The streets of La Villa have recently incorporated the name of one of its illustrious figures. This is Joseph Mann, a British university professor who was closely linked to Lanzarote, where he resided for years. In addition to being a teacher, Mann was an excellent organist. It was this vocation for the organ that led him to restore this ancient instrument of the Guadalupe church in La Villa de Teguise, whose sounds had remained silent for years. The Teguise City Council now remembers his work with a plaque bearing his name next to this temple.
On February 6, 1909, the Church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe suffered a terrible fire, its roof, altarpieces and images and everything inside was completely destroyed. Among what it contained of value, the old organ that was in the choir was consumed by the flames. An original organ built before 1753, which according to Bishop Fray Valentín de Moran was one of the best in the Canary Islands.
A few years later, specifically on June 15, 1915, the master builder Juan Martín Armas placed a new organ, which was actually a very old one that the bishop gave to the Parish of Teguise, from the city of Gáldar and which remained silent for 75 years, until Joseph Mann carried out his last restoration, based on the request made to him in 1990 by the director of the Historical Archive, María Dolores Rodríguez Armas, and the official chronicler of Teguise, Francisco Hernández Delgado.
The organ works lasted more than seven years, during which Joseph Mann "organized concerts in his own house in order to raise the necessary funds for the restoration, donating pipes of his property and contributing his personal work, and even leading the direction of the last works from his bed, when he was seriously ill", they recall from the City Council.
Finally, it was shortly after his death in 1997 and with the help of the Teguise City Council, the Cabildo de Lanzarote and his wife Bárbara Mann, who was in charge of bringing specialists from England, that such a great work could be completed.
Thus, "in gratitude for the generosity and dedication of Mr. Mann, and his decisive contribution to the restoration of the organ of the church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe", the Teguise City Council has honored his figure through the installation of a plaque with his name on the street located next to the Church of the Villa.
A man "altruistic" and with "great personal virtues"
"For his altruistic contribution and great personal virtues, the street that exists next to the bell tower of the Church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, bears the name of such an illustrious person", declared Francisco Hernández as official chronicler, in an act that was attended by Joseph Mann's widow, Bárbara Kelly, who read some moving words in his memory. "He never imagined that he would receive such recognition from Teguise", he acknowledged emotionally.
The mayor of Teguise, Oswaldo Betancort, thanked him for his presence at this unveiling of the new plaque, which was followed by a visit to the Church with an organ concert by the director of the Lanzarote Conservatory of Music, Javier Díaz.
"It has been a magnificent opportunity to show the emblematic heritage site that is the historic center of Teguise, to which we will continue to bring the enormous historical legacy of the people of Teguise, so that it is transmitted and preserved in the way and with the care it deserves", declared Betancort.
For her part, the Councilor for Culture, Olivia Duque, thanked the Archive and Heritage area "for the great work they do to keep the history of Teguise alive, both in its streets and in each of the works that are undertaken from the department".
Teacher by profession and organist by vocation
Joseph Mann was born in Otley (Yorkshire-England), on February 5, 1922 and died in Lanzarote on April 10, 1997. He was a professor of Engineering at the Universities of Leeds and Nottingham, wrote two books related to his studies and was also a magnificent organist and choir master in several Anglican churches.
He was closely linked to Lanzarote, as he resided on the island since September 1984, shortly after his retirement. He personally restored the organs of San Bartolomé and Haría, donated one to the church of Playa Blanca and restored the one in the Church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Villa de Teguise. In addition, he gave a harpsichord to a musical group from Lanzarote on the condition that if they did not continue with this work, said instrument should pass to Teguise.
His work was not limited to the above and, together with his wife Bárbara, he led an active social life on the island of Lanzarote carrying out other works with high altruistic content: visiting foreign patients and acting as a translator for these people and holding concerts at his home with the aim of raising funds for various social works.
"Don Joseph Mann, was an example for all who knew him of a generous and upright man. His memory will remain for all the inhabitants of Lanzarote, and especially of the Villa de Teguise, as a great benefactor. By his express wish, he rests in peace in the cemetery of this town", they emphasize from the City Council.
