HISTORIC PIPE ORGAN

CERTIFICATE awarded 2016 Grade ll * – currently on the National Pipe Organ Register

The magnificent pipe organ in Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Michaels Church, Banklands, Workington is in serious need of repair.  We need to raise over £200,000 to ensure that this is repaired and restored to it’s former glory.  The organ has a Historic Organ Certificate Grade ll* and is of significant historic importance – please consider giving a donation so that we can ensure this wonderful example of William Hill and Son’s work does not deteriorate further.

The Nation Pipe Organ Register awarded the Historic Organ Certificate in 2016 -Grade ll*

Please read on for more information

This substantial two manual organ built by  Hill & sons in 1906 under the direction of Dr Arthur G Hill is a significant surviving example of this firm’s later work .

The organ was built with the help of a Carnegie Grant. Andrew Carnegie was considered one of the richest men in the world at this time and was renowned for his donations towards Pipe Organs not only in Britain but across America. He donated more than 7600 pipe organs to churches libraries and civic organisations. ¹

On 12th December 1905 the Parish log states that Fr Standish received £300.00 from Mr Carnegie towards the Organ provided the remaining funds were raised locally. Having raised a substantial amount of £320 8s 6d locally he gained permission from Father Abbott to proceed with the organ.

The organ was officially opened on 27^th May 1906 according to Parish Log which states that Mr Oberhoffer arrived from York.  Investigation reveals that Mr Oberhoffer was  Robert Werner Oberhoffer, a teacher of music at Amplethorpe Academy and also from the Liepsic Conservatoire.  Mr Oberhoffer was of German origin and lived in York with his wife Maria. Their son George, who had previously studied at Amplethorpe,  was killed by a shot to the head in February 1916 fighting for Britain . Mr Oberhoffer’s cousin was also fighting in the war but on the German side. Mr Oberhoffer himself died shortly after this son in July 2016²

The York Herald records :-
On Sunday the solemn blessing of a new organ, built by Messrs, Hill and Son, London, took place at St Michaels catholic church , Workington. The Ceremony was performed by the Right Rev. Y.O. Smith O.S.B Abbott of Ampleforth, who also celebrated Pontifical High Mass. He was assisted by H.G Murphy, O.S.B.., Deacons of the Throne  T.W. Barnett OSB and DT turner OSB, Deacon REv YW Corbishley OSB. Sub Deacon Rev WS Dawes OSB, Master of Ceremonies Rev TB Clarkson OSB assisted by Mr T Taylor. . The Right Rev Resident General, Abbott F A Gasquet OSB preached an eloquent sermon both morning and evening. His Subjects were “The Beauty of the house of God” and “the charity of our Magnificent forefathers”.

The opening of the Organ was in the hands of the esteemed  local professor of music, Mr R.W. Oberhoffer. It is needless to say he displayed all the beauties of the instrument in masterly style. The choir, consisting of 16 ladies and 14 gentlemen, did themselves great credit, and have been trained by the incumbent, The Rev T.C. Standish, OSB. The Music of the Mass was “Walther” , a work needing some skill in the rendering, being in Polyphonic style. Vespers was to the Mecklin chant. The “O Salutaris” and “Tantum Ergo”, by Mr RW Oberhoffer, and the whole terminated with the Te Deum (Solesmes).

The following is the Specification of the organ, the total cost of which amounted to £725.00 :-

Great Organ

CC to  – Double diapason 16 feet, open diapason 8feet, dulciana 8 feet, Hohl flute 8 feet, principal 4 feet, harmonic flute 4 feet, fifteenth 2 feet, trumpet, 8 feet .

Swell Organ

CC to A – Geigen principal 8 feet, echo gamba 8 feet, voix celeste (C) 8 feet, Rohr flute 8 feet, prinicpal 4 feet, dulciana mixture 3 ranks, horn 8 feet, oboe 8 feet.

Pedal Organ

CCC to F – open diapason 16 feet, bourdon 16 feet, luint 12 feet, flute 8 feet.

Couplers  – swell to great, swell octave, great to pedal, swell to pedal, 3 combinations pistons to great and pedal , 3 combination pistons to swell, 1 double acting pedal to actuate great to pedal coupler (or and off).

Number of Pipes – Great organ 452, swell organ 568,

The action of the organ rogan 72,  Total 1092

The action of the organ throughout , i.e. manuals, pedals and draw stops is tubular pneumatic, of the builders latest improved type, operated by separate, independent, and heavier pressure wind, than that which serves the pipes..

The console  has the latest innovations and arrangements of the builders, the stop-jamps are diagonal , the stop knobs and pistons solid ivory, with concave and radiating pedal board, as recommended  by the RCO Organist.

On May 12^th 1907 the Parish log reveals a public statement of the Organ Accountant evening service which totalled £738.00

Obtained as follows:

Workmen Subscription                 £320.  8s. 6d

                                                  £ 784. 11s. 10d       

Bank Interest                              £    8.   4s. 8d

Mr Andrew Carnegie                  £300.   0s  0d

By Self                                        £155. 18s. 8d

Sunday 27th May 1906 – new organ was blessed and opened as reported in the Cumberland News on Saturday 26th May 1906. These newspapers are currently available to view at the Helena Thompson Museum, Park End Road, Workington.

A musician himself the Reverend Father Standish, has not been long since he took charge of the Catholic mission in Workington, in raising the requisite funds for a large new organ in keeping with the noble church of Our Lady and St Michael. The organ is installed , and will be blessed and opened tomorrow (Sunday) morning, when the Abbott of Ampleforth ( the Right Rev J.O. Smith, OSB, PhD) will celebrate pontifical high mass and a sermon will be preached by the Right Rev Abbo Gasquet, OSB, DD, Abbot President of the English Benedictine Congregation. The organist for the day is Mr R.W. Oberhoffer, Liepsic Conservatoire.

Towards the cost of the instrument – £725- a donation of £300 came from a philanthropist gentleman whose identity will be disclosed on Sunday, and the balance was raised by Father Standish amongst his congregation and his many Protestant friends.

You can also complete a form by following the link below to give details of your dedication

To donate to the organ restoration fund

– use the QR code below

– select Organ Restoration Fund

– please consider Gift Aid as this considerably increases the donation without any cost to yourselves.

Dedicate a Pipe -why not donate £200.00 to dedicate a pipe to a loved one. An inscription will be placed in the OLSM Dedication book. For this you will recieve a dedication certificate via email and their name will be placed in the book which will be on display in the Choir loft at Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Michaels church, Banklands, Workington. If you use the QR code below to donate and dedicate you will need to completed the comments sections with your contact details and details of the dedication.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebubDsMQYHRDKws2kH8ftRiwHUNUNUG6gpYve3n-EAXiHLxw/viewform

Built by Messrs Hill and Son. London, to Father Standish’s own design, and enclosed within a beautiful oak case designed by Mr A H Coyle, architect, Workington, it is a distinct ornament to the church and being of great power and sweetness of tone, it will add much to the solemnity and beauty of the services.

The following is the builders specifications:-

Great organ, CC to A double diapason, 16ft, open diapason, 8ft; julciana, 8ft; hohl flute, 8ft; principal, 4ft; barmonic flute. 4ft; fifteenth, 2ft; trumpet, 8ft.
Swell organ – CC to A, Geigen principal, 8ft; echo gamba, 8ft; voix celeste, 8ft (C); rohr flute, 8ft; principal, 4ft; dulciana mixture, three ranks; horn, 8ft; oboe, 8 t.
Pedal organ – Ct C to F, Open diapason, 15ft; bourdon, 16 ft; quint, 12 ft; flute, 8ft. Couplers, swell to great, swell octave, great to pedal, and swell to pedal. Three combination pistons to great and pedal; three combination pedals to great and pedal; three combination pistons to swell; one double acting pedal to actuate great to pedal coupler, on and off.

Numbers of pipes, great organ, 452; swell, 558; pedal, 72 – total , 1092. The action of the organ throughout, i.e. manuals, pedals, and drawstops, is tubular pneumatic, of the builder’s latest improved type, operated by separate independent and heavier pressure wind than that which serves the pipes. The console has the latest innovations and arrangement, the stopjambs are diagonal, the stopknobs and pistons are solid ivory, with concave and radiating pedal board.

The air is at present supplied to the organ by means of hand-blown bellows. It is Father Standish’s ambition , however , to replace human power by hydraulic at an early date, if he can get the necessary funds. He would have the apparatus outside the church and this would necessitate the erection of a special building , and that and the apparatus would represent a further outlay of about £250.00