Pipe Organs of England - Pipedreams - American Public Media

PAGE 90MONDAY, 21 MAYSt. Luke’s, ChelseaThe Organist: Tom BellThe Organ: 1932 Compton, IV/97The original organ by Nichols (which at that timewas one of the largest in England) was first playedat the consecration of the church by Thomas Attwood(1765-1838) who was then Organist to theQueen at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The current organ,installed in 1932, was a showpiece for the builderJohn Compton whose firm built both classicaland cinema organs at that time, and the liberaluse of extension and luminous stop controls were typical of both their house styles. Most of the case dates back to the originalinstrument of 1824. Designed by Savage, it incorporates the likeness of the church tower into its facade. The rows of large pipes ateither side of the central case were added at the end of the 19th century. The instrument was used in its early days by the BBC forrecordings of organ recitals by Marcel Dupré and Fernando Germani, among others. (Note that the firm of Compton that currentlyexists has no connection with this organ builder.)The ChurchThis church was consecrated by the Bishop of Londonon St. Luke’s Day, 18th October 1824 and wasbuilt because the original parish church (now knownas Chelsea Old Church) was regarded as too smallfor the increasing population. St. Luke’s is regardedas being one of the first Neo-Gothic churches tobe built in London: the nave, 60ft in height, is thetallest of any parish church in London and the towerreaches a height of 142 feet. The architect was JamesSavage, one of the foremost authorities on medievalarchitecture of his time, and the church has a grandeurof conception and a great attention to detail. Itis built of Bath stone and the resemblance to King’sCollege Chapel in Cambridge is quite striking. Onthe exterior the flying buttresses and the pinnaclesalong the parapets give an added feeling of height.Despite it being a building of Gothic style, the interiorwas laid out in the traditional 18th century wayof a preaching house, with an enormous pulpit andpews everywhere and a diminutive altar. This arrangement was altered in the late 19th century to substantially what it looks liketoday. Indeed the present late 19th century rearrangement actually fits the length of the building better than the original “preachinghouse” concept. Charles Dickens was married here and some of the church’s famous organists have included John Goss andJohn Ireland. In 1986 the parish of St. Luke’s re-joined that of Christ Church to form a new combined parish known as ‘The Parishof Chelsea: Saint Luke and Christ Church’. Each church continues to manage its own affairs and retains the status of a parishchurch.