Roseby Memorial Uniting Church

History

From the SOJ June/July 1981, Spring 1995, Autumn 1997:

Roseby Church was built in 1871 and is named after Dr. Roseby MA, LLD FRAS, a notable Congregational preacher and scientist who was minister for 23 years from 1888. The church has had two organs, both with complicated histories.

The first organ was built c.1865 by local builders John Kinloch, for St. Andrew's Scots Church, Sydney, and was moved to Roseby Church in 1884. In 1971 it was sold to St. Paul's Anglican Church, Rose Bay, subsequently being restored by Pitchford & Garside and being moved to St Andrew's Cathedral and then to St Mark's, Figtree where it remains.

The present organ was built by C.J. Jackson for the Congregational Church in Glebe and was opened in January 1881. About 1902 it was moved to St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Marrickville, and during its time there experienced a number of alterations. A swell organ was added incorporatlng the o1d Trumpet stop renamed Cornopean, and the Jackson case was removed and replaced by a very plain "pipe rack". In 1971 the Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches in Marrickville formed a ''Joint Parish", and St. Andrew's Church was demolished. The organ was installed in Roseby Church by S.T. Noad & Son and stands in the south transept. Although the instrument was in poor condition for many years and suffered from repeated alterations and rebuilds by various builders over the years, a large grant from the Heritage Council made it possible for a complete restoration by Mark Fisher in 1996. The resulting specification has been something of a compromise considering the many changes that have occured to the insturment over its life. For a detailed account of the restoration process, please see Dr Kelvin Hastie's article in the Sydney Organ Jounral (Autumn 1997).

Specification

Couplers

• Swell to Great
• Swell to Pedal
• Great to Pedal

Mechanical action

* ranks added (probably by Richardson)