GIVEN the opportunity to indulge his more operatic tendencies, a Hay-on-Wye vicar transformed his church into a gothic cinema on Friday, accompanying the live screening of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ on the church’s 19th century organ.

Father Richard Williams trained in composition and improvisation at Trinity College in London, and while he now spends more time composing sermons than symphonies, he was pleased to have the opportunity to perform.

The classic film is split into four acts, and Father Richard improvised throughout its seventy five-minute running time.

He said: “It was magnificent – the church was packed.

“I haven’t ever done something like this before. I quite like gothic novels, and I liked the idea of playing to something like this, more than Charlie Chaplin.

“There’s a scene where the vampire comes up out of his coffin, and I could build to this massive open fifth chord that filled the church.”

Father Richard said this could be the first of many, and is already looking at other gothic classics he could accompany at St Mary’s church.

It’s a church blessed with a perfect organ for the performance, and the music man paid tribute to the Bevington organ he played.

The congregation acquired the organ three years ago, following a campaign raising the money to buy it from Holmer.

“It’s the Rolls Royce of organs. It’s a brilliant instrument,” said Father Richard, who received a standing ovation following his performance last weekend.

“We were a bit more ‘High Church’ and it fits what we do here but it also is the perfect accompaniment for these films.

“I haven’t done many recitals recently but we’ll see what comes from this.

“I’m thinking about working on a screening of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari to coincide with the Hay Festival next year.”

The event was supported by Film Hub Wales and featured a introduction by Jo Eliot from Hay Film Festival.