Sneinton St Christopher

Organ

The organ The console

It is assumed that when the church was open in 1910 an organ was installed, but its location in the church, its specifications and other details are not known. Photographs of the chancel taken before 1941 do not show any organ pipes etc.

The present organ was installed in 1953 after the rebuilding of the bombed church. It was built and installed by Cousans of Lincoln in consultation with Dr Gordon Slater FRCO, organist of Lincoln Cathedral. Dr Slater gave a recital when the organ was dedicated.

The free-standing console is located in its original position, on the south side of the extended chancel steps, set transversally under the south transept arch. This arrangement allows the organist a clear view of the choir, but no sight of the congregation. The organ pipes and blower are located under the first arch of the north aisle at the rear of the choir stalls and the original reading desk. The pipes are painted light blue and the casing to the organ mechanism is finished in light oak panelling

Specification (as installed)

The organ has Two Manuals CC to A, 58 notes and Pedal Board CCC to F, 30 notes

Great Organ
10 Stops, 2 Couplers
1   Double open Diapason 16 feet
2   Open Diapason No 1 8 feet
3   Open Diapason No 2. 8 feet
4   Clarabel Flute 8 feet
5   Dulciana 8 feet
6   Principle 4 feet
7   Flute 4 feet
8   Twelfth 2-2/3 feet
9   Fifteenth 2 feet
10    Tromba (Heavy Wind) 8 feet
    i. Swell to Great  
    ii. Swell to Great Octave  
       
Swell Organ
10 Stops, 2 Couplers and Tremulant
1   Open Diapason 8 feet
2   Hohl Flute 8 feet
3   Salicional 8 feet
4   Voix Celestes T.C 8 feet
5   Gemshorn 4 feet
6   Harmonic Picollo 2 feet
7   Mixture 2 rks
8   Contra Oboe (Heavy Wind) 16 feet
9   Trumpet 8 feet
10   Clarion 4 feet
    iii. Swell Octave  
    iv. .Swell Unison Off.  
    v. Tremulant  
       
Pedal Organ
6 Stops, 2 Couplers
1   Resultant Base (derived) 32 feet
2   Open Diapason 16 feet
3   Open Diapason Metal 16 feet
4   Buordon 16 feet
5   Octave 8 feet
6   Bass Flute 8 feet
    vi. Swell to Pedal  
    vii. Great to Pedal  
       
Accessories
4 Pistons to Great Organ, and Pedal Organ by 2nd touch
4 Pistons to Swell Organ
4 Toe Pistons to Pedal Organ, and Great Organ by 2nd touch
*1 Reversible Piston to Great to Pedal Coupler
1 Reversible Piston to Tromba
*1 Reversible Piston to Swell to Great Coupler
  * (Duplicated by Toe Pistons)
  Balanced Pedal to Swell

Electric Blower and low voltage Generator 12-15 volts for the electrical mechanism

Wind Pressures: 3.5" - Flutes; 6" - Reeds

It is possible that during its lifetime modification have been made to the above but no records state that this is the case.

Cousans maintained the organ for many years, but from the 1960s it has been serviced by a local company H Willis and Son. In 1967 the organ was refurbish at a cost of £1820. It is still in use, but is now supported by a modern electric keyboard.