The Organ

The organ was originally installed in the church (in the North Aisle) in 1887 by S Taylor and Sons as a gift from E H Farnham Esq. In 1897 a specialist organ chamber was built and the organ located to its current position in that chamber. Click here for the spec in 1897.

A rebuild and extension was undertaken in 1959. In 1980 a further rebuild was done by Ken Canter to a different specification, this rebuild included electrification of the action and the relocation of the console from organ chamber into the nave.

It is now nearly twenty five years since the last rebuild and the time has come for a clean and overhaul. Some of the mechanical components are worn and as the technology used in the original electrification of the action has moved on, the components have become obsolete. Furthermore, the voicing of the organ is well away from the original specification as installed by Taylor’s in 1887 and the current specification of the swell is somewhat lacking. It has been agreed by the United Church Council that the organ should undergo a further rebuild to bring the instrument back to something like its original glory. The Church has employed Paul Hale, Rector Chori at Southwell Minster to work along side our own Director of Music in the specification of the organ. The new specification can be found here and provides the following improvements:

• Swell reed restored from original specification
• Swell strings restored from original specification
• Great Flute 4 restored from original specification
• Complete “fit for purpose” Diapason chorus on great
• Organ gains a Great flute chorus
• Diapason chorus on swell
• New flute chorus on swell
• Clarinet on great adds soft reed (replacing badly voiced swell krummhorn)
• Swell Mixture recast to be closer to chorus
• Proper solo trumpet to Great
• Bourdon chorus to pedal
• Mutations added in 1980 kept (although Larigot recast as Tierce)
• Revitalised and operational swell box mechanism
• New solid state preset system (30 levels)

The cost of this project will be £40,000 and the Church has engaged Henry Groves and Sons from Bramcote in Nottingham to undertake the work. Depending on fundraising, it is anticipated that this work can begin on 2006.

This is an exciting project in the musical life of the Church and the village. After the rebuild, the church will have an organ that will enhance the music of the church and be fit for purpose to accompany professional musicians in the high quality concerts that we are planning to put on in the church.

Internal photos of the organ are available - click here.

The Quorn United Church Website