The organ in St. Aldhelm’s stands on a gallery built above a vestry on the north side of the church. The pipes of the Pedal Open Diapason form the front facing west. The pipes on display above the choir stalls and facing south are those of the smaller Open Diapason on the Great Organ. Directly behind the Pedal Open Diapason stand the pipes of the Great and Pedal reed unit, which speak on a pressure of approximately six inches w.g. All three stops impart a thrilling éclat to the tutti. The Pedal Bombarde is particularly exciting, being very free-toned.

 

The console is detached and is placed in the South Aisle, one bay west of the rood screen, with the player facing north.

 

 It was originally intended that the Choir to Pub stop would open a small drinks' cupboard on the east side of the console (which was formerly occupied by the piston setter-boards). However, it has never been connected. Perhaps one day someone will get around to it!

I hope to include some photographs of the organ at St. Aldhelm's Church in the near future. These will include pictures taken before, during and after the rebuild by Lance Foy.

The organ of St. Aldhelm’s Church, Branksome, Bournemouth was originally built by Gray and Davison. It was rebuilt in the 1960s by Geo. Osmond & Co., of Taunton. In 1995-96, Lance Foy, of Truro carried-out a major rebuild and enlargement, which included several additional ranks of pipes, a new action and a largely re-fitted console.

 

The manual compass is 61 notes and the pedal compass is 30 notes.

New stops are marked with an asterisk.

 

PEDAL ORGAN ft. GREAT ORGAN ft. SWELL ORGAN ft.
Open Diapason (M) 16 Gedeckt* 16 Open Diapason 8
Sub Bass 16 Open Diapason 8 Lieblich Gedeckt* 8
Quint (Ext. Sub Bass)* 10 2/3 Open Diapason 8 Echo Salicional 8
Octave (M; Ext.) 8 Stopped Diapason* 8 Vox Angelica (TC) 8
Flute (Ext.) 8 Viola 8 Geigen Principal 4
Super Octave (Ext.) 4 Principal 4 Fifteenth 2
Flute (Ext.) 4 Nason Flute 4 Larigot 1 1/3
Bombarde (Ext. GO)* 16 Nazard 2 2/3 Plein-Jeu (22, 26, 29) III
Bass Trumpet (Swell) 16 Fifteenth 2 Bass Trumpet 16
Orchestral Trumpet (GO)* 8 Tierce* 1 3/5 Hautboy 8
Corno di Bassetto (GO)* 4 Mixture (19, 22, 26) III Cornopean 8
Great to Pedal Corno di Bassetto* 8 Tremulant (Flues)
Swell to Pedal Orchestral Trumpet* 8 Tremulant (Reeds)
Swell 4' to Pedal Orchestral Clarion (Ext.)* 4 Sub Octave
Reeds on Swell+ Octave
COMBINATIONS Swell 16' to Great
Swell to Great
Great and Pedal Swell 4' to Great
  Combinations Coupled +This transfer removes the three reeds from the lowest manual and
Generals on Swell Foot places them on the Swell. They do not return via the Swell couplers.
  Pistons
Choir to Pub The organ is in the care of Lance Foy, Truro.
There is a full complement of pistons, including seven general pistons, reversibles to couplers and the Pedal
Bombarde and a Full Organ piston. There are sixty-four channels to the departmental and general pistons.