The Choir and Music

 A short history of the organ at St.Mary's

In 1521 Stephen Colman left the residue of his goods towards the purchase of a ‘payre of organys’ and in 1552 they appear in the inventory of the church goods. When the church was taken down in 1774, arrangements were made for the organ’s safe custody. Samuel Spencer in about 1790 presented the church with a much larger instrument. Later this was replaced by another, erected by public subscription. This, which stood like its two predecessors in the western gallery, was removed with the gallery in 1881.

 

A new organ was built by Brindley & Foster and placed in the northern transept of the new chancel. For most of this period William Whitehead was the Director of Music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1952 this organ was enlarged and divided to include pipework in the south gallery by Spurden  Rutt & Co with electric action and a detached console under the south gallery. The Director of Music, Lewis Vincent,  founded the 'St.Mary's Singers' which later became the 'Lewisham Choral Society'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The present three manual digital ‘Allen’ organ, with speakers in both galleries, has 44 stops, a recording sequencer, crescendo pedal, transposer, bass and melody couplers, and four midi stops which incorporate a library of 33 voices. Under the direction of Chris Stringfellow & Chris Eva, it was purchased in 1996 as part of the re-ordering of the building with a bequest from Ruth Bennett, a loyal member of the congregation.