STTHOMASANGLICAN

St Thomas' Rozelle was built in 1874 in an Early English Gothic style to the design of Edmund Blacket, originally of brick with stone detailing, but later obscured by paintwork. The five bay nave was built first, followed by the transepts, sanctuary and vestry. The main façade incorporates a small bellcote rising between the two lancet windows. [1] The interior has more recently been re-ordered, reducing the number of pews and introducing areas of open flooring.

A harmonium played by Mr William May was used for the decade between the opening of St Thomas' and the installation of the Henry Jones pipe organ in 1884. The Jones was designed by Frederick Morley and cost 315 pounds. Frederick's brother Felix supervised the construction in London. The earliest organists were Messrs E.H.T Russell, W. Morris and Arthur Mason, later City Organist. Mason was succeeded by S.Gordon Lavers and Francis Martin who composed one of the themes on which Alfred Hollins improvised at Sydney Town Hall during his concert tour in 1904. Probably the longest serving organist was Mr G.C.Boulton who played from about 1902 until at least 1924 if not longer. His successors were Mrs Lorna Travella, O.A.M. from about 1942-1950; Mrs R.P.Harrison, a pupil of Lilian Frost, 1950-52 and 1953-57; Mr G.W.Taafe, October 1952; Mr Ray Holland, 1952-1953, and Mr R.G.McIntosh 1957-59. The organists subsequently included Miss Cooper, Mr J.A.McDiarmid and Mr N.Dickson in 1995.

The choir members who helped Mr Charles Leggo to relocate the organ from the south to the north transept in 1936 included one John Kerr, later to become Governor General. S.T. Noad took over the maintenance from Leggo in 1943. Ten years later the organ narrowly escaped 'modernisation' by J.P. Eagles. For a predominantly working class congregation St Thomas had remarkably able organists and good choirs. [2]

The organ is rarely used today and is not in first-class condition. It is one of only two organs by Henry Jones, of South Kensington in London, to survive basically unaltered in NSW. [3]

Henry Jones 1884 (2/12 mechanical)

GREAT
Open Diapason
Rohr Flöte
Dulciana
Principal
Harmonic Flute
Fifteenth

SWELL
Lieblich Gedact
Gamba
Vox Angelica
Gemshorn
Cornopean
Tremulant

PEDAL
Bourdon

8
8
8
4
4
2

8
8
8
4
8

16

COUPLERS

Swell to Great

Swell Sub Octave

Swell to Pedals

Great to Pedal

Compass 56/30

Mechanical action throughout

2 composition pedals to Great

Hitch-down swell lever

No. of pipes = 622

[1] Morton Herman, The Blackets: an era of Australian architecture. Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1963: 151-152.

[2] Information on the organs provided by Peter Meyer to Mark Quarmby, June 2005.

[3] Rushworth, Historic Organs, 300.