THE ORGAN IN ST HELEN'S CHURCH,
ABINGDON

Byfield, England and Russell built a new organ in the west gallery of St Helen's Church in 1780, incorporating the fine case by Abraham Jordan dating from 1726. The organ was moved in 1849 to a position near the south door of the nave. It was rebuilt by Hill in 1873 and relocated in the chapel on the south side of the chancel, with the Jordan case facing north.
In 1927 the organ was rebuilt by Harrison & Harrison. The Jordan case (turned to face west) and some pipes were retained from the previous  instrument, but in all musical and mechanical  respects this was a new organ. The attached  console is on the north side.
A number of alterations were made to the pipework when the organ was overhauled by Hill, Norman & Beard in 1971, but there were no alterations to the 1927 console and pneumatic mechanism. The work of 2005 by Harrison & Harrison consisted of comprehensive restoration, with reinstatement of the original specification and voicing. At the same time the organ was moved a short distance to the west, in connection with the re-ordering of the nave.
 



PEDAL ORGAN



CHOIR ORGAN

H   1. Open Wood
16
*   5. Double Salicional
16
H   2. Sub Bass (wood)
16
H   6. Open Diapason (bass from 7)   8
H   3. Octave Wood (from 1) 8
+   7. Stopped Diapason
  8
H   4. Flute (from 2)
8
H   8. Nason
  4

I   Choir to Pedal   
II   Great to Pedal   
III   Swell to Pedal




IV   Swell to Choir












GREAT ORGAN



SWELL ORGAN

H    9. Bourdon (from 2)
 16

$   17. Harmonic Flute
   8
*   10. Open Diapason
   8
$   18. Viola da Gamba
   8
$   11. Geigen
   8
+   19. Voix Célestes
(tenor c)
   4
*   12.
Claribel Flute

   8

H   20. Gemshorn

   4
H  13.
Octave

   4

+   21. Mixture

 III
H  14.
Octave Quint

   2 2/3

$   22. Double Clarinet

 16
H  15.
Super Octave

   2

$   23. Oboe

   8
+  16.
Sesquialtera

 III

+   24. Trumpet

   8

V    Choir to Great
VI   Swell to Great



+   25. Clarion

   4



















H
Original stops from 1927 Harrison Organ


+
1927 stops, voicing returned to original style



$
New stops



*
1907 Harrison pipes from Sacriston Wesleyan Church, replacing lost 1927 stops

Accessories








Two foot pistons to the Pedal organ




Four pistons to the Great Organ




Four pistons to the Swell Organ




Reversible pistons: Great to Pedal, Swell to Great, Great Sesquialtera




Reversible foot pistons: Great to Pedal, Swell to Great



The actions are pneumatic.
The manual compass 58 notes; the pedal 30 notes.

HARRISON & HARRISON

1927 and 2005

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For further information, email Mark Venning:
h.h@btinternet.com