Recent News
SMMC Organ Renewal
For some months now there has been concern that the Church Organ was reaching the end of its useful life.
It was installed when the new Chapel was opened and is therefore about 49 years old which is quite remarkable for an electric organ that relies on thermionic valves. It has been maintained and retuned over the years but it is now impossible to replace defective components as they are obsolete, not to mention the difficulty of finding an engineer with the appropriate experience.
The organ’s longevity must, in part at least, be due to its careful use for it still looks in great condition. Various options have been looked at over recent months from replacing the electronics with modern digital circuits to replacing it with either a new or second hand instrument. It seemed that whatever option was taken it was likely to cost in the region of £4000.
We were extremely fortunate therefore, to be offered a more modern instrument which has been used as a practice instrument by Philip Davey the Director of Music at the Methodist Church in Truro, it is about 13 Years old but in very good condition.
Derrick Matthews, the Organist at the Aylesbury Methodist Church heard of the organ through Tony Woods, an ex Choir Master at Aylesbury now living in Truro, he not only made a few modifications to the instrument to make it suitable for Stoke Mandeville but also brought it from Truro and installed it for us and removed the old organ.
The organ was offered free provided we met the cost of its transportation but we offered a donation and met the costs of modification. These cost were met by generous donations so there will be no call on our church funds.
We are therefore extremely grateful to Philip Davey for the offer and to Tony Woods for all his hard work and to Derrick who helped in the actual installation and in giving overnight accommodation to Tony and his wife when they came up from Truro.
The ‘new’ organ arrived just in time, the last time the old organ was used it sounded at times as though it was sending out signals that it had really reached the end of its useful life. It was sad to say good bye to an old friend but as it no longer responded to clear instructions it was obviously time to move on to a younger model.
The replacement organ was made by the Wyvern Company who still make similar instruments although the names have changed. It is their Gloucester T30 model and matches well with the existing furniture.
The organ was dedicated at the Evening Service on
29th. November 2009 led by the Rev. David Jenkins, and it was very appropriate and much appreciated, that Derrick was able to accept an invitation to come and play two pieces from his extensive repertoire.
Now we have a new organ we hope it will enrich our worship for many years to come.