St Paul’s Cathedral is fortunate to have a very fine pipe organ that accompanies the choir at choral services. The organ was built by T C Lewis and Co of Brixton, England, and over six and half thousand pounds were spent on its construction, shipping and installation before it was played at the Cathedral’s opening in 1891.
Various modifications and maintenance works have been carried out since then, culminating in a $726,000 restoration which was completed in 1990 with the help of a National Trust appeal. In 2021, a new organ blower was installed replacing the existing blower which had provided voice to the organ for more the 90 years. Read more about the project here.
This musically and historically significant instrument is now counted a must for visiting organists. If you would like to apply to play the organ, please fill in our contact form and one of our staff will be in touch.
In its restored state, the organ has four manuals with 44 stops and pedals with nine stops, all with electro-pneumatic action. (Detailed specifications coming soon.) It is housed in the Cathedral’s South Transept behind newly-stencilled facade pipes.
Organists and Choir Directors of St Paul’s Cathedral
| Ernest Wood | 1888-1914 |
| A. E. Floyd | 1914-1947 |
| C. C. Campbell Ross | 1947-1951 |
| Lance Hardy | 1951-1973 |
| June Nixon | 1973-2013 |
You can read more about the history and specifications of the organ at the Organ Historical Trust of Australia website.
Photo credit: William Bullimore