Congregational Church

Lava Street, Warrnambool (church now closed)

First organ, built 1868 George Fincham for Christ Church, Warrnambool
Second organ, built 1932 C.W. Andrewartha for residence of Charles Stickland, North Fitzroy;
installed 1940 Congregational Church, Warrnambool.
Organ removed and rebuilt with alterations 1976 for St Gabriel's Catholic Church, Reservoir.
3 manuals, 16 speaking stops, 9 couplers, tubular-pneumatic action




Former Congregational Church, Warrnambool – exterior
[photograph by John Maidment (12 March 2024)]


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

The foundation stone of the second church building was laid on 18 November 1939. It was designed by architects Marsh & Michaelson, of Melbourne and Warrnambool, and the builder was John Aird.1 It was constructed in cream brick in a modernist style.2 It was vacated after the formation of the Uniting Church and is shortly to be demolished.

An earlier single manual organ built in 1868 by George Fincham for Christ Church, Warrnambool was used in the previous church building at the corner of Lava and Liebig Streets from 1890. It was sold to the Congregational Church, Hughesdale in 1940 and is now at St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church, Talbot.



Former Congregational Church, Warrnambool – church interior and organ 1961
[Uniting Church Archives]

The second organ was built for Charles Stickland's residence in North Fitzroy in 1932 by C.W. Andrewartha, of Caulfield and was moved to Warrnambool when the new church was opened in 1940. It was placed centrally in the apse with the detached stopkey console in front. The case incorporated the builder's signature fretwork panels. After the Uniting Church was formed, the church building became redundant and parts of the organ were used in a new instrument built for St Gabriel's Church. Reservoir by John S. Parker and George Stephens.

 

GREAT
Open Diapason
Stopped Diapason
Principal
Fifteenth
Swell to Great
Choir to Great
8
8
4
2



    
SWELL
Hohl Flute
Gamba
Celeste
Wald Flute
Oboe
Tremulant
Sub Octave
Super Octave
8
8
8
4
8


TC






  
CHOIR (enclosed)
Gedacht
Dulciana
Rohr Flute
Piccolo
Clarinet
Super Octave
Swell to Choir
8
8
4
2
8



    
PEDAL
Bourdon
Bass Flute
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
16
8
A
A



  

Compass: 61/30
Detached stopkey console
Tubular-pneumatic action
Balanced mechanical swell pedals to Swell and Choir
3 thumb pistons to Great
3 thumb pistons to Swell
3 thumb pistons to Choir
3 composition pedals to Great
3 composition pedals to Swell3



Former Congregational Church, Warrnambool – Harold Rooksby at the console
[photograph by Robert Symons (c.1960)]




Former Congregational Church, Warrnambool – second view of the interior
[State Library of Victoria]

1 Noted from foundation stone

2 The Herald, 6 September 1939, p.20

3 Specification noted 1966 John Maidment