2023: installation of a new 3-manual organ incorporating vintage Nicholson pipework with a new console by Renatus of Bideford. 3 manuals, 52 stops
Before the devastating fire of 2017 a worn out modest two-manual organ by Jardine of Manchester sat at ground level on the NE side of the chancel. The plans for the rebuilt church were drawn up and new meeting rooms were designed to take up the area of the old organ chamber, and discussions for an electronic organ were being considered. Fortunately, it was agreed to install a pipe organ on a new upper level allowing the full 8.3m deep x 5.6m wide newly created area to be used. We had already purchased the fine Nicholson rebuilt organ, from Sutton Coldfield URC, which was due to be broken up for spares. The pipework was all of excellent quality and thus a larger instrument on our modern direct-electric modules was created. The spacious layout of the organ was designed to allow for full tonal egress and allow for easy access for tuning and maintenance.
The day after the organ was signed off by Paul Hale, the organ advisor, it was played by Jonathan Scott of the Scott Brothers Duo. Here is his recording of his own transcription of Puccini’s Nessun Dorma.
Specification
| Great Contra Geigen (A) 16 Open Diapason 8 Geigen Diapason (A) 8 Clarabella (L) 8 Principal 4 Harmonic Flute (C) 4 Twelfth 2 2/3 Fifteenth 2 Full Mixture 15.19.22.26 Sharp Mixture (K) 26.29 Cornet 1.8.12.15.17 Trumpet (D) 8 Tremulant Swell to Great Choir to Great | Swell Open Diapason 8 Lieblich Gedackt 8 Salicional 8 Voix Celeste (t.c.) 8 Principal 4 Flute 4 Fifteenth 2 Mixture 22.26.29 Contra Oboe (G) 16 Cornopean (H) 8 Oboe (G) 8 Clarion (H) 4 Tremulant Octave Unison Off Sub Octave |
| Choir Harmonic Flute (C) 8 Gedackt (B) 8 Gemshorn (E) 4 Nason 4 Nazard 2 2/3 Gemshorn (E) 2 Block Flute 2 Tierce 1 3/5 Larigot 1 1/3 Mixture (K) 19.22 Clarinet (J) 8 Tremulant Swell Oboe (G) 8 Great Trumpet (D) 8 Tuba 8 Octave Unison Off Sub Octave Swell to Choir Great to Choir | Pedal Open Wood (I) 16 Geigen Diapason (A) 16 Bourdon (B) 16 Quint (B) 10 2/3 Principal (F) 8 Geigen Principal (A) 8 Bass Flute (B) 8 Fifteenth (F) 4 Flute (B) 4 Harmonics of 32ft (I/L/B) V Trombone (D) 16 Bassoon (G) 16 Trumpet (D) 8 Clarinet (J) 4 Swell to Pedal Great to Pedal Choir to Pedal Great & Pedal Combinations Uncoupled Swell on General Toe Pistons |
| Accessories Mobile low-level console with music desk light and pedal light. 8 thumb pistons to Great 8 thumb pistons to Swell 8 thumb pistons to Choir Reversible thumb pistons to Gt to Ped, Sw to Ped, Ch to Ped, Sw to Gt, Ch to Gt, Sw to Ch, Gt to Ch 8 toe pistons to Pedal 8 general thumb pistons 8 general toe pistons (duplicating) Reversible toe pistons to Gt to Ped, Harmonics 32 Multiple memories for divisional and general pistons (separately switchable) Setter piston General Cancel piston Stepper with 3 +thumb pistons, 2 – thumb pistons, 1 + toe piston and 1 – toe piston MIDI, with inbuilt recorder Balanced Swell pedal Adjustable bench |