We are fortunate to have here an organ whose Swell, Great and Pedal pipes are entirely (bar the Viole de Gamba stop) by TC Lewis in 1877, and whose Choir pipes, added in 1898, were made by William Hill. The pipes are of excellent quality, made from the superior ‘spotted’ metal – they contain 40% tin which produces a richer tone.
The Village Workshop (Essex) added 12 Pedal Trombone pipes (16 ft) in 2008 along with a Nazard on the Choir; these additional ranks of pipes had been made by Gray & Davison at their premises in Holborn in the early 1900s. It is now more of a recital instrument than a typical ‘village church’ organ, much larger than you might have expected to find here, and one of the very good organs in Herts we are told. We maintain it so that everything works as it should; the action is now all electric, and so in addition to General and Divisional pistons we have steppers, both General and Divisional (which allow organists to pre-set up to 80 combinations of stops).
Favourite Stops:– the lovely Trombone on the pedals, a superb Double Trumpet, and a Clarion to raise the roof! Closely followed by the Diapason and Flute pipes, 7 ranks each having a distinctive tonal voice; the Swell Oboe and the Choir Clarinet with their fine tones, and the Choir Trumpet with its bright, clear tone. The IV rank Mixture on the Great is excitingly brilliant – though pretty loud!
The Choir and Swell pipes are enclosed in ‘boxes’ which have mechanically (foot) operated shutters to vary the volume and give a wide dynamic range. Both have a Tremulant Stop.