THE ORGAN AT ST. JAMES’ ANGLICAN CHURCH

                          "...in a way we will be returning

                                         to the feel of the 1874 console."

          During the summer of 2006, a new, four-manual oak

          console built by the Phoenix Organ Company of

          Peterborough, Ontario, replaced the 1959 Kney

          and Bright console.

The first organ in St. James’ Church was installed in 1874 by S. R. Warren of Montréal. It was a tracker or mechanical action organ, meaning that the organ console would have been built directly into the organ chamber. When stops were pulled, trackers would move back forth, opening up the pipes to allow the air to enter. The bellows was operated by water pressure. Many of the pipes in the present organ date from this Warren organ.

The organ was rebuilt and enlarged in 1903 by Casavant Frères of St. Hyacinthe, Québec. The action was completely changed to electric throughout, and the console was detached from the organ and placed on the floor in the nave by the pulpit. A third manual was added for the new Choir organ that was given by the Rector, the Rev. D. Baldwin and his wife in memory of their two young sons who had died. New stops were added and various mechanical accessories were employed. A new bellows to supply wind to the pipes was added as well. (The leather hinges of this bellows lasted until 2005 when they finally had to be replaced after tearing for several years.)

In 1945 the console was moved from the nave floor into the chancel so that the organist could better direct the choir. Kney and Bright of London replaced the console in 1959. It is not clear if any pipework was done at this time. This 1959 console has now worn out and is being replaced this summer.

In 1991 Dodington and Dodington of R.R. 1 Aylmer, Ontario added three new Casavant stops to the Swell organ, including a Mixture IV, Fagot 16’ and Doppel Flute 8’. The Kney and Bright console was converted to solid state at this time.

Dodington and Dodington installed the Antiphonal organ in the West Gallery in April 2000. This organ was a 1938 Woodstock organ that had been taken out of Wortley Road Baptist Church in London, Ontario. The St. James’ Great Trumpet 8’ was placed in the Antiphonal organ, and an 1897 Casavant Trumpet was installed in its place in the Great division. The Antiphonal organ has its own console that at present is sitting in the gallery, but is not operational.

During the summer of 2006, a new, four-manual oak console built by the Phoenix Organ Company of Peterborough, Ontario, will replace the 1959 Kney and Bright console. The fourth manual will operate the Antiphonal division. The new console will feature state-of-the-art 21st century technology, including computerized action, transposition capabilities and MIDI connections. The new bone and ebony keyboards will be from Ulrich Tastaturen, Germany, and will have tracker-action touch, so in a way we will be returning to the feel of the 1874 console. The new console will be placed in the northwest corner of the chancel facing east, allowing the organist to better hear the balance between choir and organ.

In addition, twelve digitally sampled stops will be added to the present pipework. The new pedal stops will include a Violone 16’, Contraviolone 32’, Open Diapason 16’, Contrabourdon 32’, Trombone 16’ and Bombarde 32’. New digital choir organ stops will include a Festival Tuba 8’, Clarinet 8’, Open Diapason 8’, Principal 4’, Gemshorn Celeste 8’ and Larigot 1 1/3’.