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St Martin's Church Pipe Organ |
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 There has been a pipe organ in St Martin’s Church since 1943, when parishioners and friends raised the funds to purchase a modest two manual tracker-action instrument of 17 speaking stops. The organ, formerly in the Corn Hall at Diss in Norfolk, was installed by Messrs W & A Boggis of Diss and occupied a fairly open chamber space in the South Chancel adjacent to the Vicar’s Vestry. This instrument served the Parish for a period of sixty years. However in the latter part of the 1990s it was becoming increasingly apparent that its mechanisms were completely worn out. There was evidence of metal fatigue causing the collapse of pipes, a certain amount of woodworm infestation, and this, together with the failure of the pneumatic actions to the pedal organ meant that major work was needed. Since the organ was not designed for St Martin’s Church and was quite tightly squeezed into its chamber, it was impossible for the organ builder to reach failed mechanisms without having to dismantle the whole instrument.
In the Spring of 2002 the Vicar was invited to inspect the organ at the “Brake” Methodist Chapel at Moss just outside Pentre Broughton. The chapel had been scheduled for closure on 27 June 2002 and the organ would be redundant. It was again, a modest, though well-built two manual tracker-action organ built circa 1895 by the Manchester firm of Alexander Young. This organ (shown above left) was given to the vicar who it turn gave it to St Martin’s Church, to form the nucleus of a new pipe organ. The organ was dismantled and removed into storage between 28 June and 2 August 2002. Further pipe work was acquired from the organ formerly in Tonbridge Baptist Church together with a set of Deagan Cathedral Chimes formerly in the organ of the Picture House, Paisley. Also available at that time was a redundant two manual drawstop console made in 1964 for Trinity Methodist Chapel in Frodsham.
With the arrival into storage of the Alexander Young pipe organ, the Vicar announced a Parish-wide appeal for £32,000 for the construction of what would essentially be a brand new pipe organ. From that moment on a huge effort was made by the members and friends of the church, and within a period of 15 months the entire amount was achieved. At the £22,000 point in the appeal (two thirds of the way to the target), the Vicar instructed Chester-based Pipe Organ Builder, Keith Edwards to commence work. The first item to be completed was the drawstop console which was completely rebuilt and delivered to the church on 6 August 2003. (The photograph opposite shows the console on the day of its delivery.) Following that the soundboards were extensively overhauled and re-leathered. An additional soundboard was fabricated to accommodate additional stops in the swell organ. A state of the art electronic transmission was supplied by Messrs A J Taylor of Ramsbottom. The organ was completed and used for the first time on Sunday 21 March 2004, being the first day of Spring and Mothering Sunday. On Wednesday 9 June 2004, amidst great rejoicings, an Inaugural Organ Concert took place, featuring Professor Ian Tracey, Master of Music of Liverpool Cathedral.
The instrument has a clear, bright and powerful tone, and is easily capable of filling the church with sound. There are a number of beautiful softer stops too, all of which are demonstrated in a superb new CD recording entitled "Let's Organise the Organ" made by brilliant virtuoso organist, Graham Eccles. The detached organ console is situated at the north-east end of the nave, at a distance from the pipes. Thus the organist can hear both organ and congregation to full advantage whilst being able to see what is happening in all areas of the church. It is a great improvement all round! Our hope is that the Church's new organ - the only pipe organ in Llay - will also serve the good people of this Parish for a many years to come. CLICK HERE FOR THE DETAILS OF THE OPENING ORGAN CONCERT
NOW CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SPECIFICATION OF BOTH ORGANS
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