An organist in North Tyneside has finally completed a series of cycle rides to raise vital funds for his local church.
Nigel Brown, who plays the historic Postill organ at St John’s Church, Killingworth, has cycled over 1,000 miles across the UK in various stages over the past year, visiting nine other churches where Postill organs are present.
It was part of an ongoing fundraising campaign to raise £600,000 - to re-model the North side of the church - and also help to restore the organ, constructed by the prolific organ builder Robert Postill in the 19th century, back to its former glory.
Nigel’s self-titled ‘Pedal Powered Pilgrimage’ has raised more than £2,300 for the cause. His fundraising page is still live and you can contribute here.
The journeys have taken Nigel into Scotland, through the North of England and Midlands to the chapel at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.
Below is Nigel’s latest blog following the final leg of his journey. You can read his earlier blogs here.
Blacktoft, Tuxford, Blenheim and Folkton
By Nigel Brown
The final part of the Pedal Powered Pilgrimage was some time in the planning stage. The big day arrived with a leisurely ride into Newcastle (via two other churches where I’ve played the organ - St Cuthbert’s, Bedlington and Westgate Road Baptist church).
After being inspired by the Monday lunchtime organ recital in the Cathedral it was off to Durham via Chester-le-Street. The following day was Ripon, the reward for a day of constant headwind being a lovely reflective choral evensong bringing back many memories. The next stop was Selby Abbey – an unexpected pleasure.
The following day (3rd April) was to look at the organ at Blacktoft, which is a barrel organ but appears little used as the tunes on it are rarely sung these days. A highlight of the day was the midweek communion at Howden Minster. My wife arrived with the support car that evening and followed me down to Tuxford via Epworth (home of the Wesley family).
The organ at St Nicholas sounded glorious, it does need some TLC, and gave me renewed hope as to the sound the organ at Killingworth will make once it is restored. The following day was the cycle to Leicester with a visit to Southwell Minster for morning prayer after which my wife went home.
The 6th (Sunday) was a long cycle (just over 80 miles in total) but with beautiful weather and choral evensong in Christchurch Cathedral. The following day was the visit to Blenheim. Unfortunately I was unable to play the organ, so one day I will most likely return (although via car rather than bike).
The 8th and 9th were hard cycles into a cold headwind as I headed for Lincoln but was rewarded with a quiet sit and morning prayer in the Cathedral on the 9th before heading up to Beverley. The route (thankfully) avoided the A15 and passed Scampton churchyard with the uniform graves of airmen killed in action during the Second World War. The ride up to Folkton for the final Postill visit was probably the easiest and I had a look at Rudston church (which has the tallest standing stone in the UK in the churchyard). The organ at Folkton was in good condition and though only manual, it was more than up to all the music I had brought with me.
The final run from Scarborough was tough, though I was heartened to read the steam trains on the old railway line I followed often had to take several goes at it to climb the 1 in 39 gradient to reach Ravenscar! The climb out of Sandsend just north of Whitby defeated me, so my wife came to pick me up near Saltburn.
A number of thoughts crossed my mind during this cycle. Firstly “the joy of the Lord is my strength”, memories of my childhood tumbled out during the Evensong at Ripon, it is difficult to sing and cycle at the same time, “Put on the whole armour of God” and the excitement at seeing hares, roe deer and various birds (some of which I could name!), we do live in a beautiful country. I also remembered to pray for the places I passed though and people I saw on the road.
Thanks must go to the various church and cathedral clergy, musicians and folk for services, cups of tea and welcomes. Particular thanks to the folk at Blacktoft for keeping the church open and having a parish room with free to use toilets and an honesty box for tea and coffee, for the lovely welcome at Tuxford and Folkton churches and the couple who gave me directions to get past the roadworks near Beverley. Finally, thanks to all those drivers who responded with waves or toots when I pulled over to let them pass on narrow roads.
For the statistics I cycled 673 miles and climbed 7,486 metres over the fortnight and a total of 1,490 miles and 20,022 metres (2 ¼ times the height of Everest!) in total. I will complete the run home from Saltburn in the next few weeks but this marks the end of the cycle as well as the end of my working full time as I transition to whatever partial then full retirement will bring.
Captions
Top: Arrival at Tuxford.
Middle left: Blenheim Palace.
Bottom right: A very welcome signpost.