Christ Church Brunswick

Christ Church Anglican Church
Brunswick

1971 Roger H Pogson, 2 manuals, 15 speaking stops, 3 couplers, mechanical action

The nave of Christ Church was designed by Purchas & Swyer in 1857 and may have been stuccoed at a later date. The church is quite exceptional for its Picturesque Italianate character, though it is unclear whether this was intended at the onset. The transpets, chancel and vestry were designed by Smith & Watts in 1873-4, and the transept elevation has something of the character of the designs in N H Parker's book Villa Rustica of 1835. This is consistent with the use of Parker's notifs by Thomas Watts at the homestead Bontharambo near Wangaratta . The campanile of 1870-1, also by Smith & Watts, continues the Italianate character, and the apse was completed by another architect, Frederick Wyatt, in 1875. [1]

The first organ at Christ Church was completed in 1889 by Alfred Fuller. It was rebuilt in 1934 by Hill, Norman & Beard (Australia) (opus number V25) and removed in 1972 when the current organ was installed and its parts used in other organs. [2m, 11spst, 8c, tubpn. Gt: 8.8.8.8.4. Sw: 8.8.8.4.2. Ped: 16.]

Its replacement was designed to provide adequate support to the liturgy and the congregation, and to provide a clarity and variety of tone appropriate to the performance of the classical organ repertoire. Built by the Sydney organbuilder, Roger H Pogson, it has a solid cedar case of classical design, incorporating burnished tin pipework, and fully mechanical key & stop action. Widely used for recitals and teaching, this instrument has exerted a wide influence upon the music of Melbourne. It was the first two-manual modern mechanical action organ, designed along classical principles, to be installed in a Melbourne church. [2]

The specification of the organ was drawn up by the organist at the time, Edward King with the advice of Sergio de Pieri. The organ was built largely through the generosity of Mrs. Isobel Finchett, in memory of her late husband Albert Leslie Finchett, and by gifts, large and small from the congregation and the public. The Cymbel pipes are the gift of John Larter, in memory of his late wife Eileen Larter. The reed stops were the gift of the organist, Edward King. The consultant to the Committee was Sergio de Pieri. The project commenced in April 1967, and came to fruition in April 1972. [3]