Preserving and rehousing redundant pipe organs from the island of Ireland
BACKGROUND
Recent years have seen an alarming increase in the closure of churches resulting in organs being available for disposal. The advent of the electronic organ as a viable replacement has also often resulted in the explusion of many organs from churches.
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are to a greater extent isolated from such preservation companies as the Organ Clearing House (USA) and the Redundant Organ Rehousing Co Ltd (Great Britian).
Redundant pipe organs on this island have often been subject to scrapping and only the occasional relocation.
Alistair G McCartney BSc MISOB and Adrian R McLaughlin BTh MTh formed the Pipe Organ Preservation Co. (of Ireland) in 1999 to address these problems and hopefully preserve heritage which would otherwise be lost, and in doing so help to provide congregations or individuals with an instrument which could not be afforded if new.
Find possible new homes for instruments either by advertising or being contacted directly by potential customers.
Discourage custodians of instruments from destroying them or selling them for scrap.
Offer storage (as a last resort) for threatened instruments.
In which case worthwhile instruments are rescued and stored until a new home can be found.
A nominal fixed fee is charged for the successful rehousing of an instrument when the POPCo is involved.
PROJECTS
To make the 1892 Conacher organ in All Saints' Parish Church Antrim more effective in the building, additional and replacement stops are currently being fitted.
St Brendan's Parish Church, Sydenham, Belfast is currently having the Great organ rebuilt and connected. This has been prepared for since the organ was built 40 years previously in 1968.
The 3 manual 1883 Conacher organ in Holy Trinity Church, Seapatrick Parish, Banbridge was revoiced and the electrics were upgraded together with a new Great soundboard. A high pressure Tuba was also installed at the west end of the building.
A curious but effective and reliable organ was overhauled and installed in Ballyclog Parish Church Co. Tyrone.
The organ in St Mary's Crumlin Road Belfast was in need of refurbishment and the Great department has been redesigned with a new slider soundboard and Victorian casework to replace a 1960s functional display.
An organ built by Telford for a convent in Navan and enlarged to 2 manuals by Kenneth Jones for its installation in Delvin Co. Westmeath in 1980 was refurbished and installed in the assembly hall of Belfast Royal Academy in 2005.
A 5 stop chamber organ mainly dating from the 1871 Walker rebuild but containing earlier parts was acquired from a church in Wales who needed the space for disabled access. After a period of months serving as a temporary organ in Donaghadee Parish Church Co. Down and subsequently St Mary's Star of the Sea, Whitehouse, Co.Antrim, it was fully restored and installed in Leckpatrick Church of Ireland, Strabane, Co.Tyrone in 2004.
The 1932 Hart & Churchill organ in St Mary's Star of the Sea, Whitehouse, Co. Antrim was in poor condition when we first saw it. The building has just been refurbished and the organ was covered in dust. After restoration in 2003 and enhancement of the case decoration it is a good working example of what must be one of the last tracker organs to be built pre Organ Reform Movement.
An mid 19th Century chamber organ from Portreath Methodist Church, Cornwall became redundant when the church closed and was purchased and subsequently removed by us to Belfast. After a period of months serving as a temporary organ in All Souls' Church, Elmwood Avenue, Belfast, it was installed in St Mullin's Church of Ireland, Timolin, Co.Kildare. This mid 19th Century church never had an organ and the only suitable place was on the west gallery where there was only less than 10 feet height available. The organ from Portreath fitted perfectly and was restored and installed in late summer 2002.
The 1860 Walker organ from Woodstock Road Baptist Church, Oxford became redundant in 2000 and was purchased and subsequently removed by us to Belfast. It was thoroughly overhauled and the case restored to its original dimensions & colour. A home was found in St Canice's Church of Ireland, Finglas, Dublin where it replaced collection of recycled organ parts which formed an unbelievable & unreliable instrument. Installation of the restored Walker organ took place in late summer 2001 and has proved to be an ideal and highly thought of replacement.
After rescuing the historic Robson organ originally in Christ Church, College Square North, Belfast from being destroyed, we found it a home in the splendid surroundings of the Great Hall at Queen's University Belfast. The organ has now been fully restored to its original specification by William Drake and now sits on a newly created gallery as the focal point of the recently refurbished hall.
We were contacted by Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church Co. Down regarding a pipe organ to replace their aging electronic. A suitable pipe organ was found in England and was subsequently restored and installed by us in the church at minimal cost.
