The Organ

During 1865 the Queen was advised that the organ was no longer suitable for the purpose for which it was being used – Mr. William Hill was subsequently requested to build a new organ for the Chapel Royal.

Thus it was that in 1868 the old organ found its way to the “new” town of Barrow-in-Furness, to be installed in the town’s church of St. James the Great.

Although a wonderful acquisition, in the decade that followed the action of the instrument began to give cause for concern and it was decided to call in some experts to consider what could be done without damaging the historic organ.

The experts chosen were two very distinguished musicians – Mr. Charles Villiers Stanford (famous for his oratorios and church music) and Sir Frederick Gore-Ousley (Queen Victoria’s personal music advisor).  They recommended that the instrument be rebuilt and a new action fitted – at the same time advising that additional pipes be put into the organ, 400 in all, and that the organ be moved into the chancel transept, which at that time also housed the vestry.

In 1883 new vestries were built so that this could be accomplished and a fund was opened to raise the necessary money – the final cost was £782.

The rebuilt instrument was “re-opened” on July 24th 1884 – thus it was that the marvellous organ St. James now possesses came into being.

The fine tuba stop on the organ was a gift of Victor Dilkes, one of the many distinguished organists St. James has had over its 125 years. One famous organist, Nigel Ogden, remarked in 1991 that “On a clear day the Tuba could be heard in Skegness”!!

The organ has the beautiful “warm” tone of a William Hill instrument – a truly English organ – it is possibly one of the earliest organs built by William Hill. It is a possession many churches or even towns would be proud to own.

Organists

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