St Joseph's Catholic Church
corner Byng & Hill Streets, Orange
Built 1884 George Field, Hulme, Manchester
2 manuals, 11 speaking stops, 3 couplers, mechanical action
St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Orange – exterior from south-west
[photograph by Trevor Bunning (March 2019)]
Historical and Technical Documentation by Pastor de Lasala and
John Maidment © OHTA (last updated June 2023)
The foundation stone of the first section of St Joseph’s Church was laid on 4 April 1869.1 The architect was Bathurst-based Edward Gell (1818-1899), and his design in Gothic style was constructed in brick. It was opened in 1870.2 In 1899, the church was considerably enlarged through the addition of transepts, sanctuary, aisles and sacristies to the design of Sydney architect H.E. Wardell, this being opened on 14 February 1899.3
St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Orange – organ facade
[photograph by Pastor de Lasala (4 December 2013)]
The organ was built by George Field, of 58 Erskine Street, Hulme, Manchester, who flourished 1868-1906. His work is little known even in the UK and this may well be his only surviving instrument.4 The organ was purchased by James Dalton K.S.G. directly from the builder and was first played by Miss Whipple at the start of March 1885.5 Since then, the organ has received only minimal maintenance and would be a candidate for a thorough and sympathetic restoration, given that it remains essentially intact.
An unoriginal plaque on the organ erroneously states its date as 1875. The builder’s nameplate has been removed. The organ is placed on its side with its back to the north wall in a high, narrow, western gallery. Access to the gallery is through a stone, spiral staircase accessed from an external door at the south west corner of the church.
The organ was documented by John Stiller (number 4/163).
Great
Open Diapason
Stopt Diapason
Dulciana
Principal
Flute
Fifteenth
Swell
Open Diapason
Gedact
Gemshorn
Oboe
Tremolo
Pedal
Bourdon
Couplers
Great to Pedals
Swell to Pedals
Swell to Great
|
8
8
8
4
4
2
8
8
4
8
16
|
stop label missing and name crudely written on paper
stop label missing and name crudely written on paper
odd label but in Gothic script
stop label missing and name crudely written on paper
odd label in block letters (probably added later)
odd label in block letters
stop label missing and name crudely written on paper
|
|
2 manuals 56/29
mechanical action
lever swell pedal
two composition pedals to Great
St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Orange – console
[photograph by Pastor de Lasala (4 December 2013)]
St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Orange – right hand stop jamb
[photograph by Pastor de Lasala (4 December 2013)]
St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Orange – left hand stop jamb
[photograph by Pastor de Lasala (4 December 2013)]
St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Orange – organ façade detail
[photograph by Pastor de Lasala (4 December 2013)]
1 Freeman’s Journal, 17 April 1869, pp.6-7
2 Australian Town & Country Journal, 18 June 1870, p.16
3 Sydney Morning Herald, 4 February 1899, p.5
4 The National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR) in Britain reveals only a handful of Field instruments. The low return may be a reflection that he built largely for Nonconformist churches which have never been surveyed.
5 Freeman’s Journal, 28 March 1885, p.9