Since 1855 this organ has been used for worship in this place.
As the brass plate below the pipes shows, the organ was built specifically for this church and presented by Rev. Wm. Frederick Patterson MA, who was vicar of St. Helen’s and chaplain of the Great Hospital for 57 years.
The organ was built in 1850 by Mark Noble senior, a Norwich organ builder . He built two other organs for Norwich churches that survive and a number of organs in Norfolk.
The organ has two manuals (keyboards) – a “great” and a “swell”.The great organ was built in 1850 with the swell added in 1859, possibly by the organ builder’s son, Mark Noble junior. Other changes were made in the 1870’s to meet the needs of the time.
In 1953 restoration work was carried out by the Norwich firm of Hill, Norman and Beard and an electric blower case added in 1956.
An Historic Organ Certificate was awarded in 1996 by the British Institute of Organ Studies.The Organ is considered a fine and attractive instrument and having had no major alterations over the years, has kept close to its original “character”.
The organ is built into an early Victorian Gothic case typical of the 1840’s – 50’s.The “show pipes” above the keyboard are in in a casing of three “towers” and two “flats” covered in the original gold leaf with the accompanying pipe shades and decorations being carved in oak, showing oak leaves and acorns. The finish of the casework is “grained oak” – a paint finish on wood.
The organ is featured in the National Pipe Organ Register where it is described as having a “delicacy and beauty of tone (that) are defining qualities of this instrument, which lacks reeds but possesses a variety of lovely 8’ flue stops.” There also, someorgan stops are described as being “indicative of the taste of the period.”
Organ Specification
Swell organ
- Voil Degam
- Sw. Princ
- Sw. Clarabella Flute
- Open Diapason
- Sw. Bass
Great organ
- Fifteenth
- Open Diapason
- Stopt Diapason
- Principal
- Flute
- Open Diapason
- Burdon
- Sw. Coupler (ie. Swell to Great)
Each manual has 54 notes with the pedalboard having 20 notes.
Keyboard: natural keys have now been recovered in reclaimed ivory, whilst the sharp notes are made of ebony wood.
Pedalboard: Straight & Flat
Swell Pedal: Trigger pedal
Combination Pedals: Two for great organ
Action: Tracker throughout
Wind Pressure: =2 5/8”.
2005/2006 has seen a successful, major fundraising effort to enable important restoration And renovation work to this historic organ to maintain and enhance its fabric for the future — for those who worship here and the wider community.
