THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Opening of a new organ at Donghadee Parish Church

From the News Letter, October 8, 1872
On Sunday, September 29 1872 was fixed for the opening of the new organ in the parish church in Donaghadee reported the News Letter on this day in 1872 after the paper had received correspondence from the Co Down town. You can just make the church out in this old postcard of Donaghadee. Picture: News Letter archivesOn Sunday, September 29 1872 was fixed for the opening of the new organ in the parish church in Donaghadee reported the News Letter on this day in 1872 after the paper had received correspondence from the Co Down town. You can just make the church out in this old postcard of Donaghadee. Picture: News Letter archives
On Sunday, September 29 1872 was fixed for the opening of the new organ in the parish church in Donaghadee reported the News Letter on this day in 1872 after the paper had received correspondence from the Co Down town. You can just make the church out in this old postcard of Donaghadee. Picture: News Letter archives

On Sunday, September 29 1872 was fixed for the opening of the new organ in the parish church in Donaghadee reported the News Letter on this day in 1872 after the paper had received correspondence from the Co Down town.

Special services were held on the day and the Reverend Dr Busby, Incumbent at St Andrew’s Church, Belfast, preached in the morning, and the Reverend H A Burrowes, Rector of Carrowdore, preached in the evening.

The correspondent wrote: “Most excellent sermons were delivered from suitable texts, and they were listened to with marked attention by the congregation. The attendance was unusually large, and the appeal made by the clergymen in aid of the organ fund was heartily and generously responded to”.

The News Letter’s correspondent added: “I am informed that a benevolent lady of the parish contributed largely towards the cost of the instrument, and very liberal aid was likewise given by the parishioners and visitors of Donaghadee.”

They continued: “The singing was really good, and the selections of anthems, chants, hymns, &c, were carefully and judiciously made, and the choir did justice to them, more especially the rendering of the bass solo in the second anthem.”

The local choir, noted the correspondent, had been “strengthened and improved” for the occasion by additional well know voices from Belfast and elsewhere, and the organist “did his part exceedingly well, displaying great taste in his rendering of the voluntaries . . . appointed for the day”.

The correspondent from Donaghadee wrote: “The organ is a sweet-toned and neatly-finished instrument, from the eminent firm of the Messrs Hill and Son of London, and, so far, gives great satisfaction.

“The thanks of the parishioners are due to the Mr Combe of Belfast (agent for Messrs Hill) for efficiently and speedily completing his work of putting the parts of the organ together.”

The correspondent concluded: “We must not omit to mention that the preachers urged the congregation to join heartily in the praise of the Almighty whenever met for that purpose in the church on Sundays, and argued in favour of having musical instruments to aid the human voice, basing their arguments on Scriptural authority, and quoted several passages in support thereof.”

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