St. Leonard's Church Organ- History
In the
early years of the nineteenth century there was no organ and "the music was
provided by four or five men in the gallery under the tower, with bass-viol,
flute, oboe and clarionet".
There is evidence of a small
instrument situated in the west gallery, which was moved to the south side of
the chancel at the time of the 1861-2 restoration, when the gallery was
removed. This instrument survived for another thirteen years and was replaced
with an organ of 2 manuals, 11 stops and 3 couplers by Auguste Gern of Notting
Hill, London. Mr.Robert Taylor then organist of Brighton College gave the
opening recital on the 18th of August 1875. The cost of the instrument was
£229.10s - raised by subscription, the sale of the old organ realising
£30 towards the total. Gern's organ was a sound
instrument, but small and hand-blown.
In November 1908 it was decided to
replace Gern's instrument with a "more modern and powerful one". Messrs. Morgan
and Smith,Ltd., of Brighton supplied an estimate of £500 which was
accepted by the PCC. The Gern organ being moved across the churchyard to the
Baptist Church in Broad Street, where it remained until the early 1970's when
the church was demolished. Members of Seaford Museum then acquired this organ
and from there we think through the Dutch Organ Builder Taco Boersma eventually
found a home in Holland.
The new organ was given by Mr and Mrs James S.
Burroughes, and dedicated in July 1909. In 1965 the organ was rebuilt at a cost
of £6,153 by Hill, Norman & Beard, the opening recital being given
during the re-dedication service by Dr Francis Jackson, organist of York
Minster.
During
October and November 1989 the organ was cleaned and overhauled by Hill, Norman
& Beard. The cost of this was £12,560. In February 2002 a new Trumpet
stop was added to the Great organ to replace the one removed in 1965, the 58
pipes being made and voiced by F.Booth & Son Ltd. of Bramley Leeds. Trevor
Reed of Lewes carried out the building of the organ wind chest and the
installation. (Hill,Norman & Beard having by this time ceased trading). The
cost of nearly £8000 was substantially met by a bequest left in 1993 by
Sidney Thompson, Deputy Organist for thirty years. The remainder was raised by
members of the congregation within a month of an appeal being launched in 2001.
The Great organ Trumpet is situated in the Chancel arch above the organ
console, making the total number of organ pipes at Seaford Parish Church
approximately 1620.
Organists:
J.S. Eld 1875 to?
J. N. Yolland 1901? to 1910?
J. Cornish 1929 to?
Herbert Ringrose
1938 to1958
Brian Richards 1958 to 1989.
John Baker 1990 - |
