screamed "next" three times without success. He stormed down from the loft to give me an earful. I told him to stick his tuning knife up his arse and refused to hold key's ever again. Lol. Tuning. It's worse than being in solitary confinement. It's the mind numbing repetition, the ungodly squawk of reeds being tapped in to tune, the grumpy tuner going off at you when you pull the wrong stop because you can't resist winding him up a bit. 😂😂
May the keys never stick, nor the pipes cypher. May the bellows be intact, and the pumps connected. May the Cows be peaceful and never charge. May the Van Men not start their chainsaws as you record. May the music be free from blemish. May Billy's strings never snap....Above all may the Cheese and Pickle delight as sandwiches do ......And may the New Year be a happy and harmonious for your good selves, regardless of the fore goings. Greetings from John.
16:27 Billy, man of many talents, thank you for helping your brother Ben! Love your guitar work (in other videos of course!). Ben, you are an amazing organist, and I thank you for many hours of beautiful music, poetry and joy! Ben, Billy, Sophia, Becca, may 2025 be a wonderful year without musical or any other mishaps! You all are wonderful! Fond greetings from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA "Der Alte Onkel" JWK😊
I some years ago at the nine lessons carols forgot to change the last verse arrangement by David Willcocks for Hark the herald playing O come all ye faithful a just tried to improvise and wanted to disappear The congregation didn't even notice thinking the organist is doing what he does on the last verse The choir mistress and I did not speak for a week but we now laugh about it ❤🎉 Kind regards and Blessings and happy new year
Thank you, Ben! Your videos are a bright spot in my week. Your willingness to take us behind the scenes and show us the disappointment along with the triumph is part of what makes your videos so special.
Ben, you can count on me being with you in sprit throughout 2025, as long as I'm still above ground! I look forward eagerly to enjoying your educational and entertaining video productions. I hope you and family had a very Merry Christmas and will find Joy in the forthcoming New Year!
“Wrong notes” I’m fairly certain that even the composers (long gone) are, in the hereafter, giggling a little bit because they knew these compositions were rascals. And that from time to time would give performers deep anxieties and headaches… A kind of laughing legacy ( musical puzzles)and gift to devotees of music through all time. 😂 I think they’d be proud of your persistence and faith. Love ya Matt! Keep pounding away!
Ben, and Billy, Thankyou so much for joining us at breakfast once or twice a week. Your videos and music enliven our day. Over and again we wish that Heathers Dad Wesley was still alive, he would have loved to hear your discussions about the organs, and to hear your playing. He was a missionary in the eastern Congo for many years and took his organ with him. It was left behind when they were evacuated in the middle of a battle between the rebels and the mercenaries about 1964 after a period of time as hostages. Today your video about the nightmares was delivered with your delightful humour and humanity. Keep doing what you do, you bring pleasure to so many people. And we wish you a very happy and fruitful 2025.
I discovered your program about five months ago and introduced my husband to it. Now we watch it on Sundays and rewatch the older shows too. You are a really talented musician and the history that you share about the churches and the organs is very interesting. Keep up the good work!
Dear Ben, Over the past couple of weeks as I've been exploring your channel, I've been chuckling at the teasing, tantalising nature of your choice of titles. Clearly it's working. I thoroughly enjoyed your Year in Review. I chuckled at your wry humour, empathized at your suffering, oohed at the magnificent architecture, sighed at the pathos, and held my breath at the beauty of the duet that emerged from the storm. This is Art in real time. This is what I aspire to. You inspire me that it's possible. Your "Organist in Trouble" style of storytelling feels like a metaphor for how to live a victorious life. Whatever the challenges you encounter, you meet them with resilience, equinamity (it's so refreshing to find a channel free of foul language!), creativity, self-deprecating humour, and an enthralling soundtrack. What's not to like!? Blessings upon you in Jesus' name as you journey through the coming year. With warm (sunny) regards from Narelle in New Zealand
Thank you for the incredibly inspiring musical and poetic excursions you shed with us this year, always presented in such a charming and often wonderfully humorous way. I'm looking forward to another year full of surprising experiences, beautiful landscapes and wonderful (imperfect) music! - Wishing everyone a great start into the New Year!
Am I the only viewer who finds their cheeks aching from smiling at the end of each of Ben's videos? Thank-you, Ben for such delightful slices of musical history each week. I'm looking forward to seeing what you manage to bring to us in 2025.
Thank you so much for taking us on your trips and hearing wonderful music - also on broken reedorgans and guitar (a wonderful piece!). We would like to hear and see all (!) of you. Ben, Billy, Sophia, Becca - you are a wonderful team. See you next year - in a few days and stay healthy!
Long time cheapskate fan. Loved peeking under the tent all year long. You deserve all the accolades and celebrations that can be mustered! If I could send money I would. Maybe I will someday. Hopefully soon. These videos are by far my favorites. I cannot remember ever following anyone so consistently. I hope that your production funds continue to roll in. I thank every supporter of this wonderful channel. Happy New Year to one and all.
We really enjoy watching your videos. the combination of music and countryside is lovely. My grandfather, who was born in 1904, as a boy had to pump an organ as your brother did for you in that old village church. My Grandad told the story of how he was naughty one day and stopped pumping halfway through the hymn and run off!
I wonder if we, the audience, might be inclined to watch others' setbacks to find comfort in our own shortcomings. 🤔 Despite any setbacks, your ability to overcome them is, in my opinion, a significant achievement! 👏🏻 Thank you, Ben, for this wonderful year of lessons in music, history, architecture, literature, art, and for helping us overcome setbacks!
Ben, I was a musician in a military band and I,along with all musicians I have met, have all played the wrong note at times. Do what you did and carry on😂
Admire your talent so much; love your storytelling; love your honesty! You educate people all over the world, and give hope to organists everywhere, as well!
I think it would be a real trip to travel along with you as the “traveling organ repair bloke”. When you get to a church with a bad instrument that hasn’t played or been maintained in a long time, I swing into action and start repairing and tuning what needs to be done. There’s a difference between “getting it playing” and “restoration”. Once we get it up and running, and you record on it, you could post a link for donations towards restoring the organ again; especially in these “Friends of Friendless Churches” places where money for the organ is absolutely last on the list.
Always a treat to see you on Sundays. Your videos keep getting better and better . Lovely to see the old churches and green countryside in winter from snowy Canada.
Unwichtig=unimportant Unverzeihlich=unpardonable. "Eine falsche Note zu spielen ist unwichtig. Ohne Leidenschaft zu spielen ist unverzeihlich!" So der Urtext😊
Thank you for your videos, Ben. Thank you so much. I found your channel in the middle of this year, they bring such calmness to me, and also, the most important part: the music. Your channel is the greatest find for me on TH-cam this year. Love your videos. keep going. From Brazil.
Thank you for all your videos in 2024, what an adventure it has been! Your content has developed & evolved in so many ways. I am always inspired by your sincerity, honesty, diligence, commitment, creativity & deep passion. It is clear that this is your calling. My favourite video is still ‘My MOST INCREDIBLE Discovery as an Organist’. A happy new year to you! I would really like to see the North of England featured in one of your videos next year & to see what you think of it & how different it is to your beloved homeland (Yorkshire is my favourite, so much atmosphere, character & wild beauty). Also more of your poetry readings too please, they are wonderful.
I unexpectedly received a book called Church Going as a Christmas present. It is by a stone mason called Andrew Ziminski, who lives in Somerset, not a million miles from Ben. The focus is on architecture and history not music, but the same love of old churches shines through. One of the first churches he mentions is St Mary’s in Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire, which may be worth a visit on this channel. There is apparently a good organ there… (By the way, I don’t know the author or publisher of the book. I’m just writing about it here because it may be of interest to other subscribers.) Many thanks again for all the videos this year - Vivaldi in the snow was a poignant favourite for me.
Thank you Ben, for bringing us these old and beautiful places of worship and most of all for playing so brilliantly, imho, on these various and sometimes problematic organs. You warm an old organist's heart (not nearly as accomplished as you but l did keep a little village church singing for a few years, lol). Please continue to give us songs of praise and worship in the future ❤ Praying you have continued and great success in 2025.
Keep doing what you’re doing! Where else could we enjoy obscure little churches, unspoiled English countryside and good intelligent company. You are unique.
We are so glad we found you this year, Ben! Happy New Year and we look forward to many more Sunday afternoons with you. Love & hugs from North Carolina, USA!
Triumph or disaster, the videos are great! I love the village churches as much as the music. Seeing Bach played on a smaller, simpler organ makes it seem more authentic. In his time many of the organs were like those in English village churches. Thank you.
Dear Ben, I enjoyed your videos very much this year, and certainly not only those where the organs were reluctant to be played by you!! I wish you the very best in 2025 and look forward to see new videos in the next year!
Foibles, of any kind, always cause gawking crowds who somehow take encouragement about their own imperfect lives by seeing the disasters in the lives of others. LOL Thanks for a wonderful year shared with us, and I look forward to what this next year brings you. Perhaps wedding bells? (Sorry, that’s just the old Dad in me.)
i guess it is the way you deal with all those issues and what you make of it that renders it very interesting to listen to. Good of you to be so resilient. I wish I had a lot of money for what I am donating right now is not much, but it is all I can do. Have a nice 2025 and thank you for what you do so magnificently on those video.
I so enjoyed the vistas, churches, and music, you've shared with us the past year. I can't wait to see, and hear, what you will share with us in 2025. Wishing you a very blessed year. From Abraham, Huibrecht and Theodore
Here's to '25, Ben! I for one feel privileged to be able to see inside a little of your rather private, but very special, and talented world! . . . . . it looks like you'll crack 37,000 suscribers to start the year! 💥🍷👩❤👨
What a delight & joy it was viewing this post. It was a very entertaining review of your past year's offerings cleaverly presented. Once again, I found your wonderful collaboration with Billy as you create music on that "tired" organ extremely poignant & emotionally powerful. It is still my most favorite of your past year's videos. Thank you for sharing & Happy New Year!
I loved the look back over 2024. It was interesting to hear you point out things that went wrong but which were probably not seen as unfavourable to your viewers. Your “lessons” have helped me to appreciate the organ and the harmonium, instruments I knew nothing about before. I have watched every one of your films many times over. I have a Note on my iPad with details of episodes to remind me what you played or what you read or what comments you made! I am looking forward to enjoying your channel in 2025. Happy 2015 to you and Sophia and your family.
Happy New Year from the soggy SF Bay Area. I think I have seen every video from 2024 and they have brought so much pleasure and joy. Bobby Henderson, the great American jazz vibraphonist, said there are no mistakes, just wonderful notes on the way to something else. Have a great New Year and see you then!
This channel is truly a pleasure for me and so many! I enjoy everything about it. May the footpaths take you (and us) to many interesting, beautiful, ancient, and stunning churches and organs, hills and dales, sheep and vales in 2025!
Your videos have the magic of calming me down when I am upset. They give me a sense of belonging to a world which as you show us so vividly has not gone. The old churches even when they are friendless are not quite friendless, certainly not meaningless, as you demonstrate so perfectly well. They still connect man with god. And broken organs can be fixed or filled with music played by your brother and others or by you on your portable old harmonium to express feelings beyond words. Thank you!
But Ben plays on… neither sleet nor hail, freeze or cold and old church halls filled with mold, But Ben in the stories we are told, plays on and and still he doth prevail!
What a great synopsis of all your videos from 2024, Ben. Cold churches, wrong notes and broken organs could be said to be on the other side of the coin we call life. All these so-called shortcomings and challenges really give emphasis to the totality of human existence, because they're the backdrop for those heroic accomplishments you've made with the other churches and their organs. Well done indeed. You're fortunate to have an extra hand (or two, or three...) ready to jump in to assist and/or accompany you, seemingly anytime and anywhere. That duet you and Brother Billy played at that "unloved" church kind of reminds me of a soundtrack from an old Film Noire spy thriller, like "The Third Man." Looking forward to your 2025 tour, keep on keeping on, dude.
A famous entertainer (don't remember who) supposedly said "Make it look easy and the audience will never know." Maybe your New Year's resolution? All the best for another great year on the village church organs!
I wish you the greatest happiness, Ben, for 2025, and that you continue to offer us your wonderful creations, a great cultural contribution not only to the United Kingdom, but also to your foreign followers who admire your work and love culture, regardless of its origin, we value it and enjoy it. May God protect you and guide your steps, dear Ben. A virtual hug from the east of the Kingdom of Spain.🌲🎊❤️🎊🌲
What an insightful and personal review of your year. I especially loved your comment about St Nicholas Church at Leckford. How the seemingly deserted experience of visiting that place was somehow transformed by your ability to invite 82,000 viewers to visit through your video. We are able to walk with you each week regardless of whether you find a playable organ there or not. Your reverence for it's presence in the church says it all. You do manage to squeeze in a little organ music in every episode which is a treat just the same. Thank you for a wonderful 2024 and wishing you and yours a Happy 2025 full of fulfillment and joy. Bless you, Ben.
I love the thumbnail. Being an organist myself, I know that look; the “not this too…what next!” look. I have to say, I really enjoy your channel. I liked the bit of Auld Lang Syne that you managed to do. Looking forward to seeing more churches and organs in 2005!
Ben I hope that you are getting the support you need and I pray that 2025 will bring in more financial help I only wish I could do more but there are other that also need help may 25 bring you much blessing thank you
Just imagine if all view(ers) donated even one dollar.... I must get around to opening up that PayPal link and doing my bit. I mean, how much would I have to pay to see some pop star, far away on a stage below? With Ben I sit in the first row. Happy New Year.
Proof positive that the beauty of the location, architecture, fabric of the church, and my personal religious experiences there, at that moment, in addition to your musical capabilities, are the complete package. A Blessed New Year to all.
This is only the second video of yours I’ve seen, but it only took that first video for me to subscribe and return. I’m a professional flutist in the USA who has played in many cold venues, but probably not as cold as an old, unheated English church in the wintertime. I did once play in an unheated stockyard arena that was being used as a band room in January, and a Lakota school on the Pine Ridge Reservation in which the gym roof was leaking and our quintet had to compete with the sound of the drips hitting the metal buckets. The joys of a rural residency. The people were so appreciative to hear live music, however, so it was worth the tour. Anyway, I’m completely impressed with your work and will continue to follow your channel. Happy New Year!
Enjoying your videos! That old reed organ did not even have all of its sharps on the keyboard! We don't let our church get below 60F in winter or over 80F in summer if possible! Better for the pipe organ and grand piano! Happy 2025!
Thank you Ben, Billy, Sofia, and now Becca for a special year of music, beauty, peace and inspiration. . I see the joy in the work that you do. I know that does not make the cold any warmer, or the wet track drier. Your artistic vision is good. Your program is one of the highlights of my week We really appreciate what you do. Your work gets better with each video. Thank you again for taking us along in such an intimate, serious, humorous way. You have found your audience, and we have found you. Looking forward to more in 2025.
So glad I found you this year Ben, it's been an absolute delight watching your videos. Thank you for all the work you put into them. Wishing you all the best for 2025 and look forward to seeing what adventures we can accompany you on (I'll bring the cheese and pickle sandwiches) 😊
I'm a wind instrumentalist of over 50 years. We fight the cold all the time. (I have the additional problem of reeds drying out) What she needs to do in a cold environment is...before her entrance approaches, she needs to be softly blowing warm air into the horn, don't wait till the last second to start playing warm air into it. Secondly, she needs to stand up straight, bring the horn to almost straight out to allow full air support from her diaphragm and her intonation will improve. Oh yes, mistakes are the bane of all our musical existence. Good times. I always respect your playing, mistakes or not. I love it all. Great respects to your brother and his girlfriend. Would love to hear more of their playing with you occasionally!
Thanks so much, Ben! It’s been a great year, and we look forward to an informative and entertaining 2025 from The Salisbury Organist! Merry Christmas 🎄 and a Happy New Year 🎊 from Clinton, Michigan, USA!
So enjoyed you review of the year. You keep smiling throughout.😊 Thanks for taking us on day trips around our wonderful little churches from the comfort ( for us) of our homes. Keep doing what you do, it's greatly appreciated.❤
We love you, Ben, for so much MORE than your playing of ALL the old churches organs. Not that I mean to belittle those amazing skills...!! That is wonderful in itself, BUT, the fact that your face, and voice both reflect the emotions which each Church and organ draws out of you , and your willingness to be honest, about it all just seals our appreciation, care and hope that you continue on your way while teaching us all, to make these churches known and loved,and possibly used to continue glorifying God. I am praying that your financial support will increase exponentially....and beyond what you would ever expect! (But DO NOT let it go to your head..) .Happy HAPPY New Year!
Ben and gang you just make our hearts sing!! You all make the music so easy even with all of your challenges. Have a happy new year! And keep your coffee pot hot!
As an American, I am especially grateful for your informative, historical and musical adventures. Billy does a great job, playing his guitar, along side your remarkable organ playing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your inspirational videos. It truly lifts my spirits, as our country struggles greatly on many fronts. I cannot wait to experience your new travels and adventures in 2025!
Thank you Ben for an enjoyable year of music and adventure. One feels as if we are all with you on your journey.Your videos have a real feeling of togetherness.Bless you in your future endeavours. 🤗🥰💓🦘🦘
It is a delight to come back week after week to learn about churches and listen to organs in a country I doubt I will ever visit. Ben, you are a true inspiration! It’s been a great year, and I cannot wait to find out what 2025 has in store.
Your content is totally my preferred Sunday night unwind!. As an organist myself, I'm convinced we are a purse ecuted breed. (, misspelling is intentional).... So many of my organ pro channels seem to be shadowed...algo.... Rhythm wise. .... In fact, I've had the majority of my own creations as Unlisted recordings for friends and fsm just disappear! However, An elderly organist mentor of mine taught me earnestly, to always write down in a notebook, the registration and what you did when and how, just in case you need to recreate your work anyplace anywhere. That advice is paying off bc a handwritten notebook cannot be censored!
I’m a bit late watching this, having had a busy Christmas, however better late than never. It’s fascinating how your videos seem to appeal so much when there’s a challenge. This reminds me that at least half the appeal of your videos is the chat.. the walks along the paths and bridleways and the occasional poetry. There’s so much variety in your wonderful videos Ben. So thank you, Ben, Billy, Becky and Sophia for a fabulous year of educational and entertaining videos. Happy New Year to you !
Ben, I listen and watch you because you’re are a wondrous organist, genial rambler and an all around informative host. I love your channel and look forward to each new episode so very much!! As a commentor above says, life here in the US is so horribly harrowing now. It is one of my hopes to ramble along the beautiful, enticing English countryside. I can’t wait for your 2025 editions. Thank you, Ben!!💖🙏🏻🕯️
You've discovered how TH-cam algorithms work! 😂 The algorithm always favors negative things. 7:30 wrong notes! What you did there once was my trademark on the piano! I apparently liked to end all pieces with a firm painfully wrong chord! 😂 Not on purpose though. I wish you all a very good 2025, with a lot of music, nature, poems and churches! Thank you for your video's!
The pleasures Ben gave us during this year were definitely not nightmares. With harmoniums, organs great and small, in churches, chapels and a cathedral, Ben, Billy and Sophia have been a fantastic team. Overcoming every kind of hardship, 2024 has been a triumphant year, with over two million views for the Salisbury Organist’s channel.
Wow over 2 million views is an amazing achievement.
I’m already excited about 2025 and am looking forward to watching your videos…TH-cam at its very best 🏆🎹👍
❤❤luv this channel❤❤
My late father, George Stansfield, played the organ at both of the Donhead churches as well as Semley. He was a former organ builder who was never out of work as a village church organist, still playing until forced to give up driving at the age of eighty. I have fond and vivid memories of accompanying him on some of his tuning and maintenance work when I was growing up in the 1950's. I would be positioned on the organ stool - legs dangling above the pedals - and instructed to hold down the relevant note until hearing dad shout "Next!" from somewhere up in the organ loft. Years after official retirement age my father was still in demand for restoration work. I remember he supervised the removal of an organ from a redundant church in Holland at sometime in the late 1970's . The instrument was restored in Mere parish church with the inaugural concert performed by my late brother, Derek, who was assistant organist an choirmaster at Sherborne Abbey at the time. I miss them both, but every time I hear an organ strike up they are with me. I'm biased - organists are a very special breed of people.
Ah yes, the interminable torture of holding key's for a tuner. The organ builders definition of torture. Tuners are a breed apart. Usually because they couldn't make the cut in the workshop.
I got roped in to holding key's a few times until I fell asleep at the bench and the tuner screamed "next" three times without success. He stormed down from the loft to give me an earful. I told him to stick his tuning knife up his arse and refused to hold key's ever again. Lol.
Tuning. It's worse than being in solitary confinement. It's the mind numbing repetition, the ungodly squawk of reeds being tapped in to tune, the grumpy tuner going off at you when you pull the wrong stop because you can't resist winding him up a bit. 😂😂
This channel has become my addiction, which I wholeheartedly intend to continue with in 2025. Long live the Salisbury Organist and his team
May the keys never stick, nor the pipes cypher. May the bellows be intact, and the pumps connected. May the Cows be peaceful and never charge. May the Van Men not start their chainsaws as you record. May the music be free from blemish. May Billy's strings never snap....Above all may the Cheese and Pickle delight as sandwiches do ......And may the New Year be a happy and harmonious for your good selves, regardless of the fore goings. Greetings from John.
16:27 Billy, man of many talents, thank you for helping your brother Ben! Love your guitar work (in other videos of course!). Ben, you are an amazing organist, and I thank you for many hours of beautiful music, poetry and joy!
Ben, Billy, Sophia, Becca, may 2025 be a wonderful year without musical or any other mishaps! You all are wonderful!
Fond greetings from
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
"Der Alte Onkel"
JWK😊
I so very much enjoy hearing Billy play classical guitar. 🤗
Looking forward to 2025 and more wonderful organ music, poetry, footpaths and benches with you.
Billy has saved the day quite a few times. We do notice and he is appreciated.
I some years ago at the nine lessons carols forgot to change the last verse arrangement by David Willcocks for Hark the herald playing O come all ye faithful a just tried to improvise and wanted to disappear
The congregation didn't even notice thinking the organist is doing what he does on the last verse
The choir mistress and I did not speak for a week but we now laugh about it ❤🎉
Kind regards and Blessings and happy new year
You were so kind to play at that church where the gentleman's' great grandmother played. Best wishes for 2025. I will be following.
Thank you, Ben! Your videos are a bright spot in my week. Your willingness to take us behind the scenes and show us the disappointment along with the triumph is part of what makes your videos so special.
Your channel is part of my Sunday every week
there’s little better than watching a talented, beautifully spoken Englishman preform his passion. ❤
Ben, you can count on me being with you in sprit throughout 2025, as long as I'm still above ground! I look forward eagerly to enjoying your educational and entertaining video productions.
I hope you and family had a very Merry Christmas and will find Joy in the forthcoming New Year!
“Wrong notes” I’m fairly certain that even the composers (long gone) are, in the hereafter, giggling a little bit because they knew these compositions were rascals. And that from time to time would give performers deep anxieties and headaches… A kind of laughing legacy ( musical puzzles)and gift to devotees of music through all time. 😂 I think they’d be proud of your persistence and faith.
Love ya Matt! Keep pounding away!
I enjoyed this so much. Thank you Ben. Simply wonderful.
Ben, and Billy, Thankyou so much for joining us at breakfast once or twice a week. Your videos and music enliven our day. Over and again we wish that Heathers Dad Wesley was still alive, he would have loved to hear your discussions about the organs, and to hear your playing. He was a missionary in the eastern Congo for many years and took his organ with him. It was left behind when they were evacuated in the middle of a battle between the rebels and the mercenaries about 1964 after a period of time as hostages.
Today your video about the nightmares was delivered with your delightful humour and humanity. Keep doing what you do, you bring pleasure to so many people. And we wish you a very happy and fruitful 2025.
I discovered your program about five months ago and introduced my husband to it. Now we watch it on Sundays and rewatch the older shows too. You are a really talented musician and the history that you share about the churches and the organs is very interesting. Keep up the good work!
It takes a village. ✨
No mistakes only "happy accidents".
Thank you Ben and friends for all efforts in 2024. With warmth Onward! 🦋
In the case of this channel, it takes many villages!
@curiouslyclassical 🤣 Valid. Stand corrected. 😊
Thank you for all the lovely journeys you’ve taken us on this year Ben
It’s been a wonderful year watching your videos. Let’s hope 2025 weather will be kinder to us all. Happy New Year to everyone.
Dear Ben,
Over the past couple of weeks as I've been exploring your channel, I've been chuckling at the teasing, tantalising nature of your choice of titles. Clearly it's working.
I thoroughly enjoyed your Year in Review. I chuckled at your wry humour, empathized at your suffering, oohed at the magnificent architecture, sighed at the pathos, and held my breath at the beauty of the duet that emerged from the storm. This is Art in real time. This is what I aspire to. You inspire me that it's possible.
Your "Organist in Trouble" style of storytelling feels like a metaphor for how to live a victorious life. Whatever the challenges you encounter, you meet them with resilience, equinamity (it's so refreshing to find a channel free of foul language!), creativity, self-deprecating humour, and an enthralling soundtrack. What's not to like!?
Blessings upon you in Jesus' name as you journey through the coming year.
With warm (sunny) regards from
Narelle in New Zealand
Thank you for the incredibly inspiring musical and poetic excursions you shed with us this year, always presented in such a charming and often wonderfully humorous way. I'm looking forward to another year full of surprising experiences, beautiful landscapes and wonderful (imperfect) music! - Wishing everyone a great start into the New Year!
Am I the only viewer who finds their cheeks aching from smiling at the end of each of Ben's videos? Thank-you, Ben for such delightful slices of musical history each week. I'm looking forward to seeing what you manage to bring to us in 2025.
Thank you so much for taking us on your trips and hearing wonderful music - also on broken reedorgans and guitar (a wonderful piece!).
We would like to hear and see all (!) of you. Ben, Billy, Sophia, Becca - you are a wonderful team.
See you next year - in a few days and stay healthy!
Long time cheapskate fan.
Loved peeking under the tent all year long.
You deserve all the accolades and celebrations that can be mustered! If I could send money I would. Maybe I will someday. Hopefully soon. These videos are by far my favorites. I cannot remember ever following anyone so consistently. I hope that your production funds continue to roll in. I thank every supporter of this wonderful channel. Happy New Year to one and all.
We really enjoy watching your videos. the combination of music and countryside is lovely. My grandfather, who was born in 1904, as a boy had to pump an organ as your brother did for you in that old village church. My Grandad told the story of how he was naughty one day and stopped pumping halfway through the hymn and run off!
😂 Would make for great scene in a movie. Thanks for sharing. 🌻
I wonder if we, the audience, might be inclined to watch others' setbacks to find comfort in our own shortcomings. 🤔
Despite any setbacks, your ability to overcome them is, in my opinion, a significant achievement! 👏🏻
Thank you, Ben, for this wonderful year of lessons in music, history, architecture, literature, art, and for helping us overcome setbacks!
BEAUTIFULLY STATED...thank you fo these tributes to Ben!
Ben, I was a musician in a military band and I,along with all musicians I have met, have all played the wrong note at times. Do what you did and carry on😂
Thanks for suffering for your art, Ben! Happy New Year. Looking forward to more videos in 2025.
Admire your talent so much; love your storytelling; love your honesty! You educate people all over the world, and give hope to organists everywhere, as well!
I think it would be a real trip to travel along with you as the “traveling organ repair bloke”. When you get to a church with a bad instrument that hasn’t played or been maintained in a long time, I swing into action and start repairing and tuning what needs to be done. There’s a difference between “getting it playing” and “restoration”. Once we get it up and running, and you record on it, you could post a link for donations towards restoring the organ again; especially in these “Friends of Friendless Churches” places where money for the organ is absolutely last on the list.
I do miss your red socks! I have always been amazed at your stalwart perseverance in what look to be really cold churches!
I forgot about the wonderful red socks. They added just the right about of whimsy to relieve the solemnity.
Always a treat to see you on Sundays. Your videos keep getting better and better . Lovely to see the old churches and green countryside in winter from snowy Canada.
Incredibly moving.
"To play a wrong note is immaterial.
To play without passion is inexcusable"
- Beethoven
Thank you Ben for a wonderful year! - Matt 🎹
Unwichtig=unimportant
Unverzeihlich=unpardonable.
"Eine falsche Note zu spielen ist unwichtig. Ohne Leidenschaft zu spielen ist unverzeihlich!"
So der Urtext😊
@@Alter_Onkel Thank you! Happy New Year! 🙂
@@mattleach958 And a wonderful new year to you and your family!
Thank you for your videos, Ben. Thank you so much. I found your channel in the middle of this year, they bring such calmness to me, and also, the most important part: the music. Your channel is the greatest find for me on TH-cam this year. Love your videos. keep going. From Brazil.
Thank you for all your videos in 2024, what an adventure it has been! Your content has developed & evolved in so many ways.
I am always inspired by your sincerity, honesty, diligence, commitment, creativity & deep passion. It is clear that this is your calling.
My favourite video is still ‘My MOST INCREDIBLE Discovery as an Organist’.
A happy new year to you! I would really like to see the North of England featured in one of your videos next year & to see what you think of it & how different it is to your beloved homeland (Yorkshire is my favourite, so much atmosphere, character & wild beauty). Also more of your poetry readings too please, they are wonderful.
I unexpectedly received a book called Church Going as a Christmas present. It is by a stone mason called Andrew Ziminski, who lives in Somerset, not a million miles from Ben. The focus is on architecture and history not music, but the same love of old churches shines through. One of the first churches he mentions is St Mary’s in Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire, which may be worth a visit on this channel. There is apparently a good organ there… (By the way, I don’t know the author or publisher of the book. I’m just writing about it here because it may be of interest to other subscribers.) Many thanks again for all the videos this year - Vivaldi in the snow was a poignant favourite for me.
Thank you Ben, for bringing us these old and beautiful places of worship and most of all for playing so brilliantly, imho, on these various and sometimes problematic organs. You warm an old organist's heart (not nearly as accomplished as you but l did keep a little village church singing for a few years, lol). Please continue to give us songs of praise and worship in the future ❤ Praying you have continued and great success in 2025.
Keep doing what you’re doing! Where else could we enjoy obscure little churches, unspoiled English countryside and good intelligent company. You are unique.
Thanks so lovely, Billy pumping along with that fine playing! Thank you! And your amazing poetry reading! Have a Happy Ewe Near, from Canada.
We are so glad we found you this year, Ben! Happy New Year and we look forward to many more Sunday afternoons with you. Love & hugs from North Carolina, USA!
Thank you for the wonderful videos in 2024. Looking forward to seeing you in 2025 and wish you a Happy New Year!
You too!!
Triumph or disaster, the videos are great! I love the village churches as much as the music. Seeing Bach played on a smaller, simpler organ makes it seem more authentic. In his time many of the organs were like those in English village churches. Thank you.
Dear Ben, I enjoyed your videos very much this year, and certainly not only those where the organs were reluctant to be played by you!! I wish you the very best in 2025 and look forward to see new videos in the next year!
Foibles, of any kind, always cause gawking crowds who somehow take encouragement about their own imperfect lives by seeing the disasters in the lives of others. LOL
Thanks for a wonderful year shared with us, and I look forward to what this next year brings you. Perhaps wedding bells? (Sorry, that’s just the old Dad in me.)
This channel is part of my week
i guess it is the way you deal with all those issues and what you make of it that renders it very interesting to listen to. Good of you to be so resilient. I wish I had a lot of money for what I am donating right now is not much, but it is all I can do. Have a nice 2025 and thank you for what you do so magnificently on those video.
I so enjoyed the vistas, churches, and music, you've shared with us the past year. I can't wait to see, and hear, what you will share with us in 2025.
Wishing you a very blessed year.
From Abraham, Huibrecht and Theodore
Here's to '25, Ben! I for one feel privileged to be able to see inside a little of your rather private, but very special, and talented world! . . . . . it looks like you'll crack 37,000 suscribers to start the year! 💥🍷👩❤👨
Thanks for joining me!
INDOMITABLE BEN! I hope 2025 is better for you. You've deserved that.
What a delight & joy it was viewing this post. It was a very entertaining review of your past year's offerings cleaverly presented. Once again, I found your wonderful collaboration with Billy as you create music on that "tired" organ extremely poignant & emotionally powerful. It is still my most favorite of your past year's videos. Thank you for sharing & Happy New Year!
I loved the look back over 2024. It was interesting to hear you point out things that went wrong but which were probably not seen as unfavourable to your viewers. Your “lessons” have helped me to appreciate the organ and the harmonium, instruments I knew nothing about before.
I have watched every one of your films many times over. I have a Note on my iPad with details of episodes to remind me what you played or what you read or what comments you made! I am looking forward to enjoying your channel in 2025.
Happy 2015 to you and Sophia and your family.
Happy New Year from the soggy SF Bay Area. I think I have seen every video from 2024 and they have brought so much pleasure and joy. Bobby Henderson, the great American jazz vibraphonist, said there are no mistakes, just wonderful notes on the way to something else. Have a great New Year and see you then!
This channel is truly a pleasure for me and so many! I enjoy everything about it. May the footpaths take you (and us) to many interesting, beautiful, ancient, and stunning churches and organs, hills and dales, sheep and vales in 2025!
Ben, your enthusiasm and warmth are gifts and I’m so glad you share them with us. ☺️
Ach!! I so enjoy your playing temperamental yet beautiful organs any errors are easily overlooked and forgotten. No worries!!!
Your videos have the magic of calming me down when I am upset. They give me a sense of belonging to a world which as you show us so vividly has not gone. The old churches even when they are friendless are not quite friendless, certainly not meaningless, as you demonstrate so perfectly well. They still connect man with god. And broken organs can be fixed or filled with music played by your brother and others or by you on your portable old harmonium to express feelings beyond words. Thank you!
But Ben plays on… neither sleet nor hail, freeze or cold and old church halls filled with mold, But Ben in the stories we are told, plays on and and still he doth prevail!
What a great synopsis of all your videos from 2024, Ben. Cold churches, wrong notes and broken organs could be said to be on the other side of the coin we call life. All these so-called shortcomings and challenges really give emphasis to the totality of human existence, because they're the backdrop for those heroic accomplishments you've made with the other churches and their organs. Well done indeed. You're fortunate to have an extra hand (or two, or three...) ready to jump in to assist and/or accompany you, seemingly anytime and anywhere. That duet you and Brother Billy played at that "unloved" church kind of reminds me of a soundtrack from an old Film Noire spy thriller, like "The Third Man." Looking forward to your 2025 tour, keep on keeping on, dude.
Happy New Year Ben! Looking forward to another year, full of your charming videos.
A famous entertainer (don't remember who) supposedly said "Make it look easy and the audience will never know." Maybe your New Year's resolution? All the best for another great year on the village church organs!
I wish you the greatest happiness, Ben, for 2025, and that you continue to offer us your wonderful creations, a great cultural contribution not only to the United Kingdom, but also to your foreign followers who admire your work and love culture, regardless of its origin, we value it and enjoy it. May God protect you and guide your steps, dear Ben. A virtual hug from the east of the Kingdom of Spain.🌲🎊❤️🎊🌲
What an insightful and personal review of your year. I especially loved your comment about St Nicholas Church at Leckford. How the seemingly deserted experience of visiting that place was somehow transformed by your ability to invite 82,000 viewers to visit through your video. We are able to walk with you each week regardless of whether you find a playable organ there or not. Your reverence for it's presence in the church says it all. You do manage to squeeze in a little organ music in every episode which is a treat just the same. Thank you for a wonderful 2024 and wishing you and yours a Happy 2025 full of fulfillment and joy. Bless you, Ben.
I love the thumbnail. Being an organist myself, I know that look; the “not this too…what next!” look. I have to say, I really enjoy your channel. I liked the bit of Auld Lang Syne that you managed to do. Looking forward to seeing more churches and organs in 2005!
Disaster or triumph ... King Jesus is on the throne. Hallelujah! I just love your vlogs Ben. Thank you from New Zealand.
Ben I hope that you are getting the support you need and I pray that 2025 will bring in more financial help I only wish I could do more but there are other that also need help may 25 bring you much blessing thank you
Just imagine if all view(ers) donated even one dollar.... I must get around to opening up that PayPal link and doing my bit. I mean, how much would I have to pay to see some pop star, far away on a stage below? With Ben I sit in the first row. Happy New Year.
Keep doing what you are doing Ben. I look forward to your videos every Sunday. And happy new year to you and your brother.
Love your channel! Thank you for all the ups and downs of your channel, and I hope to see what you have in store for 2025!
Proof positive that the beauty of the location, architecture, fabric of the church, and my personal religious experiences there, at that moment, in addition to your musical capabilities, are the complete package. A Blessed New Year to all.
This is only the second video of yours I’ve seen, but it only took that first video for me to subscribe and return. I’m a professional flutist in the USA who has played in many cold venues, but probably not as cold as an old, unheated English church in the wintertime. I did once play in an unheated stockyard arena that was being used as a band room in January, and a Lakota school on the Pine Ridge Reservation in which the gym roof was leaking and our quintet had to compete with the sound of the drips hitting the metal buckets. The joys of a rural residency. The people were so appreciative to hear live music, however, so it was worth the tour. Anyway, I’m completely impressed with your work and will continue to follow your channel. Happy New Year!
Thoroughly enjoyed all the church tours and listening to the church music.
Enjoying your videos!
That old reed organ did not even have all of its sharps on the keyboard!
We don't let our church get below 60F in winter or over 80F in summer if possible!
Better for the pipe organ and grand piano!
Happy 2025!
Thank you Ben, Billy, Sofia, and now Becca for a special year of music, beauty, peace and inspiration. . I see the joy in the work that you do. I know that does not make the cold any warmer, or the wet track drier. Your artistic vision is good. Your program is one of the highlights of my week We really appreciate what you do. Your work gets better with each video. Thank you again for taking us along in such an intimate, serious, humorous way. You have found your audience, and we have found you. Looking forward to more in 2025.
Indeed. May a pleasant, prosperous and fulfilling 2025 come to you and yours.
Thank you, Ben and team for a wonderful 2024! Looking forward to what you have in store for 2025. Happy New Year!
So glad I found you this year Ben, it's been an absolute delight watching your videos. Thank you for all the work you put into them. Wishing you all the best for 2025 and look forward to seeing what adventures we can accompany you on (I'll bring the cheese and pickle sandwiches) 😊
I'm a wind instrumentalist of over 50 years. We fight the cold all the time. (I have the additional problem of reeds drying out) What she needs to do in a cold environment is...before her entrance approaches, she needs to be softly blowing warm air into the horn, don't wait till the last second to start playing warm air into it. Secondly, she needs to stand up straight, bring the horn to almost straight out to allow full air support from her diaphragm and her intonation will improve. Oh yes, mistakes are the bane of all our musical existence. Good times. I always respect your playing, mistakes or not. I love it all. Great respects to your brother and his girlfriend. Would love to hear more of their playing with you occasionally!
I love all these videos, so special. And Ben too! And Billy’s guitar - lovely!😊
Thanks so much, Ben! It’s been a great year, and we look forward to an informative and entertaining 2025 from The Salisbury Organist! Merry Christmas 🎄 and a Happy New Year 🎊 from Clinton, Michigan, USA!
So enjoyed you review of the year. You keep smiling throughout.😊
Thanks for taking us on day trips around our wonderful little churches from the comfort ( for us) of our homes.
Keep doing what you do, it's greatly appreciated.❤
We love you, Ben, for so much MORE than your playing of ALL the old churches organs. Not that I mean to belittle those amazing skills...!! That is wonderful in itself, BUT, the fact that your face, and voice both reflect the emotions which each Church and organ draws out of you , and your willingness to be honest, about it all just seals our appreciation, care and hope that you continue on your way while teaching us all, to make these churches known and loved,and possibly used to continue glorifying God.
I am praying that your financial support will increase exponentially....and beyond what you would ever expect! (But DO NOT let it go to your head..) .Happy HAPPY New Year!
A young, male version of Diane Bish. Love all the old churches you introduce us to, Ben.
Ben and gang you just make our hearts sing!! You all make the music so easy even with all of your challenges. Have a happy new year! And keep your coffee pot hot!
Excited to see what 2025 brings! Never a dull moment I believe. Thanks for preserving. 😊
As an American, I am especially grateful for your informative, historical and musical adventures. Billy does a great job, playing his guitar, along side your remarkable organ playing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your inspirational videos. It truly lifts my spirits, as our country struggles greatly on many fronts. I cannot wait to experience your new travels and adventures in 2025!
Happy New Year from Vanuatu!🎉
Thank you Ben for an enjoyable year of music and adventure. One feels as if we are all with you on your journey.Your videos have a real feeling of togetherness.Bless you in your future endeavours. 🤗🥰💓🦘🦘
Many thanks!
I think it's time to take that important step. Make a contribution.
It is a delight to come back week after week to learn about churches and listen to organs in a country I doubt I will ever visit. Ben, you are a true inspiration! It’s been a great year, and I cannot wait to find out what 2025 has in store.
🙏🏼🙏🏼praying that God blesses Ben, Billy, Sophia, and Becca in 2025…❤️❤️
Your content is totally my preferred Sunday night unwind!. As an organist myself, I'm convinced we are a purse ecuted breed. (, misspelling is intentional).... So many of my organ pro channels seem to be shadowed...algo.... Rhythm wise. .... In fact, I've had the majority of my own creations as Unlisted recordings for friends and fsm just disappear!
However, An elderly organist mentor of mine taught me earnestly, to always write down in a notebook, the registration and what you did when and how, just in case you need to recreate your work anyplace anywhere. That advice is paying off bc a handwritten notebook cannot be censored!
It’s lovely & wishing you a happy New Year! 🎉
Love your work Ben! Thank you!
I’m a bit late watching this, having had a busy Christmas, however better late than never. It’s fascinating how your videos seem to appeal so much when there’s a challenge. This reminds me that at least half the appeal of your videos is the chat.. the walks along the paths and bridleways and the occasional poetry. There’s so much variety in your wonderful videos Ben. So thank you, Ben, Billy, Becky and Sophia for a fabulous year of educational and entertaining videos. Happy New Year to you !
Ben, I listen and watch you because you’re are a wondrous organist, genial rambler and an all around informative host. I love your channel and look forward to each new episode so very much!! As a commentor above says, life here in the US is so horribly harrowing now. It is one of my hopes to ramble along the beautiful, enticing English countryside. I can’t wait for your 2025 editions. Thank you, Ben!!💖🙏🏻🕯️
It’s been a wonderful year. Please keep up the good work. Love Billy’s guitar.
You've discovered how TH-cam algorithms work! 😂
The algorithm always favors negative things.
7:30 wrong notes!
What you did there once was my trademark on the piano! I apparently liked to end all pieces with a firm painfully wrong chord! 😂 Not on purpose though.
I wish you all a very good 2025, with a lot of music, nature, poems and churches!
Thank you for your video's!
Thank you. You are an inspiration. I keep following you on this honest not- commercial chanel