The Licensing Service for the Revd Matt Thompson as Priest-in-Charge of St Peter’s and St Philip’s on 21st September was the first opportunity for the organ to show its ability to accompany a large congregation and play a significant role in worship.  Although not yet complete – most of the Pedal stops are not yet installed, and the new enclosed Choir division was also awaiting completion at the time of writing – the organ gave a good account of the pieces chosen for the service by our new incumbent, including the accompaniment of Parry’s anthem “I was glad” (composed for the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902).

 

As I write, there are in fourteen stops awaiting completion, but we can expect more sections of the organ to come into use as the weeks go by – indeed, by the time you read this, that number may have been halved!  All the new pipe-work has now been received by the organ-builders, and they are currently making the chests and supports for the heaviest and longest pipes.  We hope to have a press photographer around when these largest pipes are delivered to church. 

 

A number of changes to the specification have been made, in most cases to restore pipe-work that was removed in the 1953 rebuild.  The Swell organ is unchanged, but cleaning of the pipe-work, re-voicing the reed stops, and re-commissioning some of the shutters which were disconnected in 1953, have made the whole division much brighter. 

 

There is now a baffle or reflector above the Great organ pipe-work to help the sound project into the main body of the church.  At the Licensing Service, it became apparent that the accompaniment of large congregations may prove rather over-bearing for the choir, but our adviser thinks it should be louder still!  The Great organ has two new stops: a second hand Harmonic Flute and a completely new Clarion.  These re-instate stops removed in 1953.  There is also an additional rank in the Mixture stops,

again re-instating pipes removed in 1953.

 

The Choir organ is now in two parts – the original Choir stops are now positioned immediately behind the main case in the transept and speak very clearly into the church.  The Choir contains some of the oldest pipes in the organ, but also has three new stops.  Second-hand Nazard and Tierce stops and a completely new Scharf replace rather inferior pipe-work installed in 1953 and 1969.  The new enclosed division goes some way towards compensating for the loss of the fourth manual in 1953.  It is situated in a box behind the case pipes near the communion rails.  The second hand Vox Angelica and Clarinet, and the entirely new Cor Anglais once again re-instate stops removed in 1953 or 1969.

 

The Pedal division is undergoing most change and for that reason is taking the longest time to complete.  There will be much less “borrowing” of pipe-work, but the new reed rank will be an exception.  The Sackbut-Trombone-Trumpet incorporates some of the original Trombone pipes of 1852/1882, but is now completely separate from the Harmonic Trumpet stop, and will be voiced in a more restrained manner.  The 32’ octave will be able to provide profound depth and spine-tingling excitement at climaxes, while scaring the wits out of the servers in the Canon Slade Chapel to the east of the organ as they disrobe!

 

Apart from all the repair and replacement of worn out mechanical and electrical parts, another new feature is found on the console.  Just three small cables now link the console to the organ: the cumbersome metal cable (containing 250-300 separate wires) is gone.  Furthermore many additional pistons have been provided to make the organ more easily controlled, and to simplify stop changes in recitals and services.  Some more recent photographs of the interior have been added to the display in the south aisle.

 

G.A.D.                                                                                                                                    

THE ORGAN NEARS COMPLETION

Wanted: Faculty Officer

 

Whenever we want to make any changes to the Church fabric or furnishings, we have to get clearance from the Diocese. To do this, we have to apply for a Faculty. We need someone to attend to the understanding, arranging and submission of faculties, as and when they become due. Please discuss this with the Wardens, if you are interested in helping.

 

Wanted: Publicity Officer

 

We need someone to attend to all matters regarding the Church’s relations with the outside world, whether it is newspapers, magazines, computers, TV or any form of communication to keep our Church in the public eye and make people in Bolton and further afield aware of our presence and mission in the town. Please contact the Wardens if you can help.

 

Wanted: Web Master

 

Do you have the expertise needed to keep the Church website up to date and maximise its effectiveness for publicity and communication? Please contact the Wardens (who don’t!).