Church Organ

The organ, built by the much-respected firm of Gray & Davison, London, in 1874 at a cost of £330 is a fine example of their great craftsmanship. The firm of Gray & Davison was established by Robert Gray in 1772. Both Gray and Davison were capable organists and Davison was a pupil of Samuel Wesley. In 1841 an organ built for Prince Albert’s private apartments at Buckingham Palace was greatly admired as a masterpiece of workmanship, and was played by Mendelssohn during his visit to England in 1842.

While not unique the organ in St Barnabas is unusual in that there are very few untouched Gray & Davison organs of this era in the North East. One in Hunstansworth is still in use, another at Rock Church, Northumberland is a ‘big brother’ of ours.

The organ was dismantled in 1881 and stored by the original builders while the chancel was decorated, and it may be surmised that the beautiful casework, made by Johnson, also dates from this time. The organ case bears the inscription, translated from Latin, “Alleluia praise the Lord ye boys, Praise the name of the Lord. Alleluia.”

In 1888 the organ was cleaned by Gray & Davison, and two further stops added at a cost of £73.10s.0d.

The organ was cleaned and overhauled by Harrison & Harrison of Durham in 1925, and substantial repairs were carried out to the pedal organ in 2006.  The electric blower which had been added to the organ at some date before 1923 was replaced in 2010.

Much of the leatherwork in the organ dates from 1874, and the fact that it is still sufficiently airtight for the organ to be played and remain in tune speaks well for the original craftsmanship and material.

In 2010 the British Institute of Organ Studies awarded a Grade 1 certificate in recognition of the organ being ‘an outstanding instrument by Gray and Davison 1874/1888 with minor alterations by Johnson.’