European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 03, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse England Church to restore gallery featured in Hardy s work by sue Lehman the associated press for Thomas Hardy s forebears worship was livened by a merry troupe of musicians and singers who performed psalms and other sacred pieces set to local tunes. By the time the writer reached manhood High Church Killjoy had abolished these traditional Dorset quires and replaced them with organs and somber hymns. One by one the. Musicians galleries were pulled Down. Now thanks to a $104,000 bequest from Richard Little Purdy a Hardy scholar at Yale University St. Michael s Church in Stansford England where the hardys worshipped will be Able to rebuild its gallery. Once again the rafters of this Small squat edifice of Gray Stone will ring to the sound of violins cellos oboes and bassoons and the Lively caroling of singers. We Hope to rebuild the gallery As close As possible to the original said William Jeffy a member of St. Michael s parochial Council. There Are groups which Are reviving 19th-Century Church music and we Hope they will play special occasions and original scores Are preserved Irv the Dorset county museum in Dorchester. The bequest also will allow the Church to restore a 1930s Organ Given by Hardy s sister Kate. Hardy Learned of the quires from his Grandfather father and Uncle who All played at one time or another in the Oak musicians gallery at St. Michael s in Stansford. A plaque notes that they performed the office of string in under the Greenwood tree his second published novel Hardy pays tribute to a vanished tradition with an affectionate portrait of the Mel Stock quire a rambunctious troop of cider drinking musicians who entertain worshippers until Reform minded vicar or. Maybold decrees they must go. One is inclined to regret the displacement of these ecclesiastical Bondsmen by an isolated organist Hardy wrote in a preface to the Book. The change has tended to Stu Latify the professed Aims of the clergy its direct result being to curtail and extinguish the interest of parishioners in Church St. Michael s quire was abolished in the 1840s by the Church s vicar the Rev. Arthur Shirley a keen supporter of the Oxford movement Arr the revival of medieval ritual who Felt the convivial band distracted from the preaching said Jesty. Shirley opted instead for a clockwork barrel Organ. Stansford s rotted Oak gallery finally came Down during restoration work in 1911. St. Michael s Church in Stansford. Filo Purdy a quiet shy Man from a wealthy Boston family regularly visited Britain in the 1930s and got to know Hardy s second wife Florence who lived on at Max Gate after her husband s death in 1928. Between 1978 and 1988, Purdy published seven volumes of Hardy s letters with Hardy biographer Michael mitigate. Purdy left a bequest for the Upkeep and preservation of St. Michael s Church where Hardy s heart is buried with his two wives in affectionate remembrance of Florence Hardy. Mrs. Hardy gave Purdy a lot of minor manuscript material including scrapbooks and source material. He left most of his impressive Hardy collection to Yale but some items went to the Dorset county museum in Dorchester. When How to visit Hardy s Homes two of Thomas Hardy s former Homos arc open to visitors but planning ahead is essential. The thatched cottage where Hardy was born is open from april to october Only. Visitors who want to tour the tiny rooms must phone ahead to 305-26-2.166 for an appointment and admission is $3.50. The cottage Garden May be viewed without prior arrangement Between 11 . And 6 . Daily from april to the end of october. The drawing room conservatory and gardens at Max Gate the House Hardy designed for himself will be open on. Sunday monday and wednesday afternoons from March 26 to the end of september. Entrance costs $3 for adults $k5q for children. St. Michael s at Stansford where the Hardy family attended Church is open every Day. Hardy s heart is buried with his two wives. Nearby Are the Graves of his Grandfather Thomas his parents Thomas and Jemima and siblings Henry Kalherine and Mary. The Dorset county museum in Dorchester s High Street is open 10 . To 5 ., monday to saturday. Entrance is $2.90 for adults $1.40 for children. The associated press Span Dahlem Pitburg exchanges now. It s your Choice for Low Price. Price is our first consideration we offer the lowest prices in All categories. Also Check out the Early Bird outdoor living department and year round to land at the four seasons store. For top Quality. Here the focus is on. Top name brands. 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