Restored ‘Glenn Miller Organ’ on display in Gartree during EHOD

Wednesday September 18th 2024

Local historian Colin Ross takes a seat at the Glen Miller Organ in Gartree Parish Church during the European Heritage Open Day.

Churches and Cathedrals across the diocese threw open their doors and put on special events over the weekend as part of the annual European Heritage Open Days (EHOD).

Among them was Gartree Parish Church, which used this occasion to showcase its restored ‘Glenn Miller Organ’ – once played by the renowned musician himself – conductor, arranger, composer and recording artist during World War Two.

The organ which Glenn Millar played in Gartree Parish Church in 1944.

The story begins in the summer of 1942, when a pedal organ was presented to Gartree Parish Church by the 8^th Army Air Force, whose chaplain, the Rev Norman Nygaard, preached at a service in Gartree on February 7 1943.

Glenn Miller is said to have visited in 1944, when he worshipped in the church and played the organ on Sunday August 13 while was travelling around entertaining US personnel.

He had played in the camp cinema known as the Project Magnet Hall to an audience of 750 after earlier performing at the Plaza Ballroom in central Belfast which had become the American Red Cross Club.

Just a few weeks later, the aircraft in which Glenn Miller was travelling, was lost over the English Channel.

The organ he played has been restored and was displayed in action at Gartree Parish Church on September 14 where a number of local organists stepped up and demonstrated the organ in action to visitors on the day.