St Francis’ Church, Melbourne: exterior from the south-west
[photograph by Mark Quarmby (November 2008)]
St Francis’ Church, Melbourne: exterior from the south-west
[photograph by Mark Quarmby (November 2008)]
Historical and Technical Documentation by Mark Quarmby and John Maidment
© OHTA, 2008 (last updated February 2021)
The foundation stone of St Francis' Church was laid on 4 October 1841 and the first mass held in the completed nave on 22 May 1842. The completed church was blessed on 23 October 1845. In 1848, St Francis' became the cathedral church of the first Catholic Bishop of Melbourne, James Goold, and continued as a cathedral until 1868, when the diocesan seat was moved to the still unfinished St Patrick's Cathedral. The elegant cedar ceiling was installed in 1850. The ornate Ladye Chapel on the west side was designed by George & Schneider and constructed in 1856-58, with decoration by Le Gould and Souter. A new sanctuary designed by Reed & Barnes was added in 1878-9 in the Renaissance style. The front porch was added in 1956, incorporating the roof of a smaller porch added in the 1850s.1
FIRST ORGAN
The first organ in the church was built by Bevington & Sons, London and opened in 1853. It was centrally placed in the rear gallery. Rebuilt and enlarged on a number of occasions, it was moved to St Peter’s Catholic Church, Toorak in 1973.
SECOND ORGAN
St Francis’ Church Melbourne: the 1972 Fincham organ
[photograph by Geo.Fincham & Sons Pty Ltd (1973)]
The second organ was built in 1972 by Geo.Fincham & Sons Pty Ltd and placed on the floor of the right transept, facing down the nave. It was opened in early 1973. The design was evolved by a committee consisting of Roger Heagney, Douglas Lawrence and John Mallinson. The instrument was of neo-classical character and included complete choruses on each manual, a werk-prinzip case, mechanical key actions and electric stop action. The Swell was placed at a lower level behind glass shutters. Speaking into a very dry acoustic, the instrument sadly lacked the tonal energy to speak down the building with authority. It was removed in late 1999 and parts have been utilised in other organs.
| GREAT Prinzipal Rohrflöte Prinzipal Gedachtflöte Prinzipal Blockflöte Mixture 19.22.26.29 Cornet 8.12.15.17 Trompete Swell to Great |
8 8 4 4 2 2 IV IV 8 |
(55mm wind pressure) |
|
| SWELL Holzgedacht Salizional Prinzipal Rohrflöte Nasat Prinzipal Terz Quint Scharff 22.26.29.33 Fagott Dulcian |
8 8 4 4 2-2/3 2 1-3/5 1-1/3 IV 16 8 |
(60 mm wind pressure) |
|
| PEDAL Prinzipal Sub Bass Prinzipal Gedacht Choral Bass Mixture 19.22.26 Holz Posaune Trompete Schalmey Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal2 |
16 16 8 8 4 III 16 8 4 |
(60 mm wind pressure) |
THIRD ORGAN
St Francis’ Church, Melbourne: Casavant gallery organ
[photograph by Mark Quarmby (November 2008)]
The Fincham organ was replaced in 2000 with a new organ from the Canadian firm of Casavant Frères, which has wide and successful experience in the voicing and scaling of instruments in a non-resonant acoustical environment. It is of French style, with divisions both in the rear gallery and divided on either side of the sanctuary, the latter offering support to the choir, which is located in this area. Both organs are played from a three manual console located in the right-hand transept.
Gallery Organ
| Great Bourdon Montre Flûte à cheminée Prestant Doublette Dessus de Cornet II-IV Fourniture IV Trompette Clarion Great 16' Unison Off Swell Flûte majeure Viole de Gambe Voix Céleste (GG) Octave Octavin Plein Jeu III-V Basson Trompette harmonique Clarinette Tremblant Swell 16' Unison Off Swell 4' Pedal Basse Résultante Contrebasse Soubasse Violoncelle Bourdon Octave Bombarde Trompette |
16 8 8 4 2 2-2/3 1-1/3 8 4 8 8 8 4 2 2 16 8 8 32 16 16 8 8 4 16 8 |
A A A A B B |
Sanctuary Organ
| Great Bourdon Montre Flûte harmonique Prestant Quinte Doublette Sanctuary Great Unison Off Swell Cor de nuit Salicional Unda maris (TC) Flûte douce Nazard Piccolo Tierce Trompette harmonique Tremblant Swell 16' Unison Off Swell 4' Pedal Bourdon Basse |
16 8 8 4 2-2/3 2 8 8 8 4 2-2/3 2 1-3/5 8 16 8 |
C C |
COUPLERS
Gallery Great to Pedal 8’
Gallery Swell to Pedal 8’
Gallery Swell to Pedal 4’
Sanctuary Great to Pedal 8’
Sanctuary Swell to Pedal 4’
Gallery Swell to Great 16’
Gallery Swell to Great 8'
Gallery Swell to Great 4’
Sanctuary Great to Great 8’
Sanctuary Swell to Great 16’
Sanctuary Swell to Great 8’
Sanctuary Swell to Great 4’
Gallery Great to Swell 8’
Sanctuary Great to Swell 8’
Sanctuary Swell to Swell 16’
Sanctuary Swell to Swell 8’
Sanctuary Swell to Swell 4’
Gallery Great to Sanctuary 8’
Gallery Swell to Sanctuary 16’
Gallery Swell to Sanctuary 8’
Gallery Swell to Sanctuary 4’
Compass 61/32
Electric slider action
French terraced-style drawstop console3
St Francis’ Church, Melbourne: divided Casavant sanctuary organ
[photograph by Mark Quarmby (November 2008)]
St Francis’ Church, Melbourne: console and sanctuary organ
[photograph by Mark Quarmby (November 2008)]
St Francis’ Church, Melbourne: console detail
[photograph by Mark Quarmby (November 2008)]
St Francis’ Church, Melbourne: console detail
[photograph by Mark Quarmby (November 2008)]
St Francis’ Church, Melbourne: console detail
[photograph by Mark Quarmby (November 2008)]
1 St Francis’ 1841-1941: a Century of Spiritual Endeavour. Melbourne: The Fathers of the Blessed Sacrament, St Francis’ Church, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, 1941, available online at: https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE2031147&file=FL18520084
Wikipedia article, accessed 21 February 2021: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Francis%27_Church,_Melbourne
2 ‘The New Organ at St Francis R.C. Church, Melbourne, Victorian Organ Journal, vol.1, no.7 (May 1973), pp.3-5
3 Specification from the Casavant website, accessed 21 February 2021: https://casavantfreres.com/Jimdo/ProjectsTables/ProjectsPages/3800-Melbourne.html