Sylvia Howard, 'Organist' playing St. Agnes' Church Organ, Aug 1991.
Sylvia first played the organ when she was about 15, which would be 1930 and
then on and off until around 1994/5 when she lost her sight. As a girl
she would deputise for Miss Maude, her teacher, at Booton and Cawston.
Miss Mary Maude was organist at Cawston for 43 years, (1900 - 1943?) and
was a founder member of the W.I. in 1921.
Cawston Church Historic Organ was restored in the
18th century by George Pike
England but goes back much further. The heart of organ dates from the 16th
century, the time of Henry V111 and Elizabeth - and is from the famous
Harris school of organ-builders. G.P. England fitted a Gothick case to the
old organ, and added the "Nag's Head" Swell. this is in itself a rarity.
(The balance-beam of wood is shaped and looks like a horse's head). The
organ was first installed in St. Stephen's Church in Norwich in 1813 where
it stood in the west gallery, The cost was 275 guineas. About 50 years
later it was moved to Cawston and was erected by the founder of the organ
firm of Norman & Board.
From Notes on the History of the Church by John Kett and from the Parish
magazine April 1999.
2007/8. The Organ was dismantled and removed, repairs and
restoration/major rebuild carried out by Bowers & Company, Weston
Longville, Norwich and placed in new position.
