Philip Waddington

The Organ

St. Elisabeth?s Church, serves a large parish of 12,000 people and was consecrated in 1883. Since 2004 it has been a grade one listed building. It is fortunate in possessing one of the finest pipe organs in the country, which was built at the same time as the church by the top organ builder of the time, Hill and Son of London. It is a testimony to the quality and national importance of the instrument that the original opening recital was played by the then organist of Westminster Abbey.

What is it used for?

The organ has been in constant use since 1883, for accompanying Sunday services, for weddings, baptisms, funerals as well as concerts and other functions. There can be few families in Reddish for whom the organ at St. Elisabeth?s has not been played, at one of life?s great events over the last 120 years.

Why are we appealing for help?

Although the organ still sounds splendid, it is in need of restoration. In the 1960?s the instrument was reb... more

The Organ

St. Elisabeth?s Church, serves a large parish of 12,000 people and was consecrated in 1883. Since 2004 it has been a grade one listed building. It is fortunate in possessing one of the finest pipe organs in the country, which was built at the same time as the church by the top organ builder of the time, Hill and Son of London. It is a testimony to the quality and national importance of the instrument that the original opening recital was played by the then organist of Westminster Abbey.

What is it used for?

The organ has been in constant use since 1883, for accompanying Sunday services, for weddings, baptisms, funerals as well as concerts and other functions. There can be few families in Reddish for whom the organ at St. Elisabeth?s has not been played, at one of life?s great events over the last 120 years.

Why are we appealing for help?

Although the organ still sounds splendid, it is in need of restoration. In the 1960?s the instrument was rebuilt to a much reduced specification due to financial constraints at the time, and since then no work has been carried out except routine tuning and maintenance. It is however, a tribute to the organ consultant who dealt with the 1960?s rebuild that he instructed to organ builders to leave in situ those pipes which at that time the church could not afford to restore. Restoration of these parts of the instrument, which have not been heard in over forty years, will restore the original specification of the organ to a three manual (keyboard) instrument and once again give Reddish a world class instrument which the community can be rightly proud of.

Who will benefit?

The whole community. The church maintains a choral tradition of an exceptionally high standard, with a growing choir made up of members aged from six to well over seventy, as well as a youth choir drawn from local schools. In addition, Reddish Choral Society, a registered charity and community choir of forty people covering the whole age range regularly use the church. The church school, St. Elisabeth?s CE Primary School also use the building for regular assemblies, their annual carol service, plus other educational uses. The church would also envisage setting up an organ and choral scholarship, aimed at local secondary school aged pupils when the restoration is complete.