Welcome to these pages on Holy Trinity organ. Below
you can read a time line history (part of which has been copied from a
public leaflet in church) of the organ from its' inception until the
time that it was dismantled and removed and on the
left follow links to the current specification and articles.
Before reading about the history of this now sadly defunct
organ, please see this video
of Holy Trinity in which Andrew Price, a former organist of Holy Trinity,
plays Mohrentanz by Susato which shows off the organ reeds. This was
recorded on Easter Monday 1997.
1526
Earliest recorded organ, built by John Howe and John Clynmowe of London
for £30. Late 16th Cent. Dismantled as the Puritan Clergy at Trinity
disapproved of organs.
1631
Samuel Buggs (Vicar), "procured" a replacement instrument.
1640's
Puritans back in charge, organ sold for £30.
1684
Robert Haywood of Bath installed an organ for £100.
1732
The German Thomas Swarbrick, who also supplied a new organ for St.
Michael's (The Old Cathedral), built one for Trinity for £600. It
was placed upon a gallery erected for it across the nave and had two
manuals.
1829
Swell and Pedal added.
1855-61
As part of the G G Scott Restoration of the Church a new organ chamber
was built in the western most bay of the south chancel aisle, where the pipes
still are. This instrument of three manuals plus pedals, was built
by Foster and Andrews for £800.
1900
Rebuilt by W Hill and Sons with some of the old work incorporated;
four manuals.
1923
Electric blowing chest added
1933
J Charles Lee of Coventry added pneumatic pistons.
1961
Rebuilt for £12,200 by the firm of H Willis, the organ comprises
59 speaking stops, each with 61 pipes, along with 30 couplers and 3
tremelos.
2001
Exploratory trip to America with Jonathan
Ambrosino(find out more about the trip here from Jonathan
himself!) by Jeremy Filsell (son of a churchwarden, Sheila
Filsell) and Christopher Howard (Director of Music) to explore the
possibility of purchasing a new American organ. This involved a 5
city tour.
2002
Sadly the current organ has been declared beyond repair and
Kenneth Tickell, organ builder in Northampton has been commissioned to
build a new pipe organ - time scale yet to be announced. The citing of the new organ is likely to be in
the North transept. (details yet to be announced)
2007
Removal of the whole organ/console/pipes and installation of a
Phoenix digital organ until such time sufficient funds are raised to build
a new one.
For more details see:-
B Poole: "Coventry: Its History and
Antiquities"
Anon:- "The Story of the Parish Church of
Holy Trinity Coventry"
M J Hinman:- "Coventry Churches 1725 -
1780
All these works may be found in the Search Room Library
of the City Record Office, Mandela House, Bailey Lane, Coventry
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