part of the Anglican communion

A Church of England in the diocese of Manchester.

St Nicholas Church

with St John and St Michael

 

Founded 1511—listed 2*

A new organ was installed in the church of 1826 together with the balconies, and was built by Messrs. Bewsher and Fleetwood, of Liverpool at a cost of £220.  It was formally opened on Sept 17th 1826 by a Mr Ward of Manchester, Professor.

 

The first organist was one Edward Stott who was succeeded in 1830 by Mary Ashworth.  The whole church had cost £2,500.  On the Sunday following the consecration of the new church it was so full that  many had to be turned away!

In 1907  the three manual organ was restored and enlarged, painted and grained by Abbot and Smith of Leeds for £450, not including the gas engine, and reopened by a recital on June 12^th by Dr H A Fricker, the Leeds City Organist and Chorus Master of the Leeds Festival.

 

In 1947 the instrument was overhauled, cleaned and the pipes revoiced.  The organ was probably last played in 1974 at which time the decision was taken to purchase an electronic digital ALLEN organ for £3740.  The wind organ specification is as follows:

 

GREAT                                                     COUPLERS                          SWELL

Trumpet 8ft                                              Sw to Ped.                               Tremulant

Fifteenth 2ft                                             Gt to Ped.                                Clarion 4

Clarion 4ft                                                Ch to Ped.                                Oboe 8

Mixture 3 Ranks                                     Sw to Ch                                  Horn 8

Principal 4ft                                             Sw to Gt                                    Mixture 2 Ranks

Lieblich Flute 4ft                                    Ch sub octave                         Piccolo 2

Clarabella 8ft                                           Swell super                             Principal 4

Stopped Diapason 8ft                            Swell sub                                 Voix Celeste 8

Gamba 8ft                                                                                                   Stopt Flute 4

Open Diapason 8ft                                                                                    Lieblich Gedacht 8ft

Double Open Diapason 16ft                                                                  Salcional 8

                                                                                                                       Open diapason 8

                                                                                                                       Lieblich Bourdon 16ft

 

CHOIR                                                                                                        PEDAL

Clarionet 8ft                                                                                                Bourdon 16ft

Flageolet 2ft                                                                                                Open Diapason 16ft

Harmonic Flute 4ft                                                                                   Sub Bass 16ft

Dulciana 8ft                                                                                                Principal 8ft

Viol Da Gamba 8ft

Violin diapason 8ft

Stopped Diapason 8ft

 

There is a plaque in the Narthex to John Ashford—Organ blower for eight years who died tragically in 1899 aged 22 years.

RETURN TO HOME

In May of 1893 the organ was repaired by Messrs Ginns, of London.

ORGANISTS

[still being researched but almost complete]

 

 

In 1864 the Church purchased a new organ from Harrison & Harrison of Rochdale who had established themselves in 1861.  It was exhibited in Rochdale Public Hall prior to its installation in the church.  In 1872 Harrisons moved to Durham where they became the largest organ manufacturers in England, making organs for such places as the Royal Albert Hall, Durham Cathedral and Kings College Cambridge.  The present day organ is essentially a Harrison Organ.

[see Harrison Organ website—catalogue: www.harrison-organ.co.uk]