All day visit to St Mary's, Dedham and Royal Hospital School, Holbrook
2025-07-19 10:00 - 17:00 UTC
In this joint visit with The Organ Club, organised by EOA Committee Member Andrew Stevens, we are delighted to be able to visit the large 2 manual and pedal Binns organ at St Mary’s Dedham, recently installed, as well as to be invited back to play the huge 4 manual and pedal 1933 Hill Norman and Beard organ in the Chapel of the Royal Hospital School, at Holbrook, near Ipswich. A pre-booked cooked lunch, provided by the school catering, is already included in the visit fee for this event which will be £20 per person. Given that the visit is taking place very soon, if you have not already booked a place on this visit it may be too late by the time you read this. To enquire about the availability of places, please email EOA Committee member Andrew Stevens using a.stevens50@btinternet.com. Note that a pre-booked cooked lunch, provided by the Royal Hospital School, is included in the visit fee for this event. If you have booked a place on this visit and have dietary requirements, please let Andrew Stevens know immediately so that he can let the School know.

Organ recital by Philip Prior, St Augustine's Limbury, Luton
2025-08-05 12:15 - 14:15

Organ recital by Jonathan Lilley, Ely Cathedral
2025-08-10 17:15 - 19:00

Pipe-Up! event: organ music and illustrated talk for Play the Organ Year
2025-08-16 18:30 - 20:30 | The United Reformed Church in Chappell, Rose Green, Colchester Road, Chappell, Colchester, CO6 2AB
The Royal College of Organists has designated 2025 as Play the Organ Year. Our Chapel contains a fine small historic pipe organ and has an experienced organist Anthony Percival who with David Tibbetts-Chaplin, the Chapel’s very capable assistant organist, are presenting Organ Music and Illustrated Talk. Afterwards you can have a go!
Free entry with light refreshments. No parking at the church.

Organ recital by Dr Emma Gibbins, Ridgewell Parish Church
2025-08-17 15:00 - 17:00
We do hope that members will be able to join us on the afternoon Sunday 17th August for what promises to be an enjoyable programme of social activities organised by EOA Vice-Chairman & Treasurer Michaela Cottee, beginning with a recital at 3pm by the new EOA President Dr Emma Gibbins at St Lawrence Church in Ridgewell, North Essex, followed by refreshments and an opportunity to socialise (cost £10, including refreshments afterwards). We will then drive the short distance to Clare in Suffolk, where there will be an opportunity to play the organ in the church of St Peter & St Paul – an instrument which world-renowned organist Wayne Marshall OBE has recently said he wants to play (no charge but donations welcome)! We will then walk the very short distance to the (excellent) Mughal Knight restaurant on the High Street for a curry and drinks at 6.15pm. We hope that you will be able to join the President and other members of the Committee for a convivial meal. Please note that diners are expected to pay for their own meals, and that this restaurant does not have an alcohol licence, so you should bring your own alcoholic drink(s) – there is no corkage charge, and the restaurant will provide a corkscrew, glasses, ice, etc. Soft drinks are available to purchase from the restaurant, so please do not bring your own soft drinks. You are welcome to join us for one, two or all three of these activities. To help with planning and catering, please RSVP to EOA Vice-Chairman & Treasurer Michaela Cottee using MichaelaCotteeEOA@gmail.com.

Organ recital by Krystian Kaniecki, St Francis of Assisi Church, Colchester Road, Halstead
2025-08-31 16:00 - 17:30

Organ recital by Dr Emma Gibbins, St James the Great, East Hill, Colchester
2025-09-02 13:00 - 15:00 | St James the Great, CO1 2QB

All day visit to organs in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire - CANCELLED
2025-09-27 10:00 - 16:30 | Bishops Stortford

Chelmsford Cathedral Organs - 30th anniversary celebrations
2025-10-03 17:00 - 20:30 | Chelmsford Cathedral, Chelmsford, Essex
There will be a special celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Chelmsford Cathedral organs on Friday 3rd October at Chelmsford Cathedral, with a talk from former Director of Music, Dr. Graham Elliott, and a recital from the current Assistant Director of Music, Samuel Bristow. The full programme is as follows:
5.15pm Celebratory Evensong
6.15pm Refreshments
7.00pm Welcome
7.10pm Talk from Dr. Graham Elliott, former Director of Music
7.30pm Recital from Samuel Bristow, Assistant Director of Music
8.30pm Drinks Reception
Everyone is welcome! If you, or anybody that you know, are thinking of going, please RSVP to music@chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk.

Piano recital - Jonathan Lilley
2025-10-07 13:00 - 14:00 | St James the Great, CO1 2QB

Organ recital - Philip Prior
2025-10-10 12:30 - 14:00 | Beverley Minster, 38 Highgate, Beverley HU17 0DN

Southend Symphony Orchestra
2025-10-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Southend High School for Boys, Prittlewell Chase, Southend-on-Sea SS0 0RG
EOA member Joseph Zammit has been in touch to tell us about a concert he is organising with the Old Southendian Organ Society and Southend Symphony Orchestra, which features organist Roderick Elms and the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony. Not to be missed!
Southend Symphony Orchestra performs:
– Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 (The Organ Symphony) with organist Roderick Elms
– Haydn: Cello Concerto in C with soloist John Chillingworth
– Walton: Crown Imperial
Saturday 11th October 2025, 7:30 pm (with an optional pre-concert talk from 6:45 pm)
Southend High School for Boys, Prittlewell Chase, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 0RG
Details and tickets (£12 for adults) via https://www.osos.org.uk/events

Three day extended visit to organs on the island of Jersey
2025-10-14 - 2025-10-16
Good news! Following on from the success of our extended visits to Bristol, Portsmouth and Bath, it has been confirmed that we will be visiting Jersey in the Channel Islands in October for three days of playing, kindly organised by EOA Committee Member Andrew Stevens for the EOA. A full programme of visits to nine churches on the island has already been lined up:
Tuesday 14th October:
St John’s Church (2MP, 25 stops)
Coffee / Lunch Break
Trinity Church (2MP, 22 stops)
Ebenezer Methodist Church (2MP, 9 stops)
Sightseeing
Evening Meal
Wednesday 15th October
St Thomas’s Roman Catholic Church (2MP, 21 stops)
St Mark’s Church (2MP, 27 stops)
Coffee / Lunch Break
St Helier Parish Church (3MP, 50 stops)
Evening Meal
Thursday 16th October
St Paul’s Church (3MP, 27 stops)
St Saviour’s Church (2MP, 25 stops)
Coffee / Lunch Break
St Andrew’s Church (2MP, 24 stops)
Evening Meal
Further details, including full specifications for organs not on NPOR, will be provided in due course to those who have expressed an interest in participating in the visit. Members who wish to participate in this extended visit will need to book their own flights or ferries, as well as a hotel. We recommend staying in the centrally located Premier Inn Charing Cross in St Helier (not to be confused with the Premier Inn Bath Street, also in St Helier). We know from previous extended visits that being in the same hotel as other participants very much adds to the enjoyment of the visit, as well as making it easier to sort out lifts, etc. You should aim to arrive no later than Monday and to leave no earlier than Friday if you wish to participate fully in the visit. There will be a charge of £10 per day per player, and a charge of £5 per day for non-players or students. Three EOA Committee members will be taking their cars to Jersey, so transport around the island and between the venues should not be a problem, but please show your appreciation by being generous when you give petrol money to your driver(s), as taking a car to Jersey is not cheap. Transport will probably not be required on Wednesday 15th October as we will be visiting churches within walking distance of the hotel, though less able people may prefer to take a taxi. Now that it has been confirmed that the EOA extended visit to Jersey is taking place, please send expressions of interest to Andrew Stevens if you have not yet done so, using a.stevens50@btinternet.com.

Organ recital - Ashley Grote, Master of Music, Norwich Cathedral
2025-10-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Colchester Moot Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ

Organ recital - Jonathan Lilley with Carleton Etherington and Darius Battiwalla
2025-10-18 12:00 - 14:00 | Leeds Minster, 2-6 Kirkgate, Leeds LS2 7DJ
Gala recital in memory of Simon Lindley (1948-2025)

Cambridge Academy of Organ Studies - The English Organ
2025-10-25 11:00 - 17:00 | Cambridge
On Saturday, October 25 the Cambridge Academy of Organ Studies will present the first of three annual events celebrating the legacy of Professor Peter Williams, a major figure internationally in the study of the organ and its music and the first Patron of CAOS. This year The English organ is our focus with a masterclass led by Margaret Phillips, talks by John Mander with demonstrations of three organs marking stages of the organ’s development over as many centuries, and a commemorative lecture by William McVicker.
11.00am masterclass at Trinity College, chapel available from 10.30am for arrivals.
12.30-1.30pm lunch break (own arrangements).
1.30-3.30pm visits to three organs: Great St Mary’s University organ, Pembroke College and Queens’ College.
4.00pm-5.00pm Dr William McVicker gives the Peter Williams lecture in the Cavonius Room (on the Caius College site on West Road, directions will be provided).
Please reply to CAOS Secretary Tim Patient <tim.patient@gmail.com> if you wish to attend.
Price £45
Full-time students £20
For further information go to www.cambridgeorganacademy.org

Organ recital by Timara Easter, Waltham Abbey Church
2025-10-25 12:00 - 13:30 | Waltham Abbey Church, Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1DG

Concert - Richard Brasier (organ) with Anne Page (harmonium) and James Lipka (piano)
2025-11-01 16:00 - 18:00 | Exeter College Chapel, Turl Street, Oxford OX1 3DP
Part of the RCO Organ Forum on César Franck, but bookable separately.

"Pipe up for pipe organs" event, Broomfield Church Hall
2025-11-15 14:30 - 16:00 | Broomfield Church Hall, Broomfield Parish Church (St Mary with St Leonard), Church Green, Broomfield CM1 7BD
‘Pipe Up for Pipe Organs’ is a charity which aims to save pipe organs threatened with destruction by:

Rescuing threatened organs and finding them new homes
Getting underused organs back into use
Putting organs in public places for the public to play
Promoting pipe organs and music to a wider public

We are delighted that George Allan, who is Chair of ‘Pipe Up for Pipe Organs’, has kindly agreed to talk to EOA members about the work done by this charity, which was set up in 2022. A couple of EOA Committee members heard George talk at the Bloomsbury Organ Day in January 2025 found his illustrated presentation, together with the associated statistics and suggested actions, of considerable interest and concern. For example, ‘Pipe Up’ estimates that up to four pipe organs a week are being stripped out of churches and sent to rubbish tips. Come and find out more and share your own thoughts on the many issues which threaten the future of pipe organs in Britain, at 2.30pm on Saturday 15th November at Broomfield Church Hall, Broomfield Parish Church (St. Mary with St. Leonard), Church Green, Broomfield, CM1 7BD.
The cost of this event is £10 per person (£5 if under 18). Refreshments will be provided. For further information and/or to express an interest in attending this event, please email organistassociation@gmail.com or telephone Michaela Cottee on 07784 514119.

Organ recital by Chingyan Lo, Waltham Abbey Church
2025-11-29 12:00 - 13:30 | Waltham Abbey Church, Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1DG

Organ recital - William Saunders, City Organist
2025-12-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Colchester Moot Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ

EOA 75th Anniversary Luncheon with special Guest Speaker Daniel Moult
2026-01-31 12:30 - 15:30 | County Hotel, Chelmsford
To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the re-founding of the Essex Organists’ Association, you are cordially invited to join us for a very special luncheon with guest of honour Daniel Moult. One of the leading organists of his generation, Daniel is well known as a concert organist, recording artist and film presenter as well as Head of Organ Studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and a trustee of and examiner for the Royal College of Organists.
The luncheon is taking place on Saturday 31st January 2026 at the County Hotel in the centre of Chelmsford, just a five-minute walk from the railway station. We have reserved a private dining room on the first floor (please be aware that there is no lift access) and the hotel has agreed to provide a two-course luncheon (main course plus dessert) plus tea/coffee. There is a bar available on the ground floor where diners can buy their own choice of drinks to accompany their meal.
Taking into account the costs associated with putting together the package of distinguished guest speaker, private dining room and two course meal plus tea/coffee, the charge to attend this luncheon is £45 per person. Partners and friends are very welcome to join us.
If you are interested in joining us for lunch with Daniel Moult on 31st January, please email organistassociation@gmail.com by 15 January 2026.

Silent film event with Richard Hills
2026-02-12 19:30 - 21:30 | Colchester Moot Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ

Composite Recital in aid of the Christopher Kingsley Memorial Fund
2026-02-28 14:30 - 17:00 | St Mary the Virgin, Shenfield, Hall Lane, Shenfield, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9AL, United Kingdom
The aim of the Christopher Kingsley Memorial Fund is to offer modest grants towards the costs associated with being an organist, such as organ shoes, organ music and organ lessons. The fund is open to organists aged 25 and under who are living, working or studying in Essex. It is our intention to hold a composite recital at Shenfield Parish Church (St Mary the Virgin) on the afternoon of Saturday 28th February to raise much-needed income to top-up the Christopher Kingsley Memorial Fund. We already have several players lined up to take part but if you would be interested in playing, we would love to hear from you. Please email organistassociation@gmail.com.

All day visit to organs in the Southend area (Venues TBC)
2026-03-21 10:00 - 17:00 | TBC
More information to follow. In the meantime, please save the date!

A Celebration of the Life and Music of Percy Whitlock (1903- 1946) with distinguished Whitlock scholar Malcolm Riley
2026-05-09 14:30 - 17:00 | TBC
More information to follow. In the meantime, please save the date for this special celebration of Whitlock’s centenary.

Organ recital - Philip Prior
2026-11-13 12:00 - 14:00 | St John the Baptist Church, 55 Main Road, Danbury, Chelmsford CM3 4NG
