CATHEDRAL ORGAN HISTORY
The first definite reference to an organ in the Cathedral dates from 1693 from which time references to its repair occur in the cathedral records.
In 1748 Archbishop Stone gave the sum of £400 for the purchase of a new instrument at the West End and the contract for that instrument still survives. It was built by Philip Hollister of Dublin and housed in the mahogany case which still stands in the West End Gallery.
The organ underwent a rebuild in 1829 and enlargement in 1874-8, but stayed at the West End. In 1883 it was decided to move it to the East End to occupy the new Chancel which was added to the cathedral in 1886-7. The west end case was emptied, moved back and fixed to the west wall where it remains to this day.
The contents of the Hollister organ were moved to a church in Huddersfield and no longer survive. The new organ by Conacher of Huddersfield was a substantially bigger instrument and itself was rebuilt and further enlarged in 1925.
This organ was in service until 1975 when, for reasons of economy, a rebuild reduced the size of the organ from a four-manual to a three manual instrument. This work by Henry Willis and Sons used what were then new materials, some synthetic, the durability of which was unproven. Unfortunately wear was relatively rapid and by 1994, it became clear that major work was going to be needed. Artistically the instrument was of questionable quality and a study by Dr Nicholas Thistlethwaite, the leading scholar of the Victorian English Organ, reinforced these views.
During the night of 18th December 1994 the Great Organ sustained major damage as the result of an attack by vandals and had to be closed. That evening's carol service was accompanied by an electronic keyboard Arrangements were later made with Makin Electronic Organs for long-term hire of an instrument more in keeping with the building and it is that instrument which is in use today. It employs a 12 channel speaker system sited by the old console.
A contract was signed in January 2003 with Wells-Kennedy, Organ Builders and work commenced. This contract, took almost three years to complete, and was finalised in October 2006, inaugurated with a special service on the morning of 8 October 2006, followed in the evening by a special recital by the renowned Organist, Mr Carlo Curley. More details on recitals can be seen by visiting our separate choir website at
www.stcolumbscathedralchoir.com
