The (1962?) Cowin organ of St Michael & All Angels, Newton, West Kirby, Wirral
Chris was Organist & Choirmaster at St Michael & All Angels from 1987-1989. The organ's pipework came from at least one (C19th?) instrument so, although its appearance was modern and seemed to promise something fiery, it had a rather gentle, 'English' sound.
The organ was replaced by an Allen electronic instrument in the 1990s. At the time that the Allen was installed, the organ console was removed and the Allen speakers were placed inside the organ case. It is thought that some -- maybe all -- the pipework is extant within the case. The original console was located in the south-west corner of the church, facing east; i.e. to the left of the choirstalls (sited along the west wall of the church) and not visible in the picture below. The rocker tabs for the speaking stops were of the Willis type (see pictures below). The light touches beneath the tabs and above the Swell keys were for the couplers (Gt-Ped, Sw-Ped, Sw-Gt, Sw-Gt Sub 8ve, Sw-Gt 8ve, Sw Sub 8ve, Sw 8ve).
Click HERE for the link to the National Pipe Organ Register.
The organ was replaced by an Allen electronic instrument in the 1990s. At the time that the Allen was installed, the organ console was removed and the Allen speakers were placed inside the organ case. It is thought that some -- maybe all -- the pipework is extant within the case. The original console was located in the south-west corner of the church, facing east; i.e. to the left of the choirstalls (sited along the west wall of the church) and not visible in the picture below. The rocker tabs for the speaking stops were of the Willis type (see pictures below). The light touches beneath the tabs and above the Swell keys were for the couplers (Gt-Ped, Sw-Ped, Sw-Gt, Sw-Gt Sub 8ve, Sw-Gt 8ve, Sw Sub 8ve, Sw 8ve).
Click HERE for the link to the National Pipe Organ Register.
The organ c. 1989. In this photograph the 'Sputnik' central chandelier may be seen, together with such other vanished features as the music desks on the choir stalls (still very much in use in those days!). Access to the interior is via the south side of the case. One of the vertical pieces of wood is hinged to make it possible to squeeze between the timbers and there is an opening in the black cloth.
The organ case. The front row pipes in the façade spoke but the apparently larger row behind them are part-length dummies.
This console was removed when an electronic organ was installed in the 1990s
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The lost (?) console with Chris sitting at it in April 1989
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Close-up of the console. The Swell rocker tabs are on the left, the Pedal in the middle, and the Great on the right. The coupler 'light touches', some damaged by the heat of the bulbs they contained, are immediately above the Swell manual
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The console with the back panel removed
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Below:
Images of the interior of the organ showing the crude stencilling and gold paint on pipes from their previous incarnations
Images of the interior of the organ showing the crude stencilling and gold paint on pipes from their previous incarnations
On top right of this picture the row of dummies behind the speaking pipes of the façade can be seen. Most of the visible pipes belong to the Great organ but the dark wooden stopped pipes toward the back (the north side of the case) belong to the Pedal unit.
The pipes of the higher rank of the Great Mixture are in the foreground
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