Reviewed by Chris Tozer

Well, here is a perverse state of affairs, if ever there was one. For 300 years the mighty organ has reigned supreme as the sole purveyor of Church music. In recent times however, not only have Kendrick and company robbed the keyboard of its primacy within sacred music circles ,but their enthusiastic followers have undoubtedly rubbed salt into the proverbial wound, and made many an organist wince by reducing countless classic hymns to three chords on the ubiquitous guitar. This stunning album enables the much-malligned organ to strike back with a vengeance, for alongside the expected "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring" and Handel's "Largo" we find stirring renditions of hits from the song books of Noel Richards and Jimmy Owens as well as from Kendrick himself, all arranged by keyboard maestro Christopher Norton and played by the much respected David Poulter on the organ of Chester Cathedral. The varied programme also includes delicate interpretations of Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesus" and the '60s classic "Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace". Full marks to Norton for eschewing the synthesizer in favour of the authenthic supporting sound of the oboe and cello of Christine Swain and Rebecca Whettam. This collection should inspire Church organists to bring their repertoires into the 20th century before the next millennium.

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