Gallery Mechanical Organ 'The Gordon Organ'
On Thanksgiving Sunday, October 8th, 2006, the voice of a new gallery organ spoke for the first time in Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church, after many years of silence.
The generous gift of a member of the parish, this organ has a long connection with London. Originally commissioned for the first Aeolian Town Hall by Gordon Jeffrey in 1961 and built by Gabriel Kney & Bright Organ Builders, it sat idle for many years in a warehouse until it was moved to Bishop Cronyn. Those who remember the wonderful organ concert series of the 1960's will recall this instrument being pulled out from its place in the midst of the larger organ for recitals. The larger organ from the original Aeolian Town Hall now resides in a church in Waterloo. Commissioned by someone named Gordon, played by someone named Gordon and donated to the church by someone named Gordon, the instrument has been affectionately nicknamed 'The Gordon Organ'.
The organ is a self contained instrument, with large hinged doors on the front of a plain case that open to reveal the pipe work. It has a split keyboard and no pedal board.
Specifications
We are looking forward to an inaugural concert to mark the re-emergence of this instrument from many years of being in storage and anticipate that its voice will bring many hours of enjoyment in both liturgical and concert use.