2011: rebuild of the 3-manual Hill organ, including an additional nave organ and tonal improvements, 47 stops.
The 1858 Hill organ forms the basis of this fine instrument, which was last rebuilt, with a new detached console, in 1955 by Hill, Norman & Beard Ltd. The main issue with the organ in its chancel position was getting enough volume into the distant nave.
Over the years, various expensive schemes (including a new west end section) had been discussed. With some careful re-ordering of the existing chamber, we were able to install a new Great Nave chorus division behind the west end display pipes and fit an extra set of west-facing shutters in the swell box. This has transformed the organ which no longer needs to force the sound into the church.
Paul Hale wrote this article about the St Oswald’s organ in Organists’ Review.
Specification
| Great Contra Viola 16 Open Diapason 1 8 Open Diapason 2 8 Gemshorn 8 Claribel Flute 8 Principal 4 Nason Flute 4 Twelfth 2 2/3 Fifteenth 2 Mixture 19.22.26 Posaune 8 Tromba 8 Swell to Great Choir to Great Choir suboctave to Great | Great Nave Division Open Diapason 8 Principal 4 Fifteenth 2 Mixture 15.19.22.26 Nave on |
| Swell Lieblich Bourdon 16 Open Diapason 8 Rohr Gedeckt 8 Salicional 8 Vox Angelica 8 Octave 4 Twelfth 2 2/3 Fifteenth 2 Mixture 19.22.26.29 Contra Fagotto 16 Trumpet 8 Horn 8 Oboe 8 Clarion 4 Tremulant Swell octave Swell unison off Swell suboctave | Choir Stopped Diapason 8 Viole d’Orchestre 8 Wald Flute 4 Nazard 2 2/3 Flageolet 2 Tierce 1 3/5 Clarinet 8 Tromba 8 Tremulant Choir octave Choir unison off Choir suboctave Swell to Choir |
| Pedal Harmonic Sub Bass 32 Open Wood 16 Violone 16 Contra Viola 16 Bourdon 16 Octave Diapason 8 Bass Flute 8 Trombone 16 Contra Fagotto 16 Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal Choir to Pedal Great & Pedal combs coupled Pedal octave (extra octave of pipes added on all ranks) |