A CHURCH will hold a double celebration at the weekend to mark the centenary of the dedication of its organ and the 25th anniversary of its organist.

The organ was made by the famous Harrison and Harrison firm of Durham and dedicated as a war memorial at the city’s St Margaret’s Church, in January 31, 1917.

The celebrations will start at 10am on Sunday, when the preacher will be the Right Reverend David Stancliffe, the former Bishop of Salisbury.

This will be followed by an organ recital by Allan Coombes at 11.45am and a buffet lunch at 12.30am.

The previous organ was beyond repair and the parish took the project for a replacement to its heart.

The brothers Henry and Arthur Harrison had strong links with the church, where both were members of the congregation and Arthur was church warden.

Arthur designed the instrument and Henry its wooden case, which was carved by St Margaret’s Junior School headmaster, Arthur Yockney. Parishioners donated money towards the £800 cost of the instrument.

With the country enduring some of the darkest days of the First World War it was decided that the new organ would be a memorial to the fallen and two brass inscription plates in the church record the deaths of the nearly 200 from the parish and from Durham School who died.

Representatives from the North East War Memorials Project, Durham School and Harrison and Harrison will attend the event.

The Reverend Barnaby Huish, Rector of St Margaret’s, said: “This is a remarkable opportunity to celebrate local craftsmanship and enterprise in organ-building, the sacrifice of people from Crossgate, Framwellgate and Neville’s Cross who died in the First World War.

“It will also recall the determination of the people of those communities not just to remember them but to fund a musical instrument in their memory, and the contribution of many people who have sung, played and made music in St Margaret’s Church over the past 100 years.”

“By happy coincidence we are also celebrating Allan’s 25 years of dedicated service to St Margaret’s.

“We are extremely lucky to have such a gifted musician as our organist. His playing brings so much to our services here.”

As well as giving recitals in the area, Mr Coombes is also accompanist for the Bishop Auckland Choral Society.

His recital on Sunday will include music from the Baroque to the 20th Century and will end with the thrilling Toccata in G by Dubois.