St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church
Talbot

B 1868 George Fincham for Christ Church, Warrnambool;
inst 1891 Congregational Church, Warrnambool;
inst Congregational (later Uniting) Church, Hughesdale 1940.
Oboe later replaced by Gamba at unknown date.
Sold to St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church, Talbot 2007. Inst. Australian Pipe Organs 2008
1m, 8spst, 1c, tr. Man: 8 .8 divided.8.8.4.4.2. Ped: 16 perm on.

 

 

In 1868 George Fincham built a small single manual organ for Christ Church Anglican Church, Warrnambool.  This was the earliest known pipe organ in Western Victoria, outside Ballarat and Geelong.  It was moved to the Congregational Church, Warrnambool in 1891 and to the Congregational (later Uniting) Church, Hughesdale in 1940.  The instrument is significant as the second earliest Fincham instrument to survive essentially intact (apart from the substitution of a Gamba for the original Oboe, possibly in 1891).  The lower Gothic casework incorporates unusual trefoil arcading, this extending across the outside of the console doors.  An unusual feature is that the Pedal Bourdon has sealed tops and is not fitted with the more usual stoppers.

 

Australian Pipe Organs Pty Ltd moved the organ from the Hughesdale church (which has now closed) to St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church, Talbot, Victoria in September this year.  This is an imposing bluestone building erected in 1871, although without the intended chancel and western tower.  The interior includes raked 'free pews' at the west end, which are placed on either side of the organ.

 

Classified by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) as an instrument of significance, it is intended that the instrument will receive a full restoration once funds have been raised.  This work will also include the regraining of the casework and restencilling of the facade pipes.

 

MANUAL  (enclosed) Open Dia Stopd Dia Clarabella Dulciana Principal Flute Fifteenth Gamba Pedal Coupler PEDAL [Bourdon]

8ft 8ft 8ft 8ft 4ft 4ft 2ft 8ft 16ft

TC CC-BB TC TC TC (Oboe originally on this slide) 12 pipes permanently 'on': unenclosed

Compass: 56/29

3 composition pedals

Lever swell pedal

Mechanical key and stop action

Photo: Trevor Bunning (Oct. 2008)






Photo: Trevor Bunning (Oct. 2008)


Photo: Trevor Bunning (Oct. 2008)


Photo: Trevor Bunning (Oct. 2008)


Photos: Neil Newitt (those taken in the church interior at Talbot and the 19th century photograph)
and JRM (console and nameplate) (Sept 2008)

Four photos above: Bruce Duncan (Oct. 2008)