St Patrick's Catholic Church

Maconochie Street, Colebrook

Built 2015 J.C. & G.E. Meijer, Launceston
1 manual, 5 speaking stops, mechanical action

 



St Patrick's Catholic Church, Colebrook – exterior from east
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (March 2017)]


Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment © OHTA, 2017


St Patrick's Church was built to a design produced in 1843 by the noted English architect A.W.N. Pugin (1812-52). Its construction was based upon one of the small models made by George Myers and sent to Tasmania by Pugin to his friend Bishop R.W. Willson. The building was finally built in 1855-57 in local sandstone, the work supervised by local architect Frederick Thomas.1 Sited on the side of a steep slope above the town, the church consists of a three-bay nave with aisles (the square columns of the simplest design without capitals), a diminutive clerestory, triple-arch bellcote, sanctuary, sacristy and porch. The nave is divided from the sanctuary by a rood screen surmounted by a crucifix, while the east window has reticulated tracery. The building has undergone extensive restoration in recent years, with a new roof installed, stonework restored, and a new high altar and reredos constructed, based upon Pugin's precepts. An important component was the reconstruction of the triple-arch stone bellcote placed over the sanctuary arch, the original having been destroyed in a storm in 1895.2



St Patrick's Catholic Church, Colebrook – interior from west
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (March 2017)]

A key part of the building restoration was to commission a new pipe organ, to commemorate the bi-centenary of Pugin's birth. Funds were raised through a public appeal and through the Tasmanian Community Fund. The organ will assist in the public outreach of the church through the holding of concerts.





St Patrick's Catholic Church, Colebrook – organ
[photographs by Trevor Bunning (March 2017)]

The organ was commissioned from Launceston organbuilder Hans Meijer, whose elegant design, executed in Tasmanian blackwood, is simple and honest and of appropriate proportions for the church. The grille in the centre was modelled from a panel in the 1840s Bevington & Sons chamber organ that was installed at Pugin's home 'The Grange', at Ramsgate, UK and the two flanking openings based upon mouldings and arches in the rood screen. The tonal design of the organ is based upon that of an English chamber organ of the middle of the 19th century and includes all of the stops to be found on Pugin's own Bevington organ. The entire organ, except for the electric blower, were manufactured by the organbuilder, including the keyboard and metal pipework. Winding is via a small double-rise reservoir. The organ is mounted on castors and may be moved. John Maidment OAM was the consultant.



'The Grange', Ramsgate, UK showing the Bevington chamber organ
(source unknown)

The organ was blessed at a ceremony on 6 June 2016 conducted by the Archbishop of Hobart, the Most Revd Julian Porteous, and afterwards a concert was given by Andrew Bainbridge (organ) with Alexander Rodrigues (oboe).

MANUAL
Open Diapason
Diapasons' Bass
Stopped Diapason
Principal Bass
Principal Treble
Chimney Flute
Fifteenth Bass
Fifteenth Treble

[8]
[8]
[8]
[4]
[4]
[4]
[2]
[2]

TC
CC-BB
TC
CC-TB
MC - f

CC-TB
MC- f

42 pipes
12 pipes
42 pipes
24 pipes
30 pipes
54 pipes
24 pipes
30 pipes

Wind (drawstop actuating electric blower and music desk light)

Compass: CC-F 54 notes
Mechanical key and stop action3

 



St Patrick's Catholic Church, Colebrook – rood screen and sanctuary
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (March 2017)]




St Patrick's Catholic Church, Colebrook – high altar and reredos
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (March 2017)]




St Patrick's Catholic Church, Colebrook – organ console detail
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (March 2017)]




St Patrick's Catholic Church, Colebrook – internal pipework
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (March 2017)]




St Patrick's Catholic Church, Colebrook – left stop jamb
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (March 2017)]




St Patrick's Catholic Church, Colebrook – right stop jamb
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (March 2017)]




St Patrick's Catholic Church, Colebrook – nameplate
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (March 2017)]

 


1 Details from Brian Andrews, Pugin's St Patrick's Church, Colebrook (Hobart: Pugin Foundation, 2016); http://www.thepuginsociety.co.uk/uploads/2/0/5/6/20562880/colebrook_essay.pdf accessed 22 March 2017

2 The work coordinated by The Pugin Foundation who also raised the necessary funds

3 Details noted by John Maidment June 2016