The text of the history section is from the Parish History, written by Des Keohane. The printed version is avaliable from the Church for £3.50, and may be requested by post, at extra cost for postage. Any amendments or additions are welcomed - please send by email to Fr Andrew

The church organ has fulfilled a central role in the liturgy of St. Gregory’s throughout its history. As we have seen, in those early days of the late 1940s, despite the physical limitations imposed by the temporary church, High Mass, Compline, Solemn Benediction were regularly celebrated. The musical accompaniment, however, was a harmonium. As the building of the new church progressed, Father Phillips determined to purchase an organ suitable for it. Cost precluded a full pipe organ, but it was a time when electronic organs were being developed for church use and it was an electronic organ which was installed. The installation was undertaken by A E Davies & Son, Organ Builders of Campbell Square and Byfield Road. This firm, of national repute, worked with another firm of high repute, The Acoustical Manufacturing Company of Huntingdon, headed by Peter Walker, who was a pioneer in the design of electronic church organs. The organ for St. Gregory’s was very much a prototype, and its design became known as “The Gregorian” Organ. It is recorded that the installation came as a surprise to Bishop Parker when he came to open the church, but the organ was undoubtedly both a success and also it was a source of interest. The “Northampton Independent”, marvelling at the absence of pipes, published a photograph solely of the Control Box!

By 1980 the organ was beginning to show its age, and Father Marks had it rebuilt. Again the contract was with A.E.Davies, who worked this time with Grant, Degens & Bradbeer Ltd, another Northampton firm of organ builders. The existing console was retained, and the new organ was built with a limited but effective range of pipes on the left-hand side of the console. One of its able young designers was Kenneth Tickell, who later set up an independent organ building business, which still flourishes in Rothersthorpe Terrace. He is also a fine musician, and was Director of Music at St. Mary’s Church in Northampton for several years. The total cost of the new organ was just over £11 000. It has served the parish exceedingly well for a quarter of a century, but its life is now limited and it is soon to be replaced (see page 42).

The need to replace the existing organ (see pages 23,24) has in recent years become a pressing one. The Parish will now see a replacement installed early in 2009 and it will be a very fine organ indeed and one bringing its own history. It is an organ built by August Gern. Gern was born in Berlin in 1837. He was apprenticed as an organ-builder and moved to Paris in 1859, eventually becoming Erecting Foreman in the Cavaille-Coll workshop. Aristide Cavaille-Coll was acknowledged as the foremost organ-builder in Europe, and his organs were installed in many of the great churches of Paris, including St. Sulpice where the young Eric Phillips had his first feeling for the priestly vocation and where a slightly older Jim Marks trained as a priest.

Gern later moved to England and set up his own organ-building business in London. During the first years of his independent work he was much influenced by his former master, and many of his early instruments used pipework and other components from the Paris workshop. One of these organs is in the redundant Anglican church in Grazeley in Berkshire and it is this organ that we shall acquire. It carries Grade One listing from the British Pipe Organ Register. The Diocesan Organ Advisor has given his support, the backing of our parishioners was readily given and the Diocesan Finance Committee has given approval. So the Gern organ will be ours. The Anglican Diocese of Oxford is willing to give the instrument to a good home at no charge. However, there is considerable outlay in the moving and restoring of the organ. All the working parts will be repaired as necessary. St. Gregory’s will then have a very prestigious instrument to enhance and advance its musical tradition.

However the question of cost needs to be addressed. The cost will be £38 400 but with monies already available the shortfall is in the region of £12 400. The response of the Parish in “purchasing” pipes has already been very positive and other fund-raising activities are planned.