St Augustine's Anglican Church

Sullivan Street, Inglewood

B 1878 George Fincham. 2m, 14spst, 3c, tr.
Gt: 8.8.8.4.4.2. Sw: 8.8.4.2.II.8.8. Ped: 16.

Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA (last updated June 2011)

St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood : exterior from north
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]




St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood : exterior from east
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]




St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood : interior from west
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]




St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood :
interior showing stained glass window at east end and wall arcading
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]

The first part of St Augustine's Church was opened in 1864. The building was designed by the notable firm of Bendigo architects Vahland & Getzschmann and built in bichromatic brickwork. Extensions to the building were carried out in 1884, including the sanctuary, vestry, choir vestry and organ chamber.¹ Most of the windows are filled with stained glass, including a very impressive three-light window at the rear of the sanctuary.

St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood : organ from nave
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]




St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood : organ from across chancel
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]

The organ was built by George Fincham and opened on 20 November 1878; the cost was £350. The organ was moved to its present chamber, to the south of the chancel, in 1884 and a new Piccolo stop was added in 1886. The instrument was overhauled by Geo. Fincham & Son in June 1910.²

This was one of the largest instruments built by George Fincham for churches in the Victorian countryside. It has a 'signature' three-tower case filled with spotted metal pipes; unusually, these have not been stencilled or painted. The pipes are held in position by turned wooden spindles, a feature also to be seen in several other contemporary Fincham organs such as those at the Church of All Nations, Carlton and at Armadale Baptist Church. The Swell Organ includes Mixture stop and a Cornopean, which were less usual choices at the time. The keyboards have scrolled oak cheeks and may have been second hand at the time or specially imported. The brass nameplate survives. The metal pipework is entirely of spotted metal and all flue pipes are cone or slot-tuned.

St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood :
console showing scrolled oak key cheeks
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]




St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood : the brass nameplate
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]

The instrument remains in a remarkable state of intactness and is of very high heritage and musical significance. The only changes that have taken place have been the introduction of electric blowing and the addition of several switches, light fitting and a mirror to the console.

Compass: 56/30
Mechanical key & stop action
Trigger swell lever
3 composition pedals to Great
Attached drawstop console³

St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood :
console showing left hand stop jamb
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]




St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood :
console showing right hand stop jamb
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]




St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood : Great Organ pipework
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]




St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood :
Swell Organ pipework – note the vacant rackboard for the prepared-for Oboe
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]




St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood :
Swell Organ pipework – the Cornopean, prepared-for Oboe and Mixture II rks at the front of the chest
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]




St Augustine's Anglican Church, Inglewood : rear view of Pedal Bourdon and Swell rollerboard
[photograph by John Maidment (2 June 2011)]

1 Victorian Churches, edited by Miles Lewis. East Melbourne: National Trust of Australia (Victoria), 1991, p.130

2 E.N. Matthews, Colonial Organs and Organbuilders. Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1969, p.173

3 Specification noted John Maidment 1966, 2011