St Martin’s Church in Roath is hosting a special showing of the horror film to raise money for their new organ
A CREEPY screening of the classic horror film Nosferatu is taking place in a Roath church on March 8.
The silent film will be screened alongside a live performance of the soundtrack on the church organ at St Martin’s Church on Albany Road.
Father Irving Hamer, who is organising the event, got the idea from Richard Williams, who has been vicar of Hay-on-Wye since 2001.
Father Richard will be playing the organ as he has done at similar performances at the Hay Festival since 2015.
Father Irving Hamer and his cat, Peter.
Credit: William Rogers
Having trained at Trinity College of Music in London, Father Richard has previously played to films such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera.
Father Irving described him as: “A phenomenal organist and musician.
“He has been so successful at the Hay Festival that he had to do extra performances.”
Nosferatu – A Horror Classic
Nosferatu is a hugely influential horror film from 1922, directed by FW Murnau, which set the template for future vampire films.
It remains influential to this day and another remake has just been completed and is due to be released on January 1, 2025.
The remake, which stars Bill Skarsgard and Lily-Rose Depp, will be the film’s first remake since a 1979 Werner Herzog version.
In a spooky coincidence, the new version also features Willem Dafoe, who plays Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz.
Dafoe has recently been spotted in Cardiff, while he shoots his latest film, The Man in My Basement.
He’s more sued to appearing in the likes of Platoon and the Spider-Man films, but has popped up on the big screen at the Wales vs Scotland Six Nations game last weekend.
St Martin’s Church
St Martin’s Church Roath. Screen will be placed by the lectern.
Credit: William Rogers
The film will be shown on a 24-foot square screen at the front of the church, which is designed to create maximum atmosphere for the audience.
The church is older than the classic film. Building on St Martin’s Church began in 1897 and it was consecrated in 1901, with the organ added in 1956.
However, in May 2023 the organ was removed for crucial repair works, costing the parish £30,000.
The repairs to the organ are now complete and Father Irving praised the community for their generous donations, with 46 people raising £25,000.
“The church has always been a catalyst for bringing people together in our community,” he said.
With the restored organ now in place, St Martin’s hope to recreate the event with other classic films in the future.
- Tickets go on sale on Sunday, February 11, with a capacity of 200. Contact Irving Hamer on fr.irving.hamer@ntlworld.com for information about tickets
