The Cathedral Organ, constructed 1791-1895
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An introduction to the magnificent Cathedral organ, from the notes in Cathedral Organs, 1185-1989 by Paul Hale.
The oldest pipes of our current organ date back to an organ built by Samuel Green in 1791. This instrument was in a case centred on the screen, and consisted of 23 ranks over 3 manuals. The organ survived for over forty years, and was enlarged by William Hill in 1835. This work involved the addition of pedals and of two ranks of pipes. Hill & Son made further changes in 1865 and 1870, resulting in a 33-rank instrument, with 3 manuals and pedals.
The organ as it stood in 1875 was then moved, by J. W. Walker & Sons, into a new case designed by Gilbert Scott, which still stands today as the main body, either side of the screen. A year later, Forster & Andrews organ builders provided new pipes for the case, replacing some dummy pipes installed by Walker's firm.
Minor changes and additions occurred in the next ten years, and repairs were carried out as the organ deteriorated. After nearly ten years of persuasion, a new organ by J. W. Walker & Sons was built in 1905, incorporating several ranks from the previous instrument. This 40-rank, 3-manual organ remained without major alteration for more than 50 years.
In 1957 the organ was rebuilt by J. W. Walker & Sons, which included electrifying the action and several other alterations. These made for a very colourful instrument, but also one which was too big to maintain in such a small space. This led to a major rebuild in 1989 by Mander Organs, which involved adding a new choir organ case (in the centre on the Quire side). The mechanics were entirely new, and just over half of the pipes were new. The console's electronics were repaired and upgraded in 2006 and in 2012 the general piston memories were augmented. In the summer of 2016 further work was carried out on the organ including an overhaul of the keys and pedalboard, repairs to some collapsed bass pipes and most notably the replacement of the 1905 Swell Contra Fagotto, Trumpet and Clarion with new pipes. This work was again carried out to the highest standards by Mander Organs.
Organ specification (since 1989)
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1. Double Open Diapason - 16ft - old
2. Open Diapason - 18ft - old No. 1, rescaled two notes
3. Open Diapason II - 8ft - old No. 3
4. Chimney Flute - 8ft - new, old wooden base
5. Octave - 4ft - old, rescaled two notes
6. Principal - 4ft - old
7. Spitzflute - 4ft - new, tapered
8. Twelfth 2 2/3 ft - new, tapered
9. Fifteenth - 2ft - old, rescaled two notes
10. Recorder - 2ft - new. tapered
11. Tierce 1 3/5 ft - new
12. Full Mixture 15.19.22.26. - IVrks - new
13. Sharp Mixture 19.22.26.29. - IVrks - new Tremulant
14. Posaune 8ft
15. Clarion 4ft
Choir to Great
Swell to Great
Solo to Great
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Stopped Diapason 8ft
Dulciana 8ft
Principal 4ft
Nason Flute 4ft
Flageolet 2ft
Larigot 1 1/3 ft
Sesquialtera II
Mixture II
Tremulant
Swell to Choir
Solo to Choir
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Bourdon 16ft
Open Diapason 8ft
Lieblich Gedeckt 8ft
Salicional 8ft
Voix Celeste 8ft
Principal 4ft
Suabe Flute 4ft
Fifteenth 2ft
Mixture III-IV
Sharp Mixture III
Hautboy 8ft
Tremulant Contra Fagotto 16ft
Trumpet 8ft
Clarion 4ft
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(enclosed)
1. Wald Flute - 8ft
2. Viola 8ft
3. Viola Celeste 8ft
4. Flûte Harmonique 4ft
5. Piccolo 2ft
6. Corno di Bassetto 8ft
7. Vox Humana 8ft
Tremulant
(unenclosed)
Posaune (from Great) 8ft
Clarion (from Great) 4ft
Tuba 8ft
Octave
Sub Octave
Unison Off
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Subbass (rank A) 32ft
Open Diapason Wood 16ft
Open Diapason Metal 16ft
Violone 16ft
Bourdon (rank A) 16ft
Principal 8ft
Gemshorn 8ft
Bass Flute (rank A) 8ft
Fifteenth 4ft
Flute (rank A) 4ft
Mixture IV
Contra Trombone (rank B) 32ft
Ophicleide 16ft
Trombone (rank B) 16ft
Fagotto (from Swell) 16ft
Trumpet 8ft
Clarion 4ft
Choir to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Solo to Pedal
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88 registers
73 ranks
64 speaking stops
3808 speaking pipes
c. 2140 new pipes, 1989
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Eight thumb pistons to each manual department
Eight toe pistons to Pedal Organ
Eight toe pistons duplicating Swell thumb pistons
Eight General thumb pistons
Reversible thumb pistons to each inter-departmental coupler
Reversible thumb and toe pistons to Full Organ
One thumb piston to Swell Hautboy, cancelling other stops
Reversible toe pistons to Great to Pedal, Swell to Great, Solo to Great Reversible toe pistons to Subbass 32ft and Contra Trombone 32ft
One General Cancel thumb piston
One setter thumb piston, with lock
Two dials to select programmes 1-8 on departmental and general pistons
Indicator lights from South door and Chapter Room
Balanced mechanical pedal to Swell Organ (West shutters electro-pneumatic)
Balanced mechanical pedal to Solo Organ
'Discus' blowers and humidifier by Watkins & Watson
Find out more
Paul Hale’s study of the history of the Cathedral Organ, chamber organs and organists was published by The Friends of Rochester Cathedral in 1989. Several studies of music and individual organists at the Cathedral have featured in The Friends’ Annual Reports:
Paul Hale studies the history of the organs of Rochester Cathedral leading to the exceptional organ over the pulpitum taking much of its current form in 1875.
Great War organists, 1900-1930
Simon Shreeve introduces the organists of Rochester Cathedral in post during the Great War: Bertram Luard-Selby, Charles Hylton Stuart and Hilda Milvain.
The Cathedral is full of features and furnishings for the purpose of worshipping God, singing His praise, administering the sacraments and spreading The Word of Christ.
