Go to home page - diocesan shield

The Anglican Church in Tasmania                                                             Search

a healthy church...transformingLIFE

Tasmanian Anglican

November 2004

 

 

 

 

 


This picture inside the swell box shows the empty soundboard at centre. To the left of this is part of the hautboy (oboe) and the three rows of small pipes to the right are part of the present swell mixture.

 

News from St John's, Launceston

 

 

St John's Anglican Church, Launceston has attracted international interest for its architecture.

The former Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman was fascinated by the way the dome is supported above the crossing. From a musical perspective, it is the dome that provides a wonderful acoustic. The eminent architect Alexander North designed the present church except for the West end, which is a remnant of the colonial building. When George Frederick Hopkins arrived at St John's in 1912 he was faced with an enlarged building with a superb acoustic, equipped with a 2-manual and pedal organ. His decision to rebuild the organ into a 4-manual instrument along English Cathedral lines was never fully realised.

Way to go

The Friends of St John's Organ report on the scheme to install stops in memory of former organists Lindsay O'Neill and William Pierce, and also Archdeacon and Rector Leonard Sutton. The appeal also needs to finance some expensive electrical work to the console. There is still some way to go.

This present scheme is intended to provide the 4-rank mixtures to the swell and great divisions of the Brindley/Hopkins organ and change the 3-rank swell mixture to the composition originally intended by Hopkins.

An impression of the present specification can be gained from the Gazetteer on the Organ Historical Trust of Australia website and in the book Pipe Organs of Tasmania: A brief history by Clark and Johnson.

Contributions to the appeal

Substantial donations have already been received from some family members of the dedicatees. Lovers of this instrument are invited to contribute. It is planned to 'sell' the required 488 pipes at $50 each. Contributions (for even part of a pipe) may be sent to St John's Anglican Church, 157 St John Street, Launceston Tasmania, 7250. (This can be $50 per pipe or a contribution for part of a pipe).

Staggering result

By the end of June we had received $29 384 which is a staggering result considering the appeal was launched only on 31 January.

Next

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra has agreed to take part in an opening concert in the Spring of 2005. CDs of organ recitals by Lynda Nicholls and Gaylene Cohen (in January and April respectively) are available on private circulation through the Parish Office.

Contact Peter Dowde 03 6331 7761