Church: new organ (1851)

Post date: Mar 25, 2012 10:6:25 PM

Extract from Kentish Gazette 15th July 1851:

Wateringbury, A new organ has recently been presented to this parish, the munificent gift of Samuel L. L. Lucas, Esq. It a very excellent instrument, and consists of nine stops, with a general swell, an octave of German pedals and three composition movements, and does great credit to the builders, Messrs. Bovington, of London. At the opening two excellent sermons were delivered by the Vicar, having special reference to the employment of music in the service God, in the promotion of which trust this effective instrument will be found a useful aid.

The current church organ dates from 1893, so the one referred above only seems to have lasted about 42 years. Attempts to update it included a cleaning and overhaul with the recovery of the stained ivory keys by Norman Brothers and Beard, Norwich to whom it was eventually sold as part payment for the new organ. It was then sold to the New Wesleyan Church in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

George Newman describes the organ in his Wateringbury Remembered as follows:

In the old days a large barrel organ with an imposing front occupied the place of the present modern instrument. It contained two barrels one in situ, and the other on a shelf above it, which was lifted down when required to replace the other. Each barrel contained twelve tunes, which were played by turning a handle, and by supplying the wind at the same time by a foot pedal.