Parish of Leatherhead - Installation of the Thomas Parker Organ
all images unless otherwise stated, from David Oliver

25th Sep 2007: Today saw the arrival of the supporting frame for our Georgian Organ. This strong frame will support the weight of the organ over the vaults in the chancel. The organ installation is due to begin on Tuesday 2nd October. David Oliver photo: Mike Lewis & Andrew Cornish (from architects Brewer-Jewel) discuss the exact positioning of the frame)

Tuesday 2nd October 2007: A very dreary, drizzly morning, but loads of excitement at the parish church for the arrival of our Georgian Organ! Right on the dot of 8am a large removal van pulled up at the church and work started immediately.

David Eaton, Mike Lewis and David Oliver welcomed the team from Goetze & Gywnn and within barely an hour the church was full of pipes and assorted bits of organ ready for assembly strewn across the pews as everyone mucked in with the unloading. Very quickly the base was laid and by the end of the day the organ frame was up and things were already taking shape.
David Oliver

the organ arrives

Dominic Gwynn - Martin Goetze - Canon David Eaton

Director of Music David Oliver carries one of the pipes

Mike Lewis, who did the work on getting Heritage Lottery funding, also has a go

organ bits everywhere

above and below - more pipes on pews

some stacked pipes

bits and pieces

the base

the organ case takes shape

front - more detail

bellows

the case from the rear

another view of the organ case, from the chancel

Wednesday 3rd October: Work on the organ installation progresses at a steady pace. Dominic Gwynn sets up the tracker action on the swell box, and after some 200 years the organ manuals are finally in place in the parish church, soon to be ready to play. David Oliver

the manuals

tracker action

fine adjustment

Thursday 4th October: With the organ structure and most of the action in place, the delicate job of adding the pipes is now the next stage. Our Georgian Organ is really starting to make its presence felt, and after a long absence, the pipes are once again starting to sound in the parish church. David Oliver

Dominic adds the frontpipes

Tim adds more pipes

Edward placing the pipes

Only stops to be added

A beautiful instrument

top of front case: Haslam

Friday 5th October: The team go home for the weekend, what remains is connecting the rest of the console, testing and tuning and adding the trumpet.
Frank Haslam

Tim McEwen - Martin Goetze - Dominic Gwynn - Edward Bennett: Haslam

Leatherhead Advertiser, Thursday 11 October

Centre group: David Oliver (Director of Music), Michael Lewis (seated),
Canon David Eaton. Goetze & Gwynn team L-R: Tim McEwen,
Martin Goetze, Dominic Gwynn & Edward Bennett
photo: Francesca Rizzo, courtesy of the Leatherhead Advertiser

18 October: Detailed work goes on. More views of the organ.

side view showing hand pump slots

stops in place and labelled

keyboard

detail of finish on restored keys: click for image of unrestored keys

detail of carving: Haslam

Sunday 28 October Our restored Parker Organ was 'on duty' for the first time at this morning's 10.30 service. David Oliver played a selection of pieces by 18th Century composers Boyce, Stanley and Arne. It was the first time a pipe organ had been heard in our church at a service for over 25 years, and the first such occasion at which the restored keyboard had been played for 134 years. A very special day indeed. David Oliver is pictured here with Canon David Eaton.

Guildford Diocesan newspaper The Wey December 2007: text

Restoration of organ is completed thanks to lottery grant

The newly restored Georgian organ in Leatherhead Parish Church has now been returned and its inaugural concert was planned for November 24, with Westminster Abbey organist James O'Donnell. The extensive and meticulous rebuild at the hands of Goetze and Gwynne [sic] was enabled by a Heritage Lottery Grant of £183,000 and the enthusiastic help of congregational members led by Mike Lewis. "The instrument was originally built by Thomas Parker who is regarded as a 'doyen of 18th century organs' and was felt worthy of restoration," says the Revd David Eaton, Vicar at St Mary and St Nicholas. "They've done a very impressive job and I'm delighted that this beautiful piece of musical heritage has been restored to use."

page last updated 3 December 2007