Stanbrook Abbey Organ

“Our introduction to Robin Jennings was via Skype. John Cunningham as Client representative was with Robin in his Dorset workshop, while Joseph Cullen, our organ advisor, Richard Cavadino, Project Manager, Abbess Andrea and I were gathered in front of a computer at our end. Thus began a friendly and fruitful collaboration through the months of planning and establishing the requirements of the organ for our new Abbey Church in Wass, N. Yorkshire.

I still remember the thrill of seeing the drawing of the beautiful façade design with its rising shapes in sycamore wood, fortuitously the same wood as used for the modern choir stalls. The façade deftly fitted beneath the rising roof beams of the Church interior.

The day when Robin came up here with the precious pipes laid out in his van saw us gathered round as he lifted certain pipes to show off the beauty of their shape and blow them by mouth. All this in our car park! It was an even greater thrill when the day came when all the parts of the organ arrived here to be assembled in situ. This was a work of great skill and superb craftsmanship, executed in a hot June. The combination of gifts in the musical, artistic, engineering and carpentry fields must be rare.

As a Benedictine community of nuns, who celebrate daily Mass and the rounds of monastic Divine Office, our main requirement was for stops which would unobtrusively support the voices, and also allow for festive voluntaries. This Robin has achieved perfectly and the action is a joy to the touch.

Visiting organists, from young students to experienced performers, have expressed admiration for the quality and balance of the sound. We are aware of having a real treasure to enhance the praise of God in our Church for many years to come.”