A grand organ concert to celebrate new life for a grand old instrument

The sounds of Holy Trinity’s grand pipe organ will resonate through the historic Byng Street church for decades to come, thanks to a major renovation and renewal of the stunning 110-year-old instrument.

Built and installed by Friedrich Ernst Ladegast in 1913, the Holy Trinity Organ consists of nearly 1000 brass and wooden pipes. The original console was rebuilt and enlarged in 1955, but after seven decades, those electromechanical components had reached the end of their useful life. Earlier this year, the organ underwent a major overhaul with a brand-new console installed and every pipe removed, cleaned, and ‘revoiced’.

“They hadn't been cleaned for about 100 years,” Secretary of the Trinity Foundation Ernest Shave said.

The Trinity Foundation manages the National Trust of Australia (NSW) Holy Trinity Church Orange Conservation Appeal. In the 20 years since the foundation was formed, they have raised more $1.2 million to support restoration work on the historic 1879 church building.

“All that dust just gets down inside the pipes and distorts them,” Ernest continued.

 “There are 938 ‘speaking’ pipes and 30 dummy pipes — some of those gold ones — and they've been all taken out and cleaned, washed and put back in again, renewed and refurbished if you like.

“And it’s not only cleaning them, when they put them back, they have to re-voice them. There's a little hole with a thumb screw at the bottom of each pipe that has to be turned to get it in pitch.”

The stunning new console was built by Ian D Brown & Associates and fits in seamlessly with the old church fixtures, even down to entwined rings carved into the timber to represent the Trinity. 

“Ian actually worked on this organ when he was an apprentice some 50 years ago so he’s had a fair involvement with this particular instrument.”

To celebrate the refurbishment, Holy Trinity Church is inviting the community to a Grand Organ Concert by Canberra organist James Porteous on Sunday, December 8.

It’s a chance to hear this remarkable instrument at its finest, Ernest said.

“He's a very well-known Canberra organist... James was the organ scholar at St Paul’s Manuka in Canberra and has been the sub-organist since 2010,” Ernest said.

The program will be a mixture of classical organ music and traditional church hymns, starting with the rousing Toccata and Fuge in D Minor by Bach and finishing with the sensational Symphony V: Adagio, Toccata by Widor.

“So both the opening and closing are really rousing pieces of music and quite well-known, and in between times, we have five hymns for audience participation. They won't be allowed to sit around on their bums; they've got to get up and actually sing!”

Rector of Holy Trinity Church, the Reverend Andy Martin, said the church community is incredibly grateful for the work of the Trinity Foundation. As well as restoring the church’s organ, the money raised through the National Trust of Australia (NSW) Holy Trinity Church Orange Conservation Appeal has allowed them to re-slate the entire building and re-copper the bell tower, as well as tackle numerous other maintenance issues.

“Ernest and the Foundation have been really amazing, raising the money and getting it all done,” Rev Martin said.

“At Holy Trinity, we're all about getting to know Jesus Christ and make him known to the people of Orange. Beautiful instruments like this and a beautiful building are part of that.

“My prayer is that the church and the organ are here for the next hundred years, making Jesus’ name known.”

The Grand Organ Concert will take place at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday, December 8, 2pm– 3.30pm. Entry is $20 by cash or card at the door. All are welcome.