This was the recessional at my wedding 43 years ago! My beloved husband died years ago, the church was decommissioned and sold by the diocese, the organist now suffers from a debilitating illness and cannot play anymore. I alone remain. You went straight to my heart today. Thank you.

This has to be one of the most beautiful channels on YouTube.
Thank you.

In 1975 I was a USAF pilot.  I was riding my bicycle from Mildenhall RAF thru Bury St Edmunds, past the cathedral and heard this being played.  To make a long story short, because i correctly identified the piece, I had tea in the rectory with the Organist, the  Bishop and the Secretary (who was from my native Connecticut) and then toured the magnificent ruins the church of St James.  A lasting memory and association.  Thank you

As a joke on the organist, I once requested this very piece at a Pizza and Pipes establishment in San Jose, CA.  I vaguely knew the organist through a friend and he was known to be a good guy, so we wanted to play a joke and make him smile.  Well, I'll be damned if he did not play an abridged version of it and quite well, too.  He got the joke and threw it right back at us.  It was GRAND!!  I had no idea that he knew it and could play it right away without the music in front of him.  Life has its surprises!

You have no idea how much we appreciate your dedication to enlighten the rest of us. We are all Blessed to begin a new year with you.

Im a pianist studying at a conservatory and I work at the local church as their pianist and organist. The organ there is nearly identical to the one you played here. Same range, just one keyboard and janky pedals. It was signed by Handel. It's the UU church of Stockton if you're curious. The organ has an incredible backstory.

Dear Ben, A piano student since childhood, my church asked me to have a go on the organ. After retirement I began lessons and 10 years later am still learning. Your beautiful music and creativity give me hope.

This piece always gives me the imagination of flying above the clouds.

Ben, thanks for your gift of calmness in a world full of uncalmness.

Thank you so much, you are preserving the best of your English culture. It matters tremendously now. And you are beautiful and genius while doing it. Thank you for sharing all your organ pieces. This new one is amazing. I also love Thomas Hardy. When I was young I would walk in forests and read him out loud. You have my heart. May God always be with you.

We had the Widor at our wedding 55 years ago.  We celebrated our 55th anniversary near Sherborne, attending the Communion service, and to our delight found ourselves listening to it at the end of the service.
Our own tiny Welsh church, St Mary's at Tregaer, dating from the 1100s, has an organ just the size of the Holnest one, but tattier!   Our son was married here;  he read Music at Cambridge  and one of his friends was by then organist in a cathedral.  He was to play for our son's wedding.  "Can we have Widor's Toccata?" our son asked. His friend took one look at the organ  and said "No," in a tone that allowed of no compromise.  
Thank you for your lovely videos.

When my husband died many organists from the Calgary Society of Organists offered to play for his service. In essence, we had a concert before the funeral. Primarily organists but a soprano and pianist performed as well. The final piece before the funeral was the Widor, his favorite to perform. A true tribute to a man who dedicated his life to the organ and organists.

As a former organist, I truly appreciate the skill, heart, soul and hard work that goes into your videos. Thank you from Knightdale,  NC.

I couldn't agree more that on most recordings, organists play the Widor Toccata too fast ("Because I can," as Virgil Fox used to say.) Widor himself played it more slowly--as surviving recordings attest--and the effect is much more majesterial and grand. Thanks so much for this Ben!

Thank you, Dear Heart. You have made an old lady very happy this evening. Apart from the wonderful forensics on your battle with Mr. Vidor's magnificent toccata (during which I couldn't help but think of your 'Septimus' 😊), I was delighted to see your old enthusiasm and spirit. Sending the best and greatest wishes to you for the coming year and very much looking forward to next week. Thiank you, Ben.

I look forward to all your videos. In these troubling days, I need all the calmness and peace I  can find. Your videos with your music and your quiet demeanor give me that.

I could hear my late husband,  David,  playing this piece many times for weddings. Happy memories. Thank you for them, Ben

These videos have eased my grief, having lost my eldest daughter a year ago. I am very grateful for these musical videos and beautiful scenes.

Septimus is so lovely. The breadth and emotional depth transport the listener to a reverential humility encapsulating joy, peace, and blissful ecstasy. Thank you for sharing this exquisite piece of your soul with us.

Astonishing gifts God has given you. And you, in turn, have given to us! Thank you ❤