Bromley Methodist and College organs and a link with Glebe, Sydney

Saturday visit by Bromley and Croydon Organists Association of which I am President-Elect, to Bromley Methodist.Peter Sanders described the console as of the fish frier variety. The architect didn't think about the organ in the grand new church so it stands under the tower which is cold in winter and hot in summer! There is talk of a roof over the organ to counteract this. There were 28 on the visit no doubt lured by the chance to visit the college and enjoy cream tea there!
I played my Dad's suite which he wrote for the reopening of the Forster and Andrews organ in St John's, Bishopthorpe, Glebe in 1994. He cleverly uses the lovely tune "Bishopthorpe" with its associations with the Archbishop's palace outside York. The March was played at the end of Mum and Dad's funeral in Sydney. I had of course not heard or played it since that sad but joyous day last year but it seemed fitting especially as the original organ in the Methodist church is Forster and Andrews 1881. It was rebuilt in 1936 by Hill Norman and Beard and moved twice. The flutes are particularly good and the sound is good despite carpet everywhere.
The Bromley College organ is a Compton and the pipes are all under the floor of the chapel. The sound comes up a concrete chute and works quite well. There are just 4 ranks and the reed is pretty strident. I found I caught the crescendo pedal several times. The piece I played there was Healey Willan's fine prelude on "Nicaea" (Holy, holy, holy). We were given a fascinating tour of the college founded in 1666 for the widows of orthodox and loyal clergy i.e. monarchists. It was founded by a Bishop of Rochester and there were many associations with Magdalen college, Oxford. In the 1970s retired clergymen were admitted and the character of the college changed. Many of the widows were young and their daughters and maids lived with them. The 4 storey houses were made into 2 floor flats after the war.
The photos show the Methodist church pipes and console and me playing the organ at Glebe where Dad played.