Potential trip to Germany 🇩🇪

The fine three manual Hill organ of 1904 in Kilbarchan West Church, Renfrewshire, has been transported to Germany and rebuilt in St Mary’s Church (Marienkirche), Prenzlau.

The rebuilt organ will be inaugurated next year with a full programme of events planned for 14-17 May 2026.

The Glasgow Society of Organists is planning a visit to take in these events. If any members of the Lanarkshire Society of Organists would like to join us then they would be welcome. I’ve put further details below of the events that are being planned locally to celebrate the inauguration. If anyone is interested then please ask them to contact Anne Maguire ASAP via anne@lanarkshireorganists.com.

 

The main evening events are:

 

Thursday 14th May (19.30):

‘God save the King! 

Music by Elgar, Mendelssohn, Bach, Reger, Dupré, and 2 premieres; Organists: Thomas Trotter (Birmingham), Gunter Kennel (Berlin), Martin Rost (Stralsund), Hannes Ludwig (Prenzlau)

  

Friday 15th May (19.30)

‘Orgel spektakulär’

Music by Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, Holst, Rimsky-Korsakow; Organist Jonathan Scott (Manchester)

 

Saturday 16th May (19.30)

‘Last night of the Proms’

Music for 2 organs, choir and orchestra by Liszt, Vierne, Rutter and Elgar

Organists Harry Fairs (Berlin) Hannes Ludwig (Prenzlau)

Choirs from Prenzlau & Szczecin, Prussian Chamber Orchestra, directed by Jürgen Bischof.

 

These form part of a full programme of other events:

 

14th May
10.30 am Inauguration Service
12.00 lunch
13.00 pipe watch – guided organ tour
14.00 Highland Games near the church
19.30 first recital

15th May
17.00 Rush Hour Concert (Tom Ferguson)
18.30 Lecture “Hill & Son” (John Maidment)
19.30 second recital

16th May
Open Stage
19.30 third recital

17th May
14.00 Lecture “Organs in Scotland” (Chris Bragg)
15.30 Choral Evensong
16.30 Last recital (Chris Bragg)

 

There are flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Berlin and then trains to Prenzlau. The town has a few hotels.