The Organ at St. Michael's Bishops Cleeve

A Brief History

In March 1863 Messrs Forster and Andrews of Hull installed a new organ in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Scarborough. Just over a hundred years later, Percy Daniel of Clevedon built the present organ by incorporating much of the pipework and material from the Forster and Andrews organ together with two stops from an old Nicholson organ (1901) -the case being built by local craftsmen.  The rebuild in 2000 has cost over £45,000 to complete.

The Technicalities

The Organ dates from 1863 although it is possible some pipework predates that instrument. This was substantially rebuilt by Binns ofLeeds in 1903 using pneumatic action. A choir manual was added in 1947. It was this instrument that was acquired by St Michael's in 1965 and re-constructed, using electro-pneumatic action, as a 2 manual by Percy Daniel & Co, Clevedon, replacing the former Nicholson instrument. Nothing major was done to the organ until the present restoration apart from repairs following rainwater damage (twice) and the moving of the console in 1985.

The organ has served the church well during this period but it was clear that, apart from a general cleaning and overhaul, parts of the organ were tonally inadequate, particularly the Swell department. The fact, too, that many technological advances had been made in the craft of pipe organ building since 1965 provided the opportunity to carry out certain improvements which would enhance and widen its scope.

The most striking visual difference of course is the acquisition of a more fitting case than its predecessor which much reduced the effectiveness of the organ, being made mostly of plywood to a most unsuitable design. The "new" case was formerly in Christ Church, Forest Hill, London and had become redundant. Most of the prospect pipes are "speakers" forming the basses of the Great Open Diapason arid Pedal Principal stops. It has been restored by Maurice Bent of Ruardean Hill who has in the past been responsible for much of the church furnishing in St Michael's.