Rowland Wateridge

I take this to be James Atherton’s spoof Christmas specification (in spite of appearing on Nicholson’s website) accepting Barry Oakley’s challenge above. The extension in the pedal organ surpasses anything designed by Arthur Harrison! They don’t seem to have taken up John Robinson’s suggestion of dividing the case on either side of the Quire! Incidentally, at one stage of its history, before moving to the pulpitum, the Gloucester organ was on one side of the Quire, in the arcade on the north side (as I recall having read), undivided of course!

This, surely, is a spoof in spite of appearing on Nicholson’s website? It’s signed off by James Atherton in the same month as he asked whether he might put up a suggested specification on the ‘other’ thread “Gloucester Armchair Game”.

The link goes full-circle back to Windsor where Tony Blair was the late Queen’s last appointment to the Order of the Garter. From what you say, it seems that the Winchester choir sang more than once in the series.

Winchester surplices are correctly plain white. The red rose, I suspect, is simply the producers’ artistic licence as was the use of York Minster* as the setting, the latter fully understandable for reasons already given. Frankly, it seems something of a gimmick as Westminster Abbey surplices (as one would expect!) are equally of ‘correct’ plain white form. Edit: Some clarification is necessary. *The filming at York Minster depicted the blessing service of the (then) Prince Charles and Camilla at St George’s Windsor after a civil marriage. The film at Winchester (of which I was unaware) represented the funeral of Princess Diana at Westminster Abbey. There were no rose-embroidered surplices on that sad occasion.

Not wishing to prolong this, I’m sure there was a piper at the St Giles’ Edinburgh service which was before both the London and Windsor services. Sadly I no longer seem to have the recording I made at the time.

Yes, having checked, you are correct on both counts! But the piper was not positioned on the Abbey pulpitum: a gallery (is it a Royal pew?) in the Nave arcade. At Windsor the piper was on terra firma for Prince Phillip’s funeral, marching slowly down the south nave aisle and out onto the Lower Ward. I equally have not seen ‘The Crown’ episode, and am uncertain whether the scene at York was the substitute for Westminster or Windsor (as previously assumed) as the place of the Queen’s funeral or the subsequent interment.

I’m sure Windsor itself would never have been an option on any terms. It is, essentially, the King’s private chapel (a ‘Royal Peculiar’) and even outside the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The closest visually to St George’s, both architecturally and with the knights’ banners, is the Chapel of King Henry VII in Westminster Abbey (also a Royal Peculiar) which can be ruled out for the same reasons as Windsor. They simply don’t ‘do’ that kind of thing! Incidentally, I have only seen a piper at floor level for royal services both at Windsor and Westminster.

H&H have completed their work both in Durham and on site to the Winchester organ, which is back in use, and the opening recital is to be given by Olivier Latry on Saturday 27th April 2024 at 7.00 pm. The work was rather prosaically described as a ‘clean and overhaul with the addition of a new Swell Vox Humana’ - there must be a fair chance that this will feature in M. Latry’s programme. The addition is ‘new’ to the extent that it replaces - 85 years later! - a Father Willis stop which was ignominiously discarded in 1938. The wheel turns full circle, and we can now look forward to hearing some authentic sounds again in performance of Franck (and others, of course).

Reading this (with apologies to Martin and S_L for an irreverent diversion from Norwich!), I’m afraid I was tempted to quote (courtesy of Wikipedia) from the entry on Bishop Henry Montgomery Campbell who confirmed me and Robert Bowles - in my case when Bishop of Guildford, and so before his advancement to London and the event described below: At his enthronement as Bishop of London he banged ceremonially with his crosier on the great West door of St Paul's, which there was some delay in opening. He turned to his chaplain and said, "We've come to the wrong place". When the door was finally opened revealing the aged canons of the cathedral, he commented, "The See gives up its dead“ (also a reference to the Book of Revelation, 20:13). Returning to Norwich, I noticed that the Bishop was following a prepared liturgy, and I believe the Dean was standing alongside him throughout.

It seems a very strange scenario. I suspect that few commenting here (myself included) were either present or have seen a recording - is one available? I witnessed the re-dedication of the organ in Winchester Cathedral in 1988, and nothing like this happened - that organ is far less accessible, and the re-dedication was at ground level. Do we know whether there was physical damage to the side of the Norwich case, or was the Bishop’s response on Twitter, entering into the spirit of things, made tongue in cheek? I’m doubtful that the Bishop has any personal liability if he did inflict damage, and even less likely that the Dean and Chapter (the organ belongs to them) would pursue that line! In answer to Colin’s point, there are no issues of employment or contract here.

From my 1921 Dictionary of Organs and Organists there are (a surprising?) number of organs listed in South Africa by Hele’s who were, of course, based in Plymouth. But there is something more definite. From a website about Calitzdorp, in a general description of the Dutch Reformed Church there, “The organ was erected by G.W. Price and Son of Cape Town”. That organ is listed in the 1921 Dictionary “Built 1912 by Forster & Andrews”. Of course that does not necessarily imply any kind of sole agency, but it is the only specific instrument I have found, and none is listed in the Dictionary as being by Price himself. I suspect you may have covered this ground already but, from South African History Online, George William Price organ builder lived at a relatively affluent address 21 St Bede’s Terrace, Antrim Rd, Green Point in the Western Cape. So there are two possible clues, neither definite. It may be that the best source will be South Africa itself. Does it have an equivalent of the NPOR Directory of Organ Builders or ISOB? Or, possibly, an enquiry to Cooper Gill & Tomkins of Cape Town (details on the Johannesburg City Hall thread).

Funeral details as announced on the website of the Coventry and Warwickshire Organists’ Association: Revd. Tony Newnham passed away on 20th November. Rest in peace, Tony. Funeral services at Rainsbrook Crematorium Rugby (2.30 pm), followed by a celebration of Tony's life at Wolston Baptist Church on Monday 11th December.

Colin Pykett has said everything which I would wish to have said, without having the benefit of knowing Tony Newnham personally. During Covid lockdowns, and indeed now, dipping into old threads Tony’s contributions are noticeable for their considerable depth of knowledge, and the invariable courtesy of his responses, occasionally having to ‘field’ others’ sometimes unhelpful comments about the NPOR of which he was a prominent editor. It seems very sad that so recently with the deaths of Tony and Stanley Monkhouse, the Board has lost its two remaining clergy members, also both organists. Tony’s contributions will be missed on many levels, especially his signing-off “Every blessing”. RIP.

A lengthy report of the Memorial Service and eulogies for Stanley in Dublin last week on 9th November: https://ramblingrector.me/2023/11/14/notes-from-a-memorial/ What a remarkable account of a most remarkable man. This thread now exceeds 2,900 ‘views’. His final resting place is in Ireland. May he rest in peace and his memory long endure.

Something very different, and rather splendid, Welsh chapel or very large male choirs at the RAH: Arwel Hughes’ wonderful “Tydi, a Roddaist”, No 364, in both Welsh and English. There is much else of course, but this stood out as the most surprising new entry.

Quite by chance, as happens when looking for something else, I found this entry recently in my 1922 ‘Dictionary’ of organs and organists: Reginald J Foort, FRCO, … … born 1893 at Daventry. Trained RCM. Org. Rugby Lower School 1907-9; Par. Ch, Newbold Rugby, 1908-9; St Mary’s Bryanstone Sq., London, W since 1910. Even his birthplace has a BBC connection. I think it’s generally known that he was an FRCO. The same source indicates that his church organ at St Mary’s Bryanston Square was built in 1921 by Harrison, 3 manuals, 24 speaking stops and 8 couplers with pneumatic action (NPOR N17370, with the slightly different address spelling, and date 1922).

Following on the memorial service, as promised earlier, details of Stanley’s final public recital at St Modwen’s, Burton on Trent on 25th September 2019 in the month preceding his retirement, provided courtesy of the Lichfield and District Organists’ Association. This was his varied and challenging programme: John Rutter: Toccata in Seven A Lefébure-Wély: Pastorale Élévation ou Communion Boléro de Concert J S Bach: Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major (BWV 564) Michael Festing (arr. G Thalben-Ball): “Suite” Georgi Mushel: Toccata (Uzbekistan Suite) Charles-Marie Widor: Symphonie 2: Finale The LDOA report includes a characteristic Stanley comment about the Bach, “seems rather more difficult than when I learnt it at the age of 16/17!” The report concludes that “with the four toccatas Stanley was certainly not going to ‘go out’ with a whimper!”.

Hebridean’s comment on the current Rushworth & Dreaper - 1930s thread mentioning the Imperial War Museum’s listing of a church war memorial reminded me of the lengthy discussion we had about Charterhouse School Chapel also being a war memorial. Eventually it was agreed that this is the case; on reflection, the Imperial War Museum would have been an obvious starting place to look! And, here is the relevant entry: https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/23503 Surprisingly there is a rather basic error: the architect was Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, probably most famous as the architect of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral (where he is buried), not his grandfather Sir George Gilbert.

Details provided by Stanley’s son Ed of the memorial service tomorrow, 7.30 pm at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin 2. https://ramblingrector.me/2023/11/07/dublin-memorial-service-for-stan/ I’m sure that those of us unable to be there will have our memories of Stanley.

Lots here, all transcriptions I think except the Walton pieces, and including ones already mentioned: https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/13731667

Sadly, David Harrison died in October 2019. I’m sure he would have appreciated your trouble, and all the information. I am no longer in touch with anyone at the University of Michigan but, as you will know, the organ department there acquired great fame and prestige during the long tenure of Marilyn Mason, also since 2019 no longer with us, as Head of the Department.

My 1922 Dictionary of Organs and Organists is an invaluable tool for research of the history of organs, both lost and ones still with us, with details of their 1922 state and who played them. There seems to have been an extraordinary number of Norman & Beard organs throughout southern Africa and particularly in South Africa itself. An explanation for this can be found in the website of Cooper Gill & Tomkins (linked above commenting on the organ in Johannesburg City Hall) at their ‘History’ page: https://www.coopergilltomkins.co.za/about-5 MM (we haven’t heard from him for some time) would be delighted to see the original founders’ roots with the Yorkshire firm of Binns.

From the last filed annual accounts (details are on the Charity Commission website) income was greater than in the previous year. I’m not an accountant, but understand the current total value of the endowment is around £860 million. The proposals of the Grieve report have to be considered and accepted by all parties but they do assure the continuance of the Choral Foundation and Organist which is what we are discussing here.

The situation at Christ Church, as well as being unique, is incredibly complex. It is a joint foundation of Cathedral and College. Whilst they have separate accounts and separate seals, as I understand there is effectively a joint paymaster and, as explained to me by an alumnus, it’s entirely a matter of internal accounting. The foundation, not the C of E, already finances the Cathedral. All is carefully set out in the existing Statutes. Uniquely, the Dean of Christ Church, not the Bishop of Oxford, is the Ordinary in the Cathedral and the Crown is the Visitor: Christ Church website states “HM The King”. Under the proposals, the Dean’s status in the Cathedral remains unchanged so that the Bishop of Oxford is neither Ordinary nor the Visitor in his Cathedral! A new Head of College will have to be recruited paid and housed. The proposals already deal with Cathedral and clergy accommodation requirements and, as indicated earlier, retention of the Choral Foundation with the Cathedral. Under the proposals it appears that the present funding arrangements, adapted as appropriate, will continue: new Statutes will be necessary and they will require the agreement of the C of E, the University and the Privy Council. In summary, it appears that finance will not be a problem, but there will be considerable administrative detail to be worked out and decided. It’s not likely to happen very soon!

Announced yesterday on a legal blog I read, apparently quoting the Church Times, it is proposed that the Cathedral and College whilst remaining (uniquely) a joint foundation will have separate heads. These proposals have been put forward and recommended by Dominic Grieve KC in his report and review of Christ Church’s internal governance. The Dean of Christ Church will cease to be the overall head of the foundation and will have a role more akin to a conventional Cathedral Dean, and the College will have a new ‘Head of House’ with no jurisdiction in the Cathedral. The two bodies will, in effect, be separate under the same roof. However, under the existing Statutes the organist and the choral foundation ‘belong’ to the Cathedral, and that is to continue under the proposed scheme. The organist has concurrently been a Fellow of Christ Church with a role in the College, and I can’t see why that should not continue under the new arrangements. But this is all at the proposal stage, and the C of E and the University of Oxford are also stakeholders. The Governing Body of Christ Church has accepted the proposals in principle and are consulting their graduate members.