Music

Chris is Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Edmunds Parish Church, Chingford and St Georges, Walthamstow. He was appointed to his position at St Edmund’s in April 1999. His musical career began with an organ scholarship at St Mary’s Church, Chingford, were he studied with Donald Ray and Basil Abbout. He has also studied music at Oundle, Oxford and Cambridge. Christopher has made solo appearances in Lincoln Cathedral, Peterbourgh Cathedral, The Abbey of Saint Wandrille, Angers Cathedral, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, and many of the University Chapels in Oxford and Cambridge.

Prior to his appointment at Chingford, he was Assistant Organist at Loughton Parish Church and Highams Park Baptist Church. In addition to his work at the parish, he is an active composer, teacher and recitalist.

NOTES ON THE ORGANS OF ST EDMUND’S CHURCH

CHINGFORD

Antony C.S.Bull

The original church of St Edmund was opened in 1909 and still exists as the parish Hall. Some time after its dedication, it was provided with a pipe organ, the origin of which is shrouded in mystery. One source says that it probably came from the old church on Chingford Mount, but this seems unlikely. The Chingford old church was abandoned in 1840 and fell into ruin, so what happened to the organ during the sixty years or so between 1840 and 1910? It was more likely that the instrument was one that Roy Huntingford, organ builder of Walthamstow, had in stock, probably second hand. An old photograph of the first St Edmund’s shows the organ sited to the right of the ‘chancel’. Comparing this with a photograph of Huntingford’s workshop (at Vestry House Museum) shows a distinct likeness. Whatever its provenance we know that it was a one manual organ and served the church until the 1930s, when a new organ was installed in 1932.

We know that in December 1932 the organ was purchased by Father John Howell who had built a splendid new church in North Chingford, dedicated to Our Lady of Grace and St Teresa of Avila. Fr. Howell paid Roy Huntingford £20 for its installation and it was placed at floor level. Within a few years a western gallery was constructed at the Catholic Church and Huntingford moved the organ into the gallery. The organ was hand-blown.

In 1952 Fr. Howell , (by now Monsignor) decided to replace it with a larger two manual organ and acquired a second hand instrument built by H.B Dicker of Exeter. This was rebuilt and installed at Chingford by Henry Willis and Sons who removed the old organ and broke it up for spares and scrap. So ended the existence of the first St Edmunds organ.

To return to 1932, a second organ was installed in the temporary church, and like its predecessor was a single manual instrument. However, it was blown by electricity having been provided with a British Organ Blower unit. This organ was constructed by Roy Huntingford, possibly from old organs. The late Alfred Carter opened the organ – he was to remain at St Edmunds as choir master and organist for many years.

When the new church was opened, Huntingford moved the organ into the permanent building placing the pipe-work in the tower, on the west side facing east. It is difficult to see the reason for this arrangement. Apart from the fact that it would have been tonally unacceptable, it must have made tuning and maintenance a rather arduous and risky job. There must, however, have been a reason for it.

In 1952 the Parish Church Council proposed that it be rebuilt, enlarged to two manuals and presumably removed from its precarious position.

Tenders were sought and the following firms were invited to submit estimates, specifications etc.

Kingsgate Davidson, Nunhead

Robert Spurden Rutt, Leyton (£1,825)

Bishop and Co, Finchley (£2,600)

R. H. Walker (£897)

Rest Cartwright, London N (£945)

F Tunks, Clapton Park

Gray and Davison, Islington

N. P. Mander, Hackney

J. W. Walker, Ruislip

Harrison and Harrison (who had so much work in hand that they couldn’t consider the job for at least four years)

Hill, Norman and Beard, Hornsey

It was not until the 8^th February 1954 that an order was placed with Messrs Monk and Gunther of Tottenham for the work to be undertaken at a cost of £1,063.

The organ’s rebuilding took over five years and eventually the job was finished by Messrs A. Noterman of Shepards Bush, using materials supplied by Monk and Gunther. Whilst actually working on the organ in the church it is said that Mr Noterman’s brother collapsed and died.

The organ is in the south transept and the detached console in the north transept with the player facing across the choir. There are tab stops in a row above the manuals. Noterman added some stops in 1965, the twelve, fifteenth , tierce and larigot on the great, allegedly using pipe work etc from an old cinema organ.

In 1982 an appeal was launched for the restoration of the organ with a target of £5,000, and by January 1983 £3,082 had been raised and further efforts, including a recital by Oliver Mc Farlane, achieved the target. The work of restoring the instrument was entrusted to Brian Bunting of Epping to be undertaken in two stages.

The Organ at St Edmund’s Church Chingford

Great organ

1. Open diapason I

2. Open diapason II

3. Stopd diapason

4. Salicional

5. Wald flute

6. Principle

7. Twelfth

8. Fifteenth

9. Tierce

10. Larigot

2^2/3

1^3/5

1^1/3

Swell to great

Swell sub-octave to great

Swell octave to great

Swell organ (Enclosed)

11. Violin diapason

12. Gedeckt

13. Dulciana

14. Principal

15. Fifteenth

16. Horn

Tremulant

Swell sub-octave

Swell octave

Pedal organ

17. Open diapason

18. Bourdon

19. Bass flute

20. Fifteenth

Swell to pedal

Great to pedal

Accessories

Four pistons to the great, four pistons to the swell and four toe pistons to the pedal divisions. Swell pistons duplicated as toe pistons.

Great to pedal reversible piston and duplicated toe piston

Gt & Ped pistons combined and double touch off tabs.

The manual compass is 61 notes, the pedal 30 notes. The organ has electric action throughout.