Lower Broughton, Church of The Ascension

The new organ at the Church of the Ascension, Lower Broughton, showing the console and both pipe fronts.
The console and both pipe fronts

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.

Jonathan Scott at the consule

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.

Great pipework
Swell pipes and both shutter fronts
Choir and Tuba
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
Jonathan Scott plays his transcription of Vivaldi’s ‘Nulla In Mundo Pax Sincera’