St Anne's Anglican Church
cnr Homebush and Beresford Roads, Strathfield
Charles Richardson 1895, rebuilt Arthur Jones 1970, 2m., 25 sp.st., electro-pneumatic
From SOJ October/November 1992
The architecture of this church is early English and was designed by Messrs Sulman & Power. Arising from the foundation stone (laid 25 August, 1892) was the major part of the nave of the present church, the eastern end then being boarded-up pending the later addition of the extended nave and chancel.
This partly finished building was dedicated in July, 1893 by the Bishop of Sydney, the Most Rev. W. Saumarez Smith. It was not until 1914 that the Chancel was built and the church, as seen today, was completed.
St Anne's stands possessed of a large two manual and pedal organ originally built by Charles Richardson of Sydney. This instrument was opened on the evening of 4 December, 1895 with Leicester Johnson as organist. This organ is believed to be the first organ built by Richardson with tubular-pneumatic action throughout.
lt was subsequently rebuilt and enlarged with electro-pneumatic action and was, by early 1970 in a very poor condition.
In May 1970 Arthur Jones undertook a further rebuild of the organ resulting in the present specification. At the time of this rebuild the beautifully stencilled pipes were obliterated with gold paint!
Peter McMillan, sometime organist and choirmaster at the church, has added (Jan 07):
The pneumatic action was replaced by electric action and a new detached console in c. 1939 by R.A. & D.A. Wiltshire. In 1970 the organ was restored and the specification was altered by Arthur Jones. This included the Open Diapason II being removed from the Great organ and a Trompette 8' being installed on the Great.
According to Rushworth (p. 126), the original specification was:
| Great Open Diapason Stopped Diapason Salicional Principal Flute Swell Bourdon Spitz Flute Lieblich Gedact Gamba Gemshorn Mixture Cornopean Pedal Grand Bourdon Soft Bourdon Bass Flute Couplers Swell to Great Swell Octave Swell Sub Octave Swell to Pedal Great to Pedal Great Sub Octave |
8 8 8 4 4 16 8 8 8 4 8 16 16 8 |
Tubular pneumatic action
hydraulic engine for blowing, working four feeders
View from the console in the chancel choir stalls
The current specification is:
| Great Open Diapason Stopped Diapason Dulciana Principal Flute Twelfth Fifteenth Mixture 19.22.26 Trompette Swell Viola Gedact Salicional Voix Celeste Gemshorn Fifteenth Larigot Mixture 22.26.29 Bassoon Trumpet Tremulant Pedal Open Wood Subbass Principal Bass Flute Fifteenth Nachthorn Trumpet Couplers Swell Sub Octave Swell Sub Octave to Great Swell to Great Swell Octave Swell Octave to Great Swell to Pedal Great to Pedal |
8 8 8 4 4 2-2/3 2 III 8 8 8 8 8 4 2 1-1/3 III 8 8 16 16 8 8 4 2 8 |
A A |
4 thumb and toe pistons to Swell
4 thumb and toe pistons to Great
Swell to Great thumb piston
Great to Pedal thumb and toe piston
Compass 61/30
Electro-pneumatic action
Extra chairs in chancel area for Trinty Prep. School choir
Photos: Mark Quarmby (Nov. 2007)