In 1883 Father Willis built a three-manual organ of 32 stops which stood on the quire screen. The whole organ was contained within the case, except for the longest Pedal pipes. The Pedal Ophicleide was added by the Willis firm in 1906.

In 1953, Hill Norman & Beard rebuilt the organ within a new, much smaller case designed by the Cathedral Architect Alban Caroe;. Inevitably, the layout became very cramped. The original action (tracker with pneumatic lever) was replaced by pneumatic action, the console was transferred from the north to the south side, and most of the Pedal stops were relocated south of the choir stalls.

Numerous changes were made to the organ over the next forty years, including the installation of electro-pneumatic action, remodelling of the Choir Organ and the addition of twelve 32ft Open Wood pipes from St Marylebone Parish Church. The 31 Father Willis stops (including some which were providentially stored at the Deanery) which survived these alterations provide the inspiration for the new organ.

As an essential first step, the casework was entirely re-designed in collaboration with Caroe and Partners, the Cathedral architects. The west elevation is new, and the east elevation together with the side panelling has been increased in height. The delicately carved pipe shades, with foliage and dragons, are by Lyndale Woodcarving.

The main part of the organ (including the Tuba and most of the Pedal Organ) is contained within the enlarged case on the screen; the new West Choir Organ is in a "chair" case projecting towards the nave. The new console, like its predecessor, is on the south side of the screen. The East Choir Organ replaces the former Pedal section on the south side of the choir stalls.

PEDAL ORGAN # 1. Double Open Diapason (from 2) 32 2. Open Diapason (wood) 16 # 3. Open Diapason (metal) 16 4. Violone (bass from 21) 16 5. Bourdon 16 * 6. Principal 8 7. Bass Flute 8 * 8. Fifteenth 4 * 9. Contra Trombone 32 + 10. Ophicleide 16 * 11. Trombone (from 9) 16 I West Choir to Pedal II Great to Pedal III Swell to Pedal IV East Choir to Pedal
	(Photograph by C R A Davies)
WEST CHOIR ORGAN * 12. Lieblich Gedackt 8 * 13. Viole d'Amour (bass from 12) 8 * 14. Lieblich Flute 8 * 15. Principal 4 * 16. Nazard 2 2/3 * 17. Open Flute 2 * 18. Tierce 1 3/5 * 19. Mixture 15.19.22 III * 20. Cremona 8 V Tremulant VI Swell to West Choir	GREAT ORGAN 21. Double Diapason 16 22. Open Diapason I 8 23. Open Diapason II 8 24. Claribel Flute 8 25. Principal 4 * 26. Flûte Harmonique 4 27. Twelfth 2 2/3 28. Fifteenth 2 29. Sesquialtera 17.19.22 III * 30. Mixture 19.22.26.29 IV 31. Tromba 8 32. Clarion 4 VII West Choir to Great VIII Swell to Great IX East Choir to Great
EAST CHOIR ORGAN Enclosed * 45. Contra Gamba 16 46. Claribel Flute 8 47. Gamba 8 48. Dulciana 8 49. Voix Céleste (tenor c) 8 * 50. Principal 4 51. Flûte Harmonique 4 52. Piccolo 2 + 53. Corno di Bassetto 8 XV Tremulant Unenclosed * 54. Tuba 8 XVI Octave XVII Sub Octave XVIII Unison Off XIX Swell to East Choir	SWELL ORGAN 33. Lieblich Bourdon 16 34. Open Diapason 8 35. Lieblich Gedackt 8 36. Salicional 8 37. Vox Angelica (tenor c) 8 38. Gemshorn 4 39. Flageolet 2 * 40. Mixture 17.19.22 III * 41. Contra Fagotto 16 42. Cornopean 8 43. Hautboy 8 * 44. Clarion 4 X Tremulant XI Octave XII Sub Octave XIII Unison Off XIV East Choir to Swell

ACCESSORIES
Eight general pistons and general cancel
Two pistons to the couplers
Eight foot pistons to the Pedal Organ
Eight pistons to the West Choir Organ
Eight pistons to the Great Organ
Eight pistons to the Swell Organ (duplicated by foot pistons)
Eight pistons to the East Choir Organ
Reversible pistons: I-IV, V-IX, XIV, XIX
Reversible foot pistons: II, VIII
Combination couplers: Great and Pedal pistons; Generals on Swell foot pistons

Manuals I and IV exchange

* New stops. # 1988, from St Marylebone Parish Church.
All other stops are by Willis.
+ Stops revoiced to their original tonality
Traditional wind reservoirs and slider chests are used throughout the organ, with electro-pneumatic action to allow for the exigencies of layout and the deployment of suitable wind pressures in line with Willis practice.

For further information, email Mark Venning:
h.h@btinternet.com