'I bought an old chapel and turned it into a piano showroom and community hub'
A forgotten Calderdale church has been given a new lease of life thanks to its owner, Graham Gribbin, and has once again become the beating heart of the community.
When musician and businessman Graham Gribbin bought the former St Andrew’s C of E Church in Beechwood Road, Holmfield, Halifax, he was determined it would become more than new premises for his company GSG Pianos Ltd.
Certainly, the building, dating back to the 1890s, has become the perfect showroom for his vast stock of pianos and organs, but it has become so much more than that.
Almost, three years on, Graham, a former organist and director of music at Halifax Minster, has also transformed into a hub for a variety of community events, attracting audiences of all ages.
‘The Old Chapel’ as it is now known plays hosts to illustrated, historical talks given by local speakers, ‘coffee concerts and chats’, piano club meetings, choir workshops, concert pianist performances, musical events and even birthday parties and celebrations.
It is also the Calderdale music exam centre for Trinity College London and is set to become the exam centre for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).
The former place of worship, which held its last service prior to the pandemic, has once again come alive to the sound of music and all things music related.
“When I bought the old church I knew I wanted it to be more than simply a retail space,” said Graham who set up GSG Pianos more than 40 years ago when hew as just 19.
The business was originally based in Shelf but Graham decided the time was right for a move and when he saw St Andrew’s he described it as “a lightbulb moment.”
“It was a bit damp and foisty but we have worked hard to transform the premises. The setting is just what I was looking for and the acoustics are absolutely perfect.
"The Church of England actually said that in all the churches they had decommissioned, they had never felt that there was a more appropriate change of use than this.
“These days, to make retail successful is a tough business and you have to think creatively. I knew I wanted the building to be more than just a shop to sell pianos, I knew I wanted to somehow give it back to and engage with the community, but the question was how? How do I go about it?
“We started with local events, monthly coffee concerts, talks and so on, and then it has gone from there.
"The local people now suggest events and ask about hiring the space for their own events. They seem to love the space as its so versatile. We even have chair yoga classes.
“The piano club meetings are very popular attracting people who may not have played the piano for years or just played for their own pleasure quietly at home, and now suddenly they have the confidence to play again with others.
"They meet up with other pianists and have met new friends. It has been lovely to see.”
Graham was born, brought up and educated in Bradford and because the family owned a piano, he began learning to play at the age of seven.
“I have to admit I was not a massive fan to begin with but because the piano was there, I was willing to have lessons. I didn’t always enjoy having to practise though,” he says.
However, his passion for music did develop after joining the choir at Bradford Cathedral and becoming head chorister. It was then he was introduced to the organ and at the age of just 14, he played his first service.
He decided against going to music college to study, instead choosing to get a job at Wood’s music shop in Bradford where he worked in the classical music department, ultimately becoming interested in rebuilding pianos.
“This just fascinated me and so I took an apprenticeship at Barker’s in Leeds where I learnt my trade, tuning, restoring and repairing pianos,” he explains.
As well as playing and restoring the piano, he continued playing the organ, eventually becoming director of music for Halifax Minster and giving regular organ recitals.
The new showroom is now home to a magnificent collection of pianos including grand pianos, upright models and dozen digital versions.
“There is something for everyone, something for everyone’s pocket from pianos for beginners at around £600 to models costing as much as £30,000 for very experienced players. We have a mix of manufacturers, including Yamaha and Kawai, two of the biggest makers of pianos,” he says.
“We also have some beautiful old Bechsteins and Steinways - names synonymous with exquisite grand and upright pianos made in Germany.
"Our specialism is reconditioned pianos and these can vary in age from 10 years old to much older. This is what really sets us apart as we have the skills to repair and restore and really bring pianos back to life.
‘The Old Chapel’ also has a dedicated workshop area for renovations and repairs and recently, it has seen the manufacturing of small, church, computerised organs which are perfect for the home.
Customers come from far and wide to buy with one recently travelling down from Inverness.
The COVID pandemic saw an explosion of people taking up the piano and so it seems there is a newfound love for it with a heightened interest in learning to play the organ too.
Now there are plans to extend the existing building so that an even wider variety of events can be staged.
“Being in retail these days doesn’t always end in success sadly. I read recently in the national press about the number of music shops that are disappearing from our high streets,” says Graham.
“You have to do more than just sell; you have to be creative. I am so grateful to our local community who seem to have embraced our new venture. I look forward to building further links with them. Everyone is welcome at ‘The Old Chapel.’
More information about events at the ‘Old Chapel’ Holmfield, can be found at www.gsgpianos.co.uk