The organs
“Sing a new song to the Lord
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp” (Psalm 149)
The main pipe organ, which dominates the gallery on the south wall at the back of the Cathedral, was donated in 1905 and was the work of the then well-known Ontario firm of Kam Warren. It remained virtually unchanged for the next seventy years except for the gradual deterioration of the moving parts with age. By the mid-seventies the organ was virtually unplayable and in serious need of restoration. It was rebuilt at a cost of about $90,000 by the Kingston firm of Frederick Wm. Knapton and Son. The money was raised in about equal proportions by donations from parishioners and others, and by a Wintario grant.
photo: Rob Taylor, www.taylorstudios.ca
The rebuild saw the restoration of all the moving parts, which involved the painstaking re-leathering of each of the separate motors which controls the access of air to every pipe. At the same time, the opportunity was taken to bring the organ up-to-date. Many ranks of pipes were replaced in order to brighten the tone, which originally had the rather bland and tubby sound more popular at the beginning of the century. The whole tonal scheme of the organ was redesigned, the pipes which were retained all being revoiced, and in many cases moved from one division of the organ to another. A new console (playing desk) with modern ( plThey were modem in 1975! In the intervening quarter of a century, consoles have become much more electronically sophisticated.) 9 ayer-aids was installed, manufactured by the English firm of Hill, Norman and Beard, which had built the organ in St George’s Cathedral and with which Mr Knapton had been associated before he set up on his own.
The organ has three manuals and pedals (i.e. four divisions) with a total of 47 speaking stops (i.e. different voices) derived from 53 separate ranks of pipes, for a total of 2798 pipes. The action is electro-pneumatic, except for a few of the newer ranks of pipes which are electric. On the right-hand side of the Sanctuary you will see a small pipe organ of two manuals and pedals, constructed by Knaptons in the 1980s. It is used for occasional services when for some reason the main organ is out of action, or when the choir on occasion sings downstairs. It can also be used to accompany small groups or to serve as a continuo instrument in orchestral concerts.