ORGANS IN & AROUND CHESTERFIELD

ST. MARK, BRAMPTON

In 1887 a mission church opened in Brewery Yard, Lower Brampton, in the parish of St. Thomas. It was a "large, warm, clean and cheerful room" and contained a harmonium. The mission closed after only seven years from lack of support, and a new church was built nearby in 1894. In 1909 this 'Lower Brampton Mission' was licensed for baptism and communion services; a small sanctuary area was added, and the building was dedicated to St. Mark. In 1939 the first sod was cut for a new St. Mark's Hall on St. Mark's Road. Opened in 1940, it was a dual-purpose building, school and church. Fittings from the old church were brought, and a "new organ" was purchased. The building was later converted into a church proper, and lasted until 1960 when a new St. Mark's Church was dedicated.

 

 

Somewhere amidst all this change lurked a Brindley & Foster organ of pre-1875 vintage. When the 1960 church building was opened it contained a new organ by F.H. Browne of Canterbury, an unexpected visitor to this area. The pipework (left) is housed in a cube on stilts at the west end, and there is a grille in place of a pipefront. The detached stopkey console is at the east end, to the south of the sanctuary area. It is an extension organ of three ranks; here is the stoplist:

GREAT
    16       Contra Salicional tc       A
     8       Open Diapason              B
     8       Gedact                     C
     8       Salicional                 A
     4       Octave                     B
     2       Super Octave               B
 
SWELL
     8       Gedact                     C
     8       Salicional                 A
     4       Flute                      C
     4       Salicet                    A
    2 2/3    Nazard                     C
     2       Piccolo                    C
 
PEDAL
    16       Bourdon                    12 unenclosed, rest C
     8       Flute                      C
     8       Salicional                 A
     4       Octave Flute               C
 
Couplers: 3 unison.
Balanced pedal to all ranks.
Compass: 61/30.

On my visit in 1991 I found a surprisingly effective little instrument. Everything is warm-toned and sings; any combination of stops blends well. The Open Diapason is rather plain and wooly-toned, but builds up an effective chorus; the Gedact is round and woody; the Salicional fulfils a dual role as accompanimental register and secondary chorus. The bass of the Bourdon is slow and indefinite. The general enclosure adds to the instrument's versatility. I am no fan of small extension organs, but here is a very pleasing example; more to the point, it is just right for the building.

PICTURE CREDITS
St. Mark's organ: Nigel Tilley, 1991

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