Several years ago, Neal and I traveled to England with the greatest anticipation of beautiful landmarks and gorgeous sights. Downton Abbey was in its second season, and I, like the rest of the world, was enamored with England. The glory of Buckingham Palace was completely overwhelming, and the sites of the typical tourist destinations just delighted us.
We traveled with our friends Joan and Gary. Now Gary was our official tour planner and guide. One of our most amazing stops was Liverpool—and yes, we took the Beatles tour. By the end, I could sing all the songs and not miss a word.
Tucked away in this little town was the most beautiful and worshipful Liverpool Cathedral. This was an unplanned stop but proved to be amazing. When we walked in, I could hear the glorious pipe organ playing. I play the organ and piano, so any type of organ music immediately captures my attention. When I looked up into the choir loft, there was the huge console, but no one was playing this glorious music. When I turned around I realized there were two consoles, one up in the loft and one on the main floor. This incredible instrument could be played from either place.
Inside the Liverpool Cathedral, where you can see the beautiful organ.
As we listened, the gentleman playing the organ came to us and apologized that he was not the regular organist but was substituting for a community service that evening. As splendid conversation continued, he told us that this organ was the largest pipe organ in the UK. Construction started on the organ in 1923 and was completed in 1926, and today it remains the largest musical instrument ever conceived.
Sometimes it’s the little things—or in this case a not so little thing—that take our breath away. This unplanned stop on our journey was one of the highlights of our trip. I will never forget that beautiful day and the delightful experience of hearing that majestic instrument.
Have you been to England? What do you love about England and the UK?