St Benedict's Catholic Pro-Cathedral
Newton

George Croft 1907 (2/18 pneumatic)


Photo MQ

The present St Benedict's building was opened on 22 April 1888. Replacing a spacious earlier timber church destroyed by fire, the new building was of brick and designed by Edward Mahoney & Sons in a simple Early English Gothic style. Edward Mahoney (1824-1895) emigrated to Auckland from Cork, Ireland in 1856 where he set up as a building and timber merchant and in 1870 established the architectural firm of Edward Mahoney & Sons. This is a large cruciform building, the clerestoried nave being flanked by aisles. In 1955 the present spacious sanctuary was added to the design of C. Reginald Ford while an extensive restoration of the building under Salmond Reed Architects was completed in 2003, this work including reslating of the roof, a new entrance, restoration of stained glass and furniture and reorganisation of the sanctuary.

Placed on a lofty rear gallery, the St Benedict's organ was built in 1907 by George Croft and remains one of the finest sounding and most original examples of his work, in a building possessing excellent acoustics. Later alterations have included installation of electrical blowing, in place of the original hydraulic system, the repositioning of the central pipe façade and swell box, to reveal the window behind. The latter two changes are reversible and it is hoped that a full restoration will take place. The original pipework and action remain intact.


George Croft 1907 (2/18 pneumatic)

GREAT
Open Diapason
Stopped Diapason
Dulciana
Principal
Harmonic Flute
Trumpet

SWELL
Double Diapason
Open Diapason
Rohr Flute
Viol d'Gamba
Voix Celeste
Principal
Flautina
Mixture
Horn
Oboe
Tremulant

PEDAL
Ped. Open Diapason
Ped. Bourdon

COUPLERS
Swell Sub to Great
Swell to Great
Swell Octave to Great
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal

8
8
8
4
4
8


16
8
8
8
8
4
2
II
8
8



16
16


Compass: 58/30
Tubular pneumatic action
Attached drawstop console
3 thumb pistons to Great
3 thumb pistons to Swell

Photos JRM



Margaret & Paul Freeman, St Benedict's Catholic Church, Newton Parish 1888-2003: a brief history. Newton: the Church, 2003.
Specification supplied by Bruce Thompson 2006