Chelmsford Cathedral is unique amongst English Cathedrals in having two independent mechanical action organs playable from one console.
At the west end of the Nave is a four manual instrument by Mander, built in 1994, and at the East end is a two manual instrument, also by Mander, but containing much pipework by Holdich and Hill.
A third manual on the console allows the Great, Swell, Solo and Pedal divisions of the Nave organ to be played from the chancel organ.
The Nave Organ
The Nave Organ was built on a specially constructed gallery at the west end of the Cathedral. Interestingly, when this took place evidence was found that a similar gallery had existed previously, and there remained indications that a door had been blocked up from the spiral staircase now used to gain access to the gallery.
The style of the instrument is based on the work of the finest English builders of the mid nineteenth century, most notably Gray and Davison. The casework is inspired by the work of the acclaimed English organ builder and artist, Arthur Hill.
The organ has four manuals and forty stops. It is the third four manual organ Mander built in as many years and like the other two, the key and pedal actions are entirely mechanical, including all the couplers. The drawstop action is electric with a full complement of registration aids.
A 40-stop organ may be seen as relatively small to warrant a four manual console. The fourth manual is in fact dedicated to just one stop, an Ophicleide. However, by doing this it was possible to add flexibility, with the Ophicleide being on a higher wind pressure. The Great division occupies the space immediately behind the main case, with the Swell behind it. The Pedal pipes are contained in two separate cases on both sides of the main case, which are hardly visible from the Nave.
Specification – Nave Organ
GREAT ORGAN
| Bourdon | 16 |
| Open Diapason | 8 |
| Gamba | 8 |
| Stopped Diapason | 8 |
| Principal | 4 |
| Flute | 4 |
| Twelfth | 2 ⅔ |
| Fifteenth | 2 |
| Sesquialtera | II |
| Mixture | III |
| Cornet | V |
| Posaune | 8 |
| Clarion 4 | |
| Choir to Great | |
| Swell to Great | |
| Solo to Great |
SWELL ORGAN
| Stopped Diapason | 8 |
| Viola da Gamba | 8 |
| Vox Angelica | 8 |
| Principal | 4 |
| Flauto Traverso | 4 |
| Fifteenth | 2 |
| Mixture | III |
| Contra Fagotto | 16 |
| Trumpet | 8 |
| Hautboy | 8 |
| Vox Humana | 8 |
| Clarion | 4 |
| Tremulant |
CHOIR ORGAN
|
Stopped Diapason |
8 |
| Salicional | 8 |
| Principal | 4 |
| Flute | 4 |
| Flageolet | 2 |
| Mixture | II-III |
| Cromorne | 8 |
| Tremulant | |
| Swell to Choir |
PEDAL ORGAN
| Open Diapason | 16 |
| Bourdon | 16 |
| Principal | 8 |
| Flute | 8 |
| Fifteenth | 4 |
| Bombarde | 16 |
| Trumpet | 8 |
| Great to Pedal | |
| Choir to Pedal | |
| Choir Octave | |
| to Pedal |
SOLO ORGAN
Ophicleide
Swell to Pedal
Solo to Pedal
The Chancel Organ
The Chancel Organ is a twenty-four stop instrument built by Mander in 1995. It has mechanical coupling, mechanical key and pedal action and electric drawstop action with a full complement of registration aids. In addition, it is possible to play the Nave instrument from the Chancel organ which adds greater versatility for the organist.
The organ incorporates pipework by Holdich and Hill, acquired from a dismantled instrument built in 1844 at St. Andrew the Great Parish Church, Cambridge.
The successful marriage of old and new creates an instrument widely admired for its warmth of tone, colour and versatility.
The colour and vibrancy of the organ is reflected in the spectacular casework with its striking central pipe and golden decorations.
Specification – Chancel Organ
GREAT ORGAN
| Bourdon | 16 |
| Open Diapason | 8 |
| Stopped Diapason | 8 |
| Dulciana | 8 |
| Principal | 4 |
| Wald Flute | 4 |
| Twelfth | 2 ⅔ |
| Fifteenth | 2 |
| Mixture | III |
| Trumpet | 8 |
| Swell to Great |
SWELL ORGAN
| Open Diapason | 8 |
| Stopped Diapason | 8 |
| Echo Gamba | 8 |
| Voix Celeste | 8 |
| Principal | 4 |
| Fifteenth | 2 |
| Mixture | III |
| Contra Fagotto | 16 |
| Cornopean | 8 |
| Oboe | 8 |
| Tremulant |
PEDAL ORGAN
| Subbass | 16 | |
| Bourdon (Great) | 16 | |
| Flute | 8 | Great to Pedal |
| Trombone | 16 | Swell to Pedal |
Graham Rogers Organ Scholarship
The Graham Rogers Organ Scholarship is awarded annually and named after a benefactor of the Cathedral’s music. It offers a superb learning opportunity for a gap year or post-graduate student to gain experience as a cathedral organist, working as part of a dedicated and supportive music team in a cathedral; in addition to opportunities to play for regular services and occasional concerts.
For more information contact our Music Department.