Rebuilding the organ in St Tudy

The present instrument made by Brewer of Taunton in the last years of the 19^th century is in urgent need of restoration and although some work was carried out to it a few years ago, that did not address the essential problems of an extremely heavy action and poor quality pipe work. The Diocesan Organ Adviser concluded on inspection that `the existing instrument is unremarkable ....the action is heavy and sometimes sluggish

and is tiring to play ....even after only a few minutes'. The Organ Adviser supported the project to rebuild the instrument with modern playing aids as proposed by the organ builder asked to present a scheme for the work. The present organist at the Parish Church, Dr. Geoffrey Gibbons, was able to obtain at no cost, (subject to being responsible for the cost of its removal and transportation to St. Tudy), a very good small instrument with which he was already familiar, from the redundant church of St. Francis, Solihull in the West Midlands. That instrument currently resides in his garage and in a disused piggery. The former organist of Hereford Cathedral, Dr. Roy Massey, who had also played this small organ, describes it as `an excellent small instrument and one well worth preserving'.

Following the successful conclusion of the appeal to secure £50,000 to complete urgent repairs to the church roof, a further appeal has now been launched to raise the £23,000 necessary to rebuild the organ by using the best parts of the two instruments. The scheme proposed by David Gridley of Penzance, has been accepted and work has now commenced, and it is hoped will be completed by October 2006.

The specification for the new organ will show an increase in the number of stops from the present nine to a total of sixteen, with seven on the Great manual, six on the Swell plus sub and super octaves, and three in the Pedal department. The rebuilt organ will contain nearly 1,050 pipes ranging in length from three inches to 8 feet, with new electric action, and three reversible thumb and toe pistons. Full particulars of the specification are

available on request from the organist Dr. Geoffrey Gibbons at 4, Chestnut Close, St. Tudy, PL30 3AT, (851267)

The Diocese of Truro granted a Faculty to St. Tudy Church to proceed with the planned rebuild, and by the end of 2005, sums to the amount of £10,000 had been received. Donations of any amount from any source would be most welcome and can be sent to the organist at the address below. Various money-raising events are planned for 2006 including a Concert by the Allen Valley Singers, an Organ Recital by Peter Dyke, Deputy Organist at Hereford Cathedral, and an Auction Sale of anything saleable, to be conducted by Andrew Jefferys of Webbers in the early summer.

The hard work now begins and the remainder of the money required (£12,000) has to be found in increments of £2,000 a month by the end of October next.

Beautiful music can be heard once again in the lovely church of St Tudy. On Friday 27^th October at 7pm, a service was held to dedicate the newly built organ. This wonderful instrument was built by David Gridley of Penzance, using parts from both the original instrument and an organ from the redundant church of St Francis in Solihull which was gifted to Dr. Geoffrey Gibbons, organist at St Tudy Church, by the Rector of Solihull. Dr. Gibbons and his wife Hazel had the unenviable task of raising in excess of £27,000 to cover the cost of the re-build which they have done in under a year. This is a marvellous achievement as the parishioners of St Tudy had raised over £50,000 the previous year, to repair the church roof. The church was full to capacity and the service was led by Priest in Charge the Rev. Margaret Millson, during which she was re-licensed by the Bishop of Truro, the Right Rev. William Ind. The address was given by the Rev. Dr. Robin Gibbons (nephew of Geoffrey Gibbons) assistant Parish Priest for the Eastern Rite Catholics in London, prayers were led by the Rev. John Bradford, Hon. Chaplain of the Estate Chapel of St. James, Great Packington, who also had preached at the church of St Francis in Solihull. Ms Zoe Ray enchanted the congregation by singing ‘Make me a channel of your Peace’. After the service superb refreshments were served in St Tudy Village Hall and presentations were made to Dr & Mrs Gibbons and Bishop Bill by Rev. Margaret and her granddaughter, Charlotte Oatridge. A magnificent cake in the shape of an organ made and decorated by Mrs Pat Hall of Trevone was then cut by Dr & Mrs Gibbons.


Dr Gibbons playing the new organ	New organ

Side view of new organ	Bishop Bill & Dr. Gibbons after the dedication service

Presentation to Hazel Gibbons	Presentation to Bishop Bill

Organ cake made by Mrs Pat Hall	Cutting the cake