St Mary's Aisle music

When you think of your favourite hymn or carol, you probably think of singing it with an organ. Organ music in churches pre-dates the Norman Conquest, and composers over the centuries have included many household names like Elgar, Bach, and Handel. But what makes an organ special?

The Byfield Organ in St Mary’s Aisle is amongst the oldest and most historic pipe organs in Cornwall. It was built in 1750 by one of the most respected English organ builders at the time, John Byfield. Rumour has it that it was made for the Chapel Royal in London but did not suit the situation, so it was shipped to Truro and gifted by William Lemon to St Mary’s Church, part of which survives today as St Mary’s Aisle. Lemon Street is named after him. The organ came complete with a set of cherubs with trumpets on top, but the low roof of the church meant they had to be taken off. You can imagine the disappointment!

In the autumn of 1880, the Byfield Organ was carefully moved into the temporary wooden cathedral on High Cross, where services were held while the new cathedral was being built. There, it accompanied the first ever service of Nine Lessons with Carols, now famous worldwide. Eight years later, it was moved back into its rightful place in what had become St Mary’s Aisle within the brand new Truro Cathedral.

The Byfield Organ is cared for by the local firm of Lance Foy Organs, who regularly have to climb inside for tuning and maintenance work. Sadly, this historic organ now faces a serious threat – rainwater trickling down through the roof right overhead, where St Mary’s Aisle joins the rest of the cathedral. If you would like to help save it, you can find out more about the St Mary's Aisle Appeal here.

The video below shows the St Mary’s Aisle Byfield Organ played by Andrew Wyatt assistant director of music at Truro Cathedral. A set of variations on the famous Epiphany hymn “How Brightly Shines the Morning Star” (Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern BuxWV 223) by Dietrich Buxtehude.