Organ Biography > Places and Organs > England > London > Westminster > Westminster Abbey

Details of Westminster Abbey, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London, England

(Broad Sanctuary)

Organ History
1558Repaired by John Howe
Status
Unknown
Sources
The Musical Times 943
Organ History
1596Built by John Chapington
1695Enlarged by Bernard Smith
Status
Unknown

1730

Organ History
1730Built by Schrider & Jordan
Status
Rebuilt
Sources
The Musical Times 773
Hopkins & Rimbault - “The Organ: Its History and Construction - A Comprehensive Treatise on the Structure and Capabilities of the Organ” - Robert Cocks & Co., 1877, London

ManualsStopsRanksCouplersAction
32121-T

I. Choir (Tracker GG-d3 56 notes)
1.Stopped Diapason  
2.Principal  
3.Flute  
4.Fifteenth  
5.Cremona  
II. Great (Tracker GG-d3 56 notes)
6.Open Diapason  
7.Open Diapason  
8.Stopped Diapason  
9.Principal  
10.Flute  
11.Twelfth  
12.Fifteenth  
13.SesquialteraIII 
14.MixtureII 
15.CornetV 
16.Trumpet  
17.Clarion  
III. Swell (Tracker G-d3 32 notes)
18.Open Diapason  
19.Stopped Diapason  
20.Hautboy  
21.Trumpet  

1848

Organ History
1848Built by Hill
Status
Rebuilt
Sources
The Musical Times 750
The Musical Times 773
Hopkins & Rimbault - “The Organ: Its History and Construction - A Comprehensive Treatise on the Structure and Capabilities of the Organ” - Robert Cocks & Co., 1877, London

ManualsStopsRanksCouplersAction
438385T

I. Choir (Tracker CC-F 54 notes)
1.Open Diapason (Gamut G.)
2.Hohl Flute  
3.Stopped Diapason  
4.Principal  
5.Flute  
6.Cromorne  
II. Great (Tracker CC-F 54 notes)
7.Double Diapason (to CC key)
8.Open Diapason (throughout)
9.Open Diapason (to CC)
10.Stopped Diapason  
11.Principal  
12.Principal (throughout)
13.Stopped Flute (to CC key)
14.Twelfth  
15.Fifteenth  
16.SesquialteraV 
17.MixtureIII 
18.Double Trumpet (to tenor C key)
19.Posaune (throughout)
20.Clarion  
iSwell to Great  
III. Swell (Tracker CC-F 54 notes)
21.Double Diapason  
22.Open Diapason  
23.Stopped Diapason  
24.Principal  
25.Fifteenth  
26.SesquialteraIII 
27.Contra Fagotto (to tenor c key)
28.Cornopean  
29.Hautboy  
30.Clarion  
IV. Solo (Tracker CC-G 56 notes)
31.Bourdon8'Wood.
32.Open Diapason8'Metal.
33.Harmonic Flute8'Metal.
34.Tuba Mirabilis8'Metal.
35.Vox humana8'Metal.
36.Orchestral Oboe8'Metal.
Pedal
37.Great Open Diapason32' 
38.Open Diapason16' 
iiGreat to Pedal  
iiiGreat octave to Pedal  
ivChoir to Pedal  
vSwell octave to Pedal  

1888

Organ History
1888rebuilt by Hill
Status
Rebuilt
Sources
The Musical Times 773

ManualsStopsRanksCouplersAction
5747318P/EP

I. Choir (Pneumatic CC-A 58 notes)
1.Gedackt16' 
2.Open Diapason8' 
3.Keraulophon8' 
4.Dulciana8' 
5.Lieblich Gedackt8' 
6.Principal4' 
7.Nason Flute4' 
8.Suabe Flute4' 
9.Harmonic Gemshorn4' 
10.Contra Fagotto16' 
11.Cor Anglais8' 
iSwell to Choir  
II. Great (Pneumatic CC-A 58 notes)
12.Double Open Diapason16' 
13.Open Diapason I8' 
14.Open Diapason II8' 
15.Open Diapason III8' 
16.Hohl Flöte8' 
17.Principal4' 
18.Harmonic Flute4' 
19.Twelfth2 2/3' 
20.Fifteenth2' 
21.MixtureIV 
22.Double Trumpet16' 
23.Posaune8' 
24.Clarion4' 
iiSwell to Great  
iiiSolo to Great  
III. Swell (Pneumatic CC-A 58 notes)
25.Double Open Diapason16' 
26.Open Diapason I8' 
27.Open Diapason II8' 
28.Rohr Flöte8' 
29.Salicional8' 
30.Voix Celeste8' 
31.Dulciana8' 
32.Hohl Flute8' 
33.Dulcet4' 
34.Principal4' 
35.Lieblich Flöte4' 
36.Fifteenth2' 
37.MixtureIII 
38.Double Trumpet16' 
39.Cornopean8' 
40.Oboe8' 
41.Clarion4' 
42.Tremulant  
ivSwell Octave  
IV. Solo ( CC-A 58 notes)
Unenclosed (Pneumatic)
43.Gamba8' 
44.Rohr Flöte8' 
45.Lieblich Flöte4' 
46.Harmonic Flute4' 
47.Tuba Mirabilis8' 
Enclosed (Pneumatic)
48.Orchestral Oboe8' 
49.Clarinet8' 
50.Vox humana8' 
51.Tremulant  
vCelestial to Solo Super-Octave  
viCelestial to Solo Sub-Octave  
V. Celestial ( CC-A 58 notes)
First (Electro-pneumatic)
52.Double Dulciana16' 
53.Flauto Traverso8' 
54.Viola di Gamba8' 
55.Voix Celeste8' 
56.Hohl Flöte8' 
57.Dulciana CornetVI 
Second (Electro-pneumatic)
58.Cor de nuit8' 
59.Suabe Flute4' 
60.Flageolet2' 
61.Harmonic Trumpet8' 
62.Musette8' 
63.Harmonic Oboe8' 
64.Vox Humana8' 
65.GlockenspielIII 
66.Gongs  
67.Tremulant  
viiCelestial Supper-Octave  
viiiCelestial Sub-Octave  
ixCelestial on Manual V  
xCelestial on Manual IV  
xiCelestial Second on Manual V  
xiiCelestial Second on Manual IV  
Pedal (Pneumatic CCC-F)
68.Great Open Diapason32' 
69.Open Diapason I16' 
70.Open Diapason II16' 
71.Bourdon16' 
72.Principal8' 
73.Bass Flute8' 
74.Violoncello8' 
75.Contra Posaune32' 
76.Posaune16' 
77.Trumpet8' 
xiiiGreat to Pedal  
xivSwell to Pedal  
xvChoir to Pedal  
xviSolo to Pedal  
xviiSolo Octave to Pedal  
xviiiCelestial to Pedal  

1895

Organ History
1895Rebuilt by Hill
Status
Rebuilt
Sources
“Dictionary of Organs and Organists” - H. Logan & Co., 1912, Bournemouth
“Dictionary of Organs and Organists” - George Mate & Son, 1921
The Musical Times 717

ManualsStopsRanksCouplersAction
5717014P/EP

I. Choir (Pneumatic CC-a 58 notes)
1.Gedact16'Wood.
2.Open Diapason8'Metal.
3.Keraulophon8'Metal.
4.Dulciana8'Metal.
5.Lieblich Gedact8'Wood.
6.Principal4'Metal.
7.Nason Flute4'Wood.
8.Suabe Flute4'Wood.
9.Harmonic Gemshorn4'Metal.
10.Contra Fagotto16'Metal.
11.Cor Anglais8'Metal.
iSwell to Choir  
II. Great (Pneumatic CC-a 58 notes)
12.Double Open Diapason16'Metal.
13.Open Diapason I8'Metal.
14.Open Diapason II8'Metal.
15.Open Diapason III8'Metal.
16.Hohl Flute8'Wood.
17.Principal4'Metal.
18.Harmonic Flute4'Metal.
19.Twelfth2 2/3'Metal.
20.Fifteenth2'Metal.
21.MixtureIVMetal.
22.Double Trumpet16'Metal.
23.Posaune8'Metal.
24.Clarion4'Metal.
iiSwell to Great  
iiiSolo to Great  
III. Swell (Pneumatic CC-a 58 notes)
25.Double Diapason16'Wood and Metal.
26.Open Diapason I8'Metal.
27.Open Diapason II8'Metal.
28.Rohr Flute 8'Wood and Metal.
29.Salicional8'Metal.
30.Voix Celeste8'Metal.
31.Dulciana8'Metal.
32.Hohl Flute 8'Wood.
33.Dulcet4'Metal.
34.Principal4'Metal.
35.Lieblich Flute4'Metal.
36.Fifteenth2'Metal.
37.MixtureIIIMetal.
38.Oboe8'Metal.
39.Double Trumpet16'Metal.
40.Cornopean8'Metal.
41.Clarion4'Metal.
42.Tremulant  
ivSwell Octave  
IV. Solo ( CC-a 58 notes)
Unenclosed (Pneumatic)
43.Gamba8'Metal.
44.Rohr Flute8'Wood.
45.Lieblich Flute8'Metal.
46.Harmonic Flute4'Metal.
47.Tuba Mirabilis8'Metal.
Enclosed (Pneumatic)
48.Orchestral Oboe8'Metal.
49.Clarinet8'Metal.
50.Vox humana8'Metal.
51.Tremulant  
vCelestrial to Solo  
viCelestrial to Solo Sub-Octave  
V. Celestial (Electro-pneumatic CC-a 58 notes)
52.Double Dulciana16'Wood and Metal.
53.Flauto Traverso8'Metal.
54.Viola d’Gamba8'Metal.
55.Voix Celeste8'Metal.
56.Hohl Flute8'Metal.
57.Dulciana CornetVIMetal.
58.Harmonic Trumpet8'Metal.
59.Musette8'Metal.
60.Harmonic Oboe8'Metal.
61.Vox Humana8'Metal.
62.Spare prepared  
63.GlockenspielIII 
64.Gongs  
viiCelestrial Sub-Octave  
viiiCelestrial Octave  
Pedal (Pneumatic CCC-F)
65.Double Open Diapason32'Wood.
66.Open Diapason16'Wood.
67.Open Diapason16'Metal.
68.Bourdon16'Wood.
69.Principal8'Metal.
70.Bass Flute8'Wood.
71.Violoncello8'Wood.
72.Contra Posaune32'Metal.
73.Contra Posaune16'Metal.
74.Trumpet8'Metal.
ixGreat to Pedal  
xSwell to Pedal  
xiChoir to Pedal  
xiiSolo to Pedal  
xiiiSolo Octave to Pedal  
xivCelestrial to Pedal  


List of Organists
1549John Howe
1562-69John Taylor
1570-75Robert White (1530-1574)
1575-1606Henry Leeve
1606-21Edmund Hooper (1553-1621)
1621-23John Parsons (-1623)
1623-25Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
1625-32Thomas Day (-1654)
1633-42Richard Portman (1610-1656)
1642-44Thomas Warwick (-1644)
1660-66Christopher Gibbons (1615-1676)
1666-68Albertus Bryan (1621-1668)
1668-79John Blow (1649-1708)
1679-95Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
1695-1708John Blow (1649-1708)
1727-62John Robinson (1682-1762)
1762-93Benjamin Cooke (1734-1793)
1793-1802Samuel Arnold (1740-1802)
1802-14Robert Cooke (1768-1814)
1814-19George Ebenezer Williams (1783-1819)
1819-31Thomas Greatorex (1758-1831)
1831-82James Turle (1802-1882)
1882-1919Frederick Bridge (1844-1924)
1884-96Davan Wetton (1862-1928)
1919-28Sydney H. Nicholson (1875-1947)
1928-41Ernest Bullock (1890-1979)
1941-63William Mc Kie (1901-1984)
1963-81Douglas Guest (1916-1996)
1981-87Simon Preston (1938-2022)
1988-99Martin Neary (1940-)
1999Martin Baker (1967-)
2000-James O’Donnell

List of Assistant Organists
Stephen le Provost
Geoffrey Morgan
Peter Holder
1774Benjamin Cooke (1734-1793)
1800-05George Ebenezer Williams (1783-1819)
John Scott (1776-1815)
1819-31James Turle (1802-1882)
1845-47C. E. C. Willing (1830-1904)
1860-75Charles S. Jekyll (1842-1914)
1881-83Davan Wetton (1862-1928)
Frank J. Sawyer (1857-1908)
1884-Charles W. Perkins (1855-1927)
F. Muspratt (1860-)
1889-1916Walter G. Alcock (1861-1947)
1895-1904Wilfrid E. Sanderson (1878-1935)
1895-99Edward Bairstow (1874-1946)
1899-1904T. J. Crawford (1877-1955)
1905-17Stanley Roper (1878-1953)
F. Hubert Belton (1894-1975)
1920-27A. W. Goldsborough (1892-1964)
Osborne Harold Peasgood (1902-1962)
1947-50Hugh Marchant (1916-)
1962-67Simon Preston (1938-2022)
1967-Timothy Farrell (1943-)
1968David Bruce-Payne (1945-)
Stephen Cleobury (1948-2019)
1979-84Christopher Herrick (1942-)
Harry Bicket (1961-)
1988-92Andrew Lumsden (1962-)
1992-99Martin Baker (1967-)
1999Robert Quinney (1976-)
Daniel Cook (1979-)
2004-13Robert Quinney (1976-)

List of Organ Scholars
James Cryer
Adrian Lenthall
Meirion Wynn Jones
William Whitehead (1970-)
1996-99John Hosking (1976-)
Daniel Cook (1979-)
2007-08Benjamin Chewter (1983-)

List of Other Organists
1875-82Frederick Bridge (1844-1924)
Larry King (1932-1990)
1974-79Christopher Herrick (1942-)