St Philip's Anglican Church

Hoddle Street, Collingwood

First organ, built 1871 George Fincham: see Queenscliff. St George's Anglican Church
Second organ, built George Fincham, opened 1874 (present location unknown)
Third organ, built William Anderson, opened 1882; removed 1968
2 manuals, 13 speaking stops, 3 couplers, mechanical action (later enlarged); parts used in other organs

St Philip's Church, East Collingwood – drawing by Lloyd Tayler
[Australian News for Home Readers, 27 August 1866, p.12]


Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA (last updated April 2024)

The foundation stone of the nave of St Philip's church, designed by Lloyd Tayler and constructed in basalt, was laid on 29 December 1863¹ and was opened in April 1865. It was consecrated on 10 August 1867.² The building was later enlarged through the addition of transepts, which were begun in June 1871³ and the chancel was opened on 22 November 1876.⁴ In October 1968 this fine building, which was in a seriously run down state, was demolished at the behest of Bishop Geoffrey Sambell. Other Anglican churches at Montague and Clifton Hill were demolished over this period.

The first organ installed in St Philip's Church was built in 1871 by George Fincham. A small single-manual instrument, it was moved to St Saviour's Anglican Church in Oxford Street, Collingwood in 1874 and later went to St George's Anglican Church, Bentleigh and finally to St George's Anglican Church, Queenscliff. George Fincham installed a second organ at this time.⁵

The third and final organ was built by William Anderson, of 75 Flinders Lane, Melbourne and was first used at a service held on Wednesday 19 July 1882. It was placed on a gallery over the entrance to the church. A full description of the service and details of the organ were given in the press.⁶ The organ was later moved to the south of the chancel. Several stops were added to the Swell probably in the 1920s (possibly by Dodd or Roberts).⁷ The organ had a simple post and rail case identical with Anderson's instruments at Thomson Memorial Church, Terang, Vic., Holy Trinity Church, Westbury, Tasmania and St Alban's Church, Armadale, Vic. The façade pipes were originally elaborately decorated, possibly with Anderson's signature cartouches.⁸

St Philip's Anglican Church, Collingwood – organ at the residence of W.J. Ralph, Blackburn
[photograph by W.G.S. Smith (c.1970)]

At the time the church was closed and subsequently demolished, the organ was purchased by Dr W.J. Ralph and installed in his home in Canterbury Road, Blackburn. The action was electrified and the whole organ lowered to fit under a low ceiling. A second-hand Fincham detached stopkey console was placed in front.⁹ It was then acquired by Peter and Dennis Middendorp and placed in their home in Brighton. Parts of the instrument then went to South Australia and were used in several organs including St Catherine's Anglican Church, Keith.¹⁰

In 1966, the following specification was recorded:

Compass: 56/30
Mechanical key and stop action
Attached drawstop console
Composition pedals
Trigger swell lever¹¹

St Philip's Anglican Church, Collingwood – church just prior to demolition
[photograph from unidentified source (c.1968)]

1 Herald, 30 December 1863, p.3

2 Australasian, 10 August 1867, p.18

3 Age, 20 June 1871, p.2

4 Church of England Messenger, 14 December 1876, p.8

5 E.N. Matthews, Colonial Organs and Organbuilders (Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1969), p.128

6 Church of England Messenger, 8 August 1882, p.5.

7 As observed by author 1966

8 As observed in an unlocated photograph shown to the author

9 Author's visit c.1970

10 Gazetteer of South Australian Pipe Organs, compiled by David Shield at https://wordpress-1253922-4563020.cloudwaysapps.com/gaz/sagaz.htm accessed 25 April 2024

11 Specification noted by John Maidment February 1966 – the church was dark and damp at this time and water was on the pews and floors from serious roof leakages