The St Barnabas Morecambe
Coronation Organ Project
We are raising £110,000 to install a magnificent 1865 Father Willis organ in our church. This exciting project is to celebrate the Accession and Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
Find out more about our project
The Diocese is also blessed in having in the parish of St Barnabas, a congregation who are fiercely committed to installing a fine working organ in their church despite the challenges of living in one of the most deprived areas in the Diocese of Blackburn, and the country...they are to be applauded for their vision and commitment
David Hodge KC, Diocesan Chancellor
Our Project
Our curent organ, built by Wadsworth and Brother in 1913, is in a very poor condition. We sought advice from Paul Hale, a member of the Association of Accredited Organ Advisors who concluded this instrument has passed the stage where restoration can be justified.
After three years of searching, we have salvaged a redundant Willis organ from a closed United Reformed Church in Weybridge. This instrument is in excellent condition and has been well maintained. The
variety of stops provide excellent tonal “colour” to accompany our services, and also to play a significant amount of the solo organ repertoire. We have sought advice
from a number of organists and independent experts, and all have agreed that this organ is an almost perfect instrument for our church building.
The dismantled organ is being stored in the north aisle of the church until our fundraising is complete. It will be installed by Gary Owens of GO Organ Builders.
A video of the organ being played at Weybridge
In the summer of 2022, we were made aware of the organ at Weybridge, and Father Michael visited the church with Mr Samuel Austin, director of music at Pocklington School and a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. After playing the organ, Samuel commented:
I was invited to Weybridge URC see and play the Father Willis organ. It was an enjoyable instrument to play. The console is by Henry Willis III and utilises his characterful stop taps and the simulated tracker touch.
Tonally, the most impressive part of the instrument was the warm and enveloping Great 8’ 4’ 2’ principal chorus and the bold and characterful 8’ and 4’ flutes. The Tromba is more of a chorus reed than a solo stop and adds an element of fire to the Great chorus. The Swell reeds are colourful, the Open Diapason is broad and warm, the strings are soft and the Stopped Diapason has the tone similar to a Lieblich Gedackt. The pedal contains a variety of 16’ stops which with some extension to 8’ and 4’. This division is certainly capable of supplying plenty of foundation tone to support the rest of the instrument, but there are also softer combinations available to underpin more subtle registrations.
I believe this will be an excellent organ for relocation at St Barnabas Morecambe and warmly commend it to the PCC.
The specification of the new organ as it will be installed at St Barnabas
Pedal
32’ Resultant Bass
16’ Open Bass
16’ Sub Bass
16’ Bourdon
16' Trombone
8’ Octave Bass
8’ Stopped Flute
4’ Super Octave
4’ Octave Flute
Swell to Pedal
Swell to Pedal 4
Great to Pedal
Great
16' Bourdon
8’ Open Diapason
8’ Stopped Diapason
8’ Dulciana
4’ Principal
4’ Flute
2 2/3’ Nazard
2’ Fifteenth
8’ Tromba
Swell to Great 16
Swell to Great
Swell to Great 4
Swell
8’ Open Diapason
8’ Stopped Diapason
8’ Aeoline
8’ Voix Célestes
4’ Principal
IIIrk Cornet 12.15.17
8’ Trumpet
8’ Oboe
Tremulant
Swell Sub Octave 16
Swell Unison Off
Swell Octave 4
The Willis organ was built in 1865. Father Willis himself gave the opening recital on the instrument, and the organ was expanded further by the Willis firm throughout the twentieth century. An electro-pneumatic action with detached console was provided in 1957, and the first recital on this was given by Harold Darke. The organ has been very well maintained and cared for, being used to accompany choirs and for many organ recitals which continued until the church was sadly forced to close. Minister Michael Hodgson and his congregation were keen for the organ to be saved and given a new home.
The organ was dismantled and moved to St Barnabas in February 2023, and will be installed in the church in 2024.
The church’s musical heritage and offering, and consequently its
worship, liturgy and mission, will be clearly, and considerably, enriched and enhanced.
David Hodge KC, Diocesan Chancellor
Who was Henry Willis?
Henry Willis (1821-1901) was the foremost organ builder of the Victorian era. He is called "Father" Willis as he is widely regarded as the father of British organ building.
In 1851, he created the largest organ at the Great Exhibition with 70 speaking stops. This was later moved to Winchester Cathedral. During his career, he built around 1000 instruments, including the organs at the Royal Albert Hall, St Paul's Cathedral and many other British cathedrals, parishes and concert halls.
The company he founded in 1845, Henry Wiilis & Sons remained in his family until 1997. Willis organs are renowned for their quality of craftsmanship and tone.
I am pleased to be able to contribute to such a worthwhile project which has been very well thought out and is a good solution to what must have seemed an almost intractable problem.
A project donor
How to help
So far, we have raised £90 000 through private donations and grants, including the Pilling Trust and Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund.
We still need at least another £20 000 to be able to complete our project.
Sponsor a pipe: donations between £10 and £100
Sponsor a stop: donations between £110 and £1000
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Our online shop: Coronation Organ Merchandise
Our Parish
St Barnabas Church is located on Regent Road in the heart of the West End of Morecambe
We are an active and welcoming church, worshiping in the Catholic tradition of the Church of England
Our main Sunday service is the Parish Mass at 10am, with Sunday School each week. Weekday masses usually take place at 9.30am on Wednesday and 12 noon on Friday.
Mass Times and Notices for the Week
Contact Us
Fr Michael Childs SSC
St Barnabas Vicarage
101 Regent Road
Morecambe
LA3 1AG
01524 941521
westendpriest@gmail.com
How to find us
St Barnabas Church is on the corner of Regent Road and Chatsworth Road, next to West End School. The main church door is on Regent Road, close to the junction with Westminster Road. The closest postcode is LA3 1TF.
For groups in the church hall/community centre e.g. The Well Communities, Morecambe Homeless Action, please use the white door next to the bus stop on Westminster Road.