Pipe Organs of England - Pipedreams - American Public Media

PAGE 18THURSDAY, 10 MAYSt. Michael’s Chester SquareThe Organist: Tom BellThe Organ: 1994 Walker, II/26Built in the 1840s and extended twice since then, St.Michael’s has been home to three organs. The first (1847)was a three-manual instrument by Robson of which nothingremains, and which was replaced by one of RobertHope Jones’ idiosyncratic instruments at the turn of thecentury. This instrument occupied a large chamber tothe south of the chancel, and served the church for manyyears, being substantially rebuilt by Henry Willis III beforethe Second World War. At this point the remote EchoOrgan migrated from the West End to the then fairly newMemorial Chapel. It remains there, tantalizingly completebut disconnected and silent since the 1990s. It was, by allaccounts, the nicest bit of the old organ, which otherwisestruggled in an acoustically dead church packed with low galleries and pews. Walker provided a temporary two-manual organwhile making good war damage during 1946-1948, and with minor tweaks the Hope Jones soldiered on until a major reorderingof the church took place in 1994. The small mechanical action organ built by Walker at that time is typical of their best work of theperiod, and also features a mobile console. The Hope Jones Open Wood was retained, and from its new home on an open galleryseems to roll happily round the square.Stop List:Pedal Great Swell CouplersOpen Diapason 16’ Bourdon 16’ Chimney Flute 8’Bourdon 16’ Open Diapason 8’ Salicional 8’Principal 8’ Chimney Flute 8’ Voix Celeste 8’Flute 8’ Principal 4’ Principal 4’Choral Bass 4’ Harmonic Flute 4’ Open Flute 4’Trombone 16’ Fifteenth 2’ Flageolet 2’Furniture IV Larigot 1 1/3’Cornet V Mixture IVTrumpet 8’ Bassoon 16’Tremulant Trumpet 8’Hautboy 8’TremulantSwell to PedalSwell to GreatSwell suboctaveGreat to Pedal