The Organ
The Parish of St
Augustine of Canterbury
Highgate, London, UK
Church of England
The organ in the first church was a small two manual instrument of which no details exist.
Alfred Hunter and Sons, Organ Builders of 87 High Street, Clapham (where Hunter lived) were the builders of both the later organs. He enjoyed a high reputation for the production of fine instruments. The largest of these is at St. James’, Spanish Place. St. Andrew’s, Worthing has a fine example of his work too.
The organ of 1914 consisted of three manuals, forty-two speaking stops and ten couplers. He is reputed to have said on its completion that it was, the finest organ I have ever built. It was wholly destroyed in the fire of 1924.
The present organ was built in 1925 in a gallery created for it. It was completed some six months after the rededication. Designs for the casing (almost uniquely designed by Hunter), indicate that a corresponding case was to face the existing one on the north side of the sanctuary. The casing is unusual in that it would appear to have been extended or 'thrown outward' to give more space to the pipe work, necessitating some fine support work underneath, in addition to the amazing ceiling in St. Michael’s Chapel beneath the gallery next to the sacristy door. The present organ was dedicated by the Bishop of Willesden on a weekday afternoon at 5pm: with the church being full and Mr. James (the organist for many years) playing the first movement of Guilmant’s third organ sonata to conclude the proceedings.
The organ was never completed: or rather this is how Hunter left it (minus most of a choir organ. An identical instrument is housed in Holy Spirit, Clapham – where Hunter himself worshipped). Noel Mander (organ builders), completed some stops in 1958. This truly is a fine (and late) example of Hunter’s technique.
The instrument needs to be kept in good condition for the time when it will classify as being 'old' enough to merit receiving grants for its preservation.
Worship Contact Streets Clergy Hall Emmaus
History Organ Stained Glass JD Sedding