St Mary, Goosnargh, Preston, Lancs. PR3 Date: 14 March 2018
Dear Klaus,
David and I would like to thank you for the wonderful music you played at St. Mary's church in Goosnargh at the weekend. The congregation really appreciated the contribution you made to the morning service. We look forward to your next visit.
Regards,
Geoff Sumner
Churchwarden
Date: 18 March 2018
RODNEY SWARBRICK
Dear Klaus,
It was our particular delight to be treated to such sensitive, expressive and beautifully prompted organ playing at our Eucharist on the 11th March.
Having heard our organ played for over 50 years I do declare that you coaxed tones out of it not heard before but which made for a most colourful performance. It is always a delight when an organist can improvise too when necessary during a service. Clearly you are a master at that. And we all so enjoyed your music pre and post the service itself.
It was so enjoyable to talk with you and it was especially pleasing that you were complimentary about our organ the absolute quality of which I have never been expert enough to form an opinion about. But nice to know you were pleased with it.
We do hope you will come again to play for us. It was such a treat.
With best wishes,
Rodney Swarbrick
Klaus emailed back and asked Rodney about his background and role at St Mary's. Was he a churchwarden?
Rodney Swarbrick replied as follows:
Date: 19 March 2018
Klaus,
My wife and I are both members of the St Mary's Parochial Church Council and have been worshipping at St Mary's for 53 years.
In addition we are members of the Friends of Blackburn Cathedral Music and are Friends of Blackburn Catherdal. We are fans of all the wonderful music generated by the Director of Music who follows illustrious predecessors.
Choral music and organ recitals are a way to heaven for me ever since my mother lured me into singing at the age of 6. My greatest regret/mistake was to think that it was not "cool" to sing in the school choir after my voice broke. I am trying to rectify this misjudgement by trying to read bass parts and singing in a little group in Ribchester weekly.
We hope to hear you in St Mary's again' ere long.
Best wishes,
Rodney