Congregational Church, Canterbury, Vic – exterior
(photograph from A.G. Gunson, A Brief History of the Canterbury Congregational Church 1891-1977 [1977]
kindly supplied by Gaye Headberry via Sue Barnett)
Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA, February 2022
The foundation stone of the Congregational Church, Canterbury was laid on Saturday 21 May 1913 by G.G. Mercy J.P.1 A gift by W.G. McBeath initiated its construction. The architect was F. McKay.2 The building was opened in November 1913 and cost £1,750.3
Congregational Church, Canterbury, Vic – organ case
(photograph by W.G.S. Smith [c.1970])
The organ was built in 1913 by Geo.Fincham & Sons Pty Ltd, a small two-manual instrument with a standard Fincham two-tower case using a style of corbels and brackets that been produced by the firm for a quarter of a century or more. The action was tubular-pneumatic and the console incorporated rocking stopkeys.
| GREAT Open Diapason Stop Diapason Dulciana Principal Swell to Great SWELL Open Diapason Gedact Gamba Voix Celeste Clear Flute PEDAL Bourdon Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal |
8 8 8 4 8 8 8 8 4 16 |
grooved bass TC |
Compass: 58/30
Balanced mechanical swell pedal
3 fixed thumb pistons to Great
3 fixed thumb pistons to Swell4
Congregational Church, Canterbury, Vic – console
(photograph by W.G.S. Smith [c.1970])
The organ was dismantled in 1981 by Malcolm Allerding, of Gordon, NSW, and some of the pipework utilised in a house organ.
1 The Reporter (Box Hill), 23 May 1913, p.4
2 The Argus, 26 May 1913, p.10
3 The Herald, 10 November 1913, p.3
4 Specification noted 1966 John Maidment