An Organist's Odyssey — an exploration of the hidden churches and organs of Wiltshire

Join internationally-renowned conductor, organist and author Hilary Davan Wetton for a fascinating tour of some of the area’s most special churches. An organ aficionado with a career spanning over 60 years, Hilary will provide a fascinating, amusing and illuminating musical and spoken insight into these instruments and their homes, breathing new life and a fresh perspective into them with short concerts at each location.

The tour starts at the historically significant Holy Cross, Ramsbury, with its beautiful Gothic revival-cased and recently restored organ, before we board our private coach to continue our odyssey.

The next stop is the very special St George’s, Preshute, which has had a church on its site since before the Norman Conquest. Andrew Brown will give us a glimpse into the fascinating history of the church, while Hilary plays and speaks.

Finally, our coach will wend its way to the hidden Victorian gem of St Katharine’s, Savernake, set within the beautiful Savernake Forest and built by the second Marchioness of Ailesbury near Tottenham House as the estate church.

Delicious tea and cake will be provided at St Katharine’s to mark the end of our odyssey.

Practical notes

The coach will park as near to each location as possible but there will be short distances to walk at each stop.

You are very welcome to organise your own transport if you prefer, which comes at a slightly reduced price; please select "no coach" tickets when booking.

If you would like to drop in to one church only (perhaps your local one) to hear Hilary’s talk and short concert, you are welcome to do this; we ask for a £10 donation payable on the door by card or cash.

Hilary Davan Wetton

Hilary Davan Wetton is a nationally renowned organist and conductor. An organ student of George Thalben-Ball at the Royal College of Music, he was later Organist and Director of Music at St Paul's Girls' School. He was Jo Brand’s organ teacher for the BBC 1 series, Play It Again; organist posts have included St George’s, Southwark, and St Mary & St John’s, Oxford.

A prize-winning student of Sir Adrian Boult, Hilary Davan Wetton has conducted some of Britain’s leading choirs, as well as recording with the LPO, the RPO and the Philharmonia Orchestra. He was also the presenter of Classic FM’s ‘Masterclass’, in which he explored great orchestral works with a live orchestra in the studio. He recently relinquished the role of Artistic Director of the Military Wives Choirs, with whom he has made a number of successful recordings.

https://www.hilarydavanwetton.co.uk/

Schedule

Please meet inside Holy Cross, Ramsbury ready for a 2pm start.

• 2.00pm - 2.30pm: Holy Cross Church, Ramsbury
• 3.30pm - 4.00pm: St George's, Preshute
• 4.35pm - 5.05pm: St Katharine's, Savernake Forest, followed by tea and cake

The coach will leave St Katharine's at approximately 5.30pm to return to Ramsbury.

Holy Cross Church, Ramsbury

Holy Cross, Ramsbury is one of six churches in the parish of Whitton. It dates back to Saxon times, when the first Bishop of Ramsbury was created in 909 AD, and was an important early church with several of its bishops becoming Archbishops of Canterbury. In 1058, it joined Sherborne to form the diocese of Sarum and in 1275 moved to the present cathedral site in Salisbury. In 1974 the Bishop of Ramsbury was reinstated and continues as a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Salisbury.

https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/9714/

Address: Holy Cross Church, High Street, Ramsbury, Marlborough SN8 2QP
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St George's, Preshute

St George's is a village and edge of town church adjacent to Marlborough College and near the village of Manton. The River Kennet runs just behind the church, adding to its idyllic setting.

https://www.marlboroughanglicanteam.org.uk/stgeorgespreshute.htm

Address: St George's Church, Preshute Lane, Marlborough SN8 4HQ
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St Katharine's Church, Savernake Forest

Set apart in beautiful Savernake Forest, this church was built by the second Marchioness of Ailesbury as the estate church for the Savernake Estate, including Tottenham House. With a congregation spread across the Forest and beyond, this church is a Victorian hidden gem.

https://www.savernaketeam.org.uk/church/st-katharines-savernake-forest/

Address: St. Katharine's, Savernake Forest, SN8 3BG
What3words: ///shocks.safest.storyline

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