West Sydney Chinese Christian Church

(formerly Presbyterian, and subsequently Uniting Church)

Homebush Road, Strathfield

FIRST ORGAN. C.W. Leggo, Sydney, 1928
SECOND ORGAN. J.P. Eagles, 1966, incorporating pipework from the previous organ
2 manuals, 18 speaking stops (8 ranks extended), 5 couplers, electric action
broken up 2019 and partly incorporated into residence organ for Sir Trevor Garland, Oakhurst





The West Sydney Chinese Christian Church, Strathfield
[Photograph by Alan Caradus ( October 2014)]

 

Historical and Technical Documentation by Alan Caradus and others
© OHTA 2014, 2020 (last updated June 2020)

The foundation stone of the Strathfield Presbyterian Church in Homebush Road was laid on 3 September 1921.1 The congregation joined the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977 and later became known as the West Sydney Chinese Christian Church, which had held its inaugural service at the Burwood Gospel Chapel in January 1978.2

First Organ.
The first organ in the Strathfield Presbyterian Church was built by C.W. Leggo of Sydney in 1928.3 It was dedicated on Sunday 2 September 1928 by the Rev. Victor Bell, and the opening recital was given on Wednesday 5 September by Alice Bryant:

The new pipe organ at Strathfield Presbyterian Church was dedicated on Sunday last by the minister of the church (the Rev. Victor Bell). On Wednesday a special recital on the new Instrument was given by Miss Alice Bryant, of Manly. Within the last year the congregation has expended over £1000 in furnishing the church. The debt amounts to about £60 only.4

The instrument was broken up c.1966, and the pipework was used in the new instrument by J.P. Eagles.5

Second Organ.
The second organ was built by J.P. Eagles in 1966, incorporating pipework from the previous organ.6





The J.P. Eagles organ at the West Sydney Chinese Christian Church, Strathfield
[Photographs by Alan Caradus ( October 2014)]


GREAT
Diapason
Gedackt
Dulciana
Principal

SWELL
Bourdon
Diapason
Flute
Flute
Fifteenth
12th
19th
22nd
Oboe

PEDAL
Bourdon
Diapason
Flute
Octave
Flute


8
8
8
4


16
8
8
4
2
2-2/3
1-1/3
1
8


16
8
8
4
4

A

(Located in the Swell box)
A


B
C
B
B
C
C
C
C



D
E
D
E
D
  

COUPLERS
Great Octave 4
Swell to Great 8
Swell to Great 4
Great to Pedal 8
Swell to Pedal 87

 








Console details of the J.P.Eagles organ
[Photographs by Alan Caradus ( October 2014)]

The organ was broken up in 2019 and incorporated into the residence organ for Sir Trevor Garland at Oakhurst, NSW.

 



Interior of the West Sydney Chinese Christian Church, Strathfield
[Photographsby Alan Caradus ( October 2014)]


_________________________________________________________

1 The Daily Telegraph (5 September 1921), p. 3.

2 https://wsccc.org.au/our-story - accessed June 2020.

3 C.W Leggo records, cited in Graeme D. Rushworth, Historic Organs of New South Wales (Sydney: Hale & Iremonger, 1988) p.169.

4 The Sydney Morning Herald (8 September 1928), p. 11.

5 Rushworth, op. cit., p.169.

6 Loc. cit.

7 specification noted by Alan Caradus, October 2014.