St Mary's Anglican Church

Sutton Street, Redcliffe

John Compton Organ Co., London, c.1959
Installed in this location 1963 from showroom of W.H.Paling, Brisbane
Damaged by fire 1980 & c.1990
Restored & enlarged (by extension) 1981 & c.1990 H.W. Jarrott, Brisbane
2 manuals, 2 ranks extended, electric action




St Mary's Anglican Church, Redcliffe
[Photograph by David Vann (May 2012)]

 

Historical and Technical Documentation by Geoffrey Cox
© OHTA 2012 (last updated May 2012)

The present St Mary's Church was opened in 1959, replacing an earlier timber church dating from 1899.1

The organ in the present church was built by the John Compton Organ Co. of London. It was purchased in 1963 from the showroom of Messrs W.H. Paling in Brisbane, and dedicated at Redcliffe on 9 June 1963.2 The instrument is reported to have stood on the showroom floor at Palings for some four years, having been ordered initially in the late 1950s by a family in western Queensland for the use of an exceptionally gifted child.3



The John Compton Organ Co. organ at St Mary's, Redcliffe
[Photograph by David Vann (May 2012)]




The builder's nameplate
[Photograph by David Vann (May 2012)]

Since being installed at Redcliffe, the organ has been damaged twice (in 1980 and in the early 1990s) by fires arising within the organ itself. It was restored on both occasions by H.W. Jarrott of Brisbane.4 In 1981, Jarrott extended the existing ranks adding four new stops, and a further two stops were added in the early 1990s following the second fire. The swell shutters were reversed in 1981 to open towards the congregation.5

This was a standard small Compton extension organ comprising two ranks, spread over two manuals and pedals. All of the pipework is of metal. Apart from the bass of the Bourdon 16ft, it is enclosed in the swell box. Some non-speaking pipes are included in the grille doors at the front of the organ.



Console of the John Compton Organ Co. organ
[Photograph by David Vann (May 2012)]

 

GREAT
Bourdon
Open Diapason
Rohr Gedeckt
Principal
Flute
Twelfth
Fifteenth
Piccolo

SWELL
Open Diapason
Rohr Gedeckt
Flute
Piccolo
Larigot

PEDAL
Bourdon
Flute
Principal
Fifteenth

16
8
8
4
4
2-2/3
2
1


8
8
4
2
1-1/3


16
8
8
4

A
B
A
B
A
B
B
A


B
A
A
A
A


A
A
B
B






[c.1990]
[1981]
[1981]





[1981]
[c.1990]





[1981]

NO COUPLERS

Direct electric action
Attached stop-key console
Balanced swell pedal
Radiating concave pedalboard
Compass: 61/32.6








Stop-keys of the John Compton Organ Co. organ
[Photograph by David Vann (May 2012)]

_________________________________________________________________

1 Glenda Murrell, Anglican Records and Archive Centre Guide to Records - http://www.anglicanarchives.org.au - accessed January 2004.

2 Personal communication to G. Cox from Canon A.S. Jull (Rector), January 1973.

3 Personal communication to G. Cox from Maurice Banner (parishioner of St Mary's), January 2004.

4 Personal communications to G. Cox from H.W. Jarrott, c.1981, and Maurice Banner, 2004.

5 Personal communication to G. Cox from Maurice Banner, January 2004.

6 Specification noted by G. Cox, 1973; subsequent details supplied by Maurice Banner, January 2004.