The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin,

Woodkirk, Batley, West Yorkshire

The pipe organ in St Mary the Virgin, Woodkirk was showing advanced signs of wear and tear, stops and notes were not working at all. The pipe organ was a not a distinguished builder and was put together from various ranks of left over pipes. The whole organ was totally under powered to fill such a difficult church with sound

It was decided the digital route was the most practical and the ancient church consisted of a chancel which was as long as the nave making the whole building difficult to fill with sound.

Anthony Bogdan Organs were contacted and Anthony recommended a medium three manual. The church made various sorties to examine installations of many makes of digital organ and it was decided to award the contract to Anthony. A custom specification was prepared and submitted to the Diocese.

The old pipe organ is still behind the facade undisturbed and the console is stored in a corner of the tower should there ever be funds to restore it.

The Old Console	Looking East	The Chancel

St Marys is a difficult church to fill with sound and the building could hardly contain a huge pipe specification so Anthony, working closely with the Diocesan Organ Advisor and Organist John Hardcastle drew up a custom specification which would be interesting to play but be big enough to lead the huge congregation which St Marys boasts. Here is what John Hardcastle says about the completed organ

After the installation by Viscount, along came Anthony Bogdan with his wonderful ear for voicing. He had to work with a very critical and demanding organist (me) in an unusually shaped building such as St. Mary's is. He overcame all these hurdles to transform the organ into a beautifully toned and highly admired instrument. Time was no object to him either, he refused to leave until both he and I were  happy. He insists he still has more work to do, and is returning once the instrument has had some time to 'settle down'. He is to be highly recommended and now I wouldn't trust the organ voicing to anyone else. It's so refreshing to have someone who will work WITH the organist
John M Hardcastle,
Director of Music The Parish Church of St Mary Woodkirk, Batley, West Yorks. May 2010

 

Speaker Placement	Viscount Console	West End Pipe Facade

The Stop List of the Custom Viscount Organ installed in St Mary the Virgin Woodkirk

 

Pedal Sub Bass 32 Open Wood 16 Open Metal 16 Bourdon 16 Principal 8 Bass Flute 8 Mixture IV Bombarde 16 Contra Faggoto 32                     great to pedal   swell to pedal   choir to pedal	Great Open Diapason I 8 Open Diapason II 8 Hohl Flute 8 Stopped Diapasion 8 Principal 4 Harmonic Flute 4 Twelfth 2 2/3 Fifteenth 2 Mixture IV Trumpet 8                     swell to great   choir to great	Swell Bourdon 16 Open Diapason 8 Chimney Flute 8 Echo Gamba 8 Voix Celeste 8 Principal 4 Wald Flute 4 Fifteenth 2 Mixture IV Contra Fagotto 16 Cornopean 8 Oboe 8 Clarion 4                 tremulant	Choir Gedackt 8 Dulciana 8 Gemshorn 4 Nazard 2 2/3 Flageolet 2 Tierce 1 3/5 Mixture III Clarinet 8 Tuba 8                 tremulant   swell to choir

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