2024: rebuilt & enlarged Walker organ on our direct-electric modules, 2 manuals, 22 stops
The fine Walker organ was built in 1934 with sliderless multi-pallet soundboards on electro-pneumatic action, which made it very easy to convert to modern direct-electric action. The organ was built within a tight chamber above the vestry, with the console below. A separate electric chest had been added for the swell Flageolet back in the 1990’s, which was suspended from the roof of the swell box. Access wasn’t ideal. The church also wanted to add a Swell Oboe to the scheme.
The organ was sited behind a large concrete beam, which supported the roof beams, but muffled the sound. The organ was on a heavier than normal wind pressure to overcome this problem. We were able to redesign the chamber by removing the two large bellows and placing the Great organ under the concrete beam with all the pipes speaking chromatically towards the lower section of the front pipes. The swell box was enlarged forward in the area vacated by the relocation of the Great, to house the Flageolet and Oboe in a traditional manner. The swell speaks out over the top of the beam into the upper section of the case. The Bourdon remained in its original location at the rear of the chamber, with the Haskelled Salicional 16ft basses down each side.
The whole organ now has our own direct-electric soundboards and modules with wind supplied through three of our small regulator bellows. The fine Caroe case was obviously installed after the organ was originally installed as none of it was removable. Everything had to be made to either fit through the 450mm wide x 900mm high space in the case, by removing five of the small pipes, or through the small trap door 600mm x 600mm. Not an ideal situation.
The organ now speaks out clearly and can be easily accessed for tuning and maintenance. The modern processor based software has allowed for a multi-level piston memory system, with both divisional and general pistons, plus a record and playback facility.
| Great Contra Salicional 16 (D) Open Diapason 8 Wald Flute 8 (C) Salicional 8 (D) Principal 4 Salicet 4 (D) Quartane 12.15 (D) Swell Trumpet 8 (A) Swell Oboe 8 (B) Swell Octave to Great Swell to Great Swell Sub Octave to Great | Swell Violin Diapason 8 Lieblich Gedact 8 Viole 8 Voix Celeste 8 Gemshorn 4 Flageolet 2 Trumpet 8 (A) Oboe (B) Tremulant Octave Sub Octave |
| Pedal Bourdon 16 (E/C) Salicional 16 (D) Bass Flute 8 (E/C) Octave Salicional 8 (D) Octave Flute 4 (C) Swell to Pedal Great to Pedal | Accessories Great & Pedal combinations uncoupled Swell generals on toe pistons |