John Norman

Fit for a Queen

The story of the organ now in St Mary's Church, Finedon, Northamptonshire

John Norman - Consultant - Restoration by Holmes & Swift
Grant aided by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Church Buildings Council
Historic organ certificate

Based on a lecture given at Birmingham University
21 February 2015

and an article in Choir & Organ January 2015 p36
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The Finedon organ has always been known for its splendid case, as illustrated in Dr A.G.Hill's book on organ cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . >>>>
Although installed at Finedon in 1717 by Christopher Shrider, the case bears a strong similarity to the 1708 case by 'Father' Bernard Smith in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge.
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Father Smith was Shrider's father-in-law.

The Grinling Gibbons carving on the choir screen in St Paul's Cathedral, London . . . . . >>>>

The carving at Finedon is of superb quality and appears to be by the same hand
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The central pipe in the case has a Royal Coat of Arms on it - without Scotland - so the organ must have been made before 1707 when England and Scotland were united

'Father' Bernard Smith made an organ for the Chapel Royal at Windsor in 1704. This fits exactly with the Royal Arms and the quality of the oak casework at Finedon
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It turns out that, after Queen Anne died, King George I thought that the Windsor set-up was 'too popish'.

The Sub-Dean, the Revd Sir John Dolben was out of a job. His family were Lords of the Manor of Finedon. Dolben became the Vicar of Finedon and, being wealthy, paid for the organ to come with him.

The opening concert was given by Dr William Croft and the Choir of the Chapel Royal on 17th May 1717.
Croft wrote the anthem 'Praise God in His Sanctuary' especially for the occasion
<<<< Copyright National Portrait Gallery

As one of the very first three-manual organs, the third manual, the 'Echo' was originally placed under the Great organ, speaking out through a carved grille above the console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . >>>>
Although the organ received a new console in 1872, placed at the side of the case, the jambs and stop-labels of the original console survive on the front of the case.
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There are some 550 original Father Smith pipes in the organ

Bernard Smith was trained in Germany and used the German system of marking B flat pipes as 'B' and the B natural pipes with an 'H'.
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St Mary's Church Finedon
Northamptonshire

Built by 'Father' Bernard Smith 1704

for the Chapel Royal, Windsor Castle

Christopher Shrider 1717
moved to Finedon

G.M.Holdich 1872 rebuilt

Restoration by Holmes & Swift

Grant aided by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Church Buildings Council
Historic organ certificate

Stop list as rebuilt by G.M. Holdich in 1872 and remaining unalterd

Great
Open Diapason (mostly Smith)
Gamba
Stop'd Diapason (Smith)
Principal (Smith)
Twelfth (Smith)
Fifteenth (Smith)
Sesquialtra III (Smith)
Trumpet

Choir
Stop'd Diapason (Smith)
Dulciana
Principal (Smith)
Flute
Fifteenth (Smith)

Swell
Open Diapason
Stop'd Diapason
Principal
Fifteenth (Smith)
Echo Mixture III (mostly Smith)
Horn

Pedal
Open Ped. Pipes
Bourdon Ped.Pipes

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