St Paul's Anglican Church

Frenchs Forest Road, Seaforth

1964 J.W. Walker & Sons Ltd, London
2 manuals, 3 ranks + mixture extended, electro-magnetic action

Historical and Technical Documentation by Kelvin Hastie and Pastor de Lasala 
© OHTA 2024

 



The instrument at this church is a Walker "Positif" Model C organ, dating from 1964. It was installed during the incumbency of Canon William Keith Deasey, Rector 1950-78, of what was formerly known as St Paul's West Manly.1

The organ was installed in memory of Mrs Hilda Irene Stoddart, who died while playing the previous church organ at Morning Prayer on 5 August 1962.

The instrument was installed by the Australian Representative of J.W. Walker & Sons Ltd, of Ruislip, Middlesex, and follows the pattern of the firm's standard three rank and repeating mixture unit organ. Casework for these organs varied, with the Seaforth instrument possessing nine dummy metal pipes above the console, with stopped metal pipes of the Bourdon 16' either side of the instrument. The instrument is otherwise fully enclosed.

Like the other organs in the "Positif" range, the instrument attempts to maximise tonal output from a minimum number of pipes deemed practical for service usage. Not only are the bass octaves of all 8-foot ranks taken from the Gedackt, but also the top two octaves of Dulciana extensions, cleverly voiced to serve both ranks at the top end of their compasses. As no pistons are provided, the organ possesses a crescendo pedal to facilitate rapid dynamic contrast.

The organ stands on a platform and has been moved into the sanctuary, a few metres west from its original location.

GREAT
Open Diapason
Lieblich Gedeckt
Dulciana
Principal
Twelfth
Fifteenth
Mixture


8
8
8
4
2-2/3
2
III
A/B
B
C/B
A
C/B
C/B
(2 octaves, repeating)

  
SWELL
Open Diapason
Lieblich Gedeckt
Dulciana
Lieblich Flute
Dulcet
Nazard
Flautino


8
8
8
4
4
2-2/3
2
A/B
B
C/B
B
C/B
B
B

  
PEDAL
Bourdon
Bass Flute
Octave Flute
Fifteenth
Great to Pedal
16
8
4
4
B
B
B
A

  

Tremulant
Electro-magnetic action
Compass 61/30
Balanced Swell Pedal
Balanced Crescendo Pedal
Crescendo indicator light

Total speaking pipes = 282

The ranks are:
A. Open Diapason (61 pipes)
B. Lieblich Gedeckt /Bourdon (97 pipes)
C. Dulciana (49 pipes – top 2 octaves of extensions to 4, 2-2/3 and 2 come from Rank B)
D. Mixture III (75 pipes – Middle 2 octaves, repeating to outer octaves)

1 Year Book of the Diocese of Sydney – Anglican Church of Australia, 1987. (Sydney: Diocesan Registry, 1987), 168.

 

 













Photos:  Pastor de Lasala (November 2016)