Uniting (former Methodist) Church

Balwyn Road, Canterbury

First organ, built 1889 George Fincham for residence of Samuel Stokes, Brighton.
Installed 1907 in previous church building.
Present organ built 1929 Roberts Ltd.
2 manuals, 18 speaking stops, 7 couplers, electro-pneumatic action.
Currently unplayable after removal of console.



Uniting Church Balwyn Road, Canterbury – exterior from the north
(photograph by John Maidment (17 December 2020)]


Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA (last updated February 2025)

The foundation stone of the present church was laid on 15 December 1928 and the building constructed as memorial to Sir Aaron Danks,1 who lived at 'Hazeldene' just down the hill from the church which still possesses a 1909 Fincham organ. The church was designed by prominent architect Louis R. Williams and built in clinker brick with an attractive tower and refined window tracery. It includes three windows by the renowned artist Christian Waller and others by local studios.2



Uniting Church Balwyn Road, Canterbury – interior from the rear of the nave
(photograph by John Maidment (11 March 2025 )]

The organ includes pipework from an organ of 10 speaking stops built in 1889 by George Fincham for the residence of Samuel Stokes, Church Street, Brighton3 (Gt: 8.8 divided.8.4. Sw: 8.8.8.4.8. Ped: 16.). Stokes was an importer and manufacturer of funeral furnishings with premises at 391 Flinders Street, Melbourne.4 He died on 4 April 19085 and shortly beforehand the organ was sold to the Methodist Church, Balwyn Road, Canterbury where it was installed in an earlier church building. In November 1929, Roberts Ltd built a new organ for the present church, using only the pipework from the earlier Fincham organ: the firm's job no 116, cost £1078.6 The windchests and structure of the Fincham organ were used by Roberts for a new organ at St Augustine's Anglican Church, Moreland (job no 120) which is now at Mentone Girls Grammar School.7



Uniting Church Balwyn Road, Canterbury – organ
[photograph by John Maidment (11 March 2025 )]

The Canterbury organ was placed in a square chamber at the rear of the building beneath a small rose window and facing down the axis of the building. The drawstop console was detached and placed in front of the organ in the centre of the choir stalls. The casework and façade pipes were new and Roberts installed a number of new ranks. In spite of heritage listing, the Roberts console was severed from the organ and removed. The casework and façade pipes remain and an electronic organ was placed on the left side of the sanctuary.

GREAT
Open Diapason
Clarabella
Dulciana
Principal
Wald Flute
Swell Sub Octave to Great
Swell to Great
Swell Octave to Great
8
8
8
4
4




    
SWELL
Lieblich Bourdon
Open Diapason
Lieblich Gedact
Viol d'Gamba
Voix Celeste
Octave
Flautina
Horn
Oboe
Sub Octave
Octave
16
8
8
8
8
4
2
8
8
A



TC







  
PEDAL
Open Diapason
Subbass
Echo Bourdon
Bass Flute
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
16
16
16
8

B
A
B


  

Compass: 61/30
Electro-pneumatic action
Detached drawstop console
Balanced mechanical swell pedal8





Uniting Church Balwyn Road, Canterbury – interior looking to the rear
(photograph by John Maidment (11 March 2025 )]



1 Inscription on foundation stone

2 Caroline Miley, Christian Waller Stained Glass: Towards the Light. North Melbourne: Australian Scholarly Publishing, 2022, p.132-144, 388.

3 E.N. Matthews, Colonial Organs and Organbuilders. Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1969, p.183

4 The Age, 13 June 1908, p.11

5 The Age, 3 June 1908, p.11

6 David Shield: transcription of the Roberts order book

7 Ibid.

8 Specification noted by Robert Heatley 1969