Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Andrews, Glasgow
In 1979 it was decided to replace the electronic that was being used for services with a pipe organ and site it on the Choir loft in place of the former organ by Woods and Bruce that had been vandalised previously and was no longer in operation. The Organ in the former Elgin Place Congregational Church a three manual by Henry Willis (2) was chosen. The Church had closed 14 years earlier and this fine instrument had lay in the unheated building almost forgotten about. Unfortunately due to listing authority rules at that time the organ casework could not be removed from the building.
The photograph above shows the start of the removal process. The peculiar paintwork on the front pipes and casework is a remnant from an earlier period when the BBC used the empty building for a recording. Work started on dismantling the remains of the existing organ in the Cathedral in 1980 and the Willis was carefully removed, restored and rebuilt on the West end gallery behind the old Bruce casework. It was decided to retain the Pedal 32ft Open Diapason from the original organ and add it to the Willis specification.
The entire work was completed by January 1981. His Grace, The Most Reverend Thomas Joseph Winning, Archbishop of Glasgow, conducted the service of Blessing and Dedication shortly before Easter of the same year.
SWELL ORGAN
Lieblich Bourdon. 16ft
Open Diapason. 8ft
Lieblich Gedact. 8ft
Salicional. 8ft
Vox Angelica. 8ft
Gemshorn. 8ft
Flageolet. 8ft
Vox Humana. 8ft
Hautboy. * 8ft
Cornopean. * 8ft
Clarion. * 4ft
PEDAL ORGAN
Open Diapason (Wood) 32ft
Open Diapason 16ft
Bourdon 16ft
Octave 8ft
Flute Bass 8ft
GREAT ORGAN
Double Diapason 16ft
Open Diapason No. 1 8ft
Open Diapason No. 2 8ft
Clarabel Flute 8ft
Principal 4ft
Harmonic Flute 4ft
Fifteenth 2ft
Mixture 3rks
Trumpet * 8ft
Clarion * 4ft
CHOIR ORGAN
Gamba 8ft
Dulciana 8ft
Hohl Flute 8ft
Flute Harmonique 4ft
Piccolo 2ft
Corno Di Bassetto 8ft
Mechanical Couplers
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Manual Compass C-a 58 Notes
Pneumatic Couplers
Swell to Choir
Swell to Great Super
Swell to Great Unison
Pedal Compass C-f 30 Notes
* Denotes Heavy Pressure (6″)