The third and present organ.

The chosen builder was Kenneth Tickell of Northampton who writes: "...the importance of good positioning for organs is now widely appreciated. St. Paul's is to be congratulated on providing a perfect setting for their new instrument. Like all our organs it has mechanical (tracker) action to the keys and pedals. The case is made of American Oak, the rounded arches of the church being the obvious inspiration for the design. The polished front pipes, including the unusual embossed central pipe, are made of 70% tin, whilst those inside are alloys of tin and lead, as well as poplar wood".

The Great division stands in the centre at the first level, the Pedal section is divided on either side of the Great. High above the Great is the Swell box with its pipes inside. This is the traditional 'werk-prinzip' layout of many European organs of the 17th and 18th centuries and the most desirable from an organ builders angle.

All ranks are independent except the Bass Flute on the pedal, extended from the Subbass. There is electric action to the stops and piston controls, together with a two level memory for stop combinations. In addition to the six thumb pistons for both manual divisions, four for the Pedals and six generals, It is possible to programme any one or every one of those 22 combination pistons to act as general pistons, covering all the stops.

In a small company there is little demarcation between jobs, all the staff had some part in most aspects of creating this organ. Responsibilities web as follows:

Kenneth Tickell: Design, electrics, project management, tonal finishing

Tony Coles: Soundboards, casework, winding, installation

Barry Plummer: Casework, swell box

Tim Pitkin; Casework, coupler action, electrics, wooden pipes

Tomas Jansky: Bellow, upperboards, wooden pipes

John Furniss: Voicing, actions

Others involved were:

David Frostick: reed voicing

Derek Riley de Cayless & Keith German (Lyndale Woodcarving): Pipe shades

Most of the metal pipes were made by Jacques Stinkens, Zeist, Holland, and the rest by T. Davies of Leeds. All wooden pipes were made in the Tickell workshop.

Bourdon 16

Open Diapason 8

Stopped Diapason 8

Principal 4

Spitz Flute 4

Fifteenth 2

Cornet II ranks 12:17 ten. C

Mixture IV ranks 19:22:26:29

Cremona 8

Chimney Flute 8

Salicional 8

Vox Angelica 8

Principal 4

Nason Flute 4

Wald Flute 2

Larigot 1 1/3

Sharp Mixture III ranks 26:29:33

Trumpet 8

Subbass 16

Principal 8

Flute 8

Gemshorn 4

Posaune 16

This organ was installed in October 1999 and is the last completed Tickell organ of the 20th century. The Blessing and Dedication by The Very Revd. Patrick Mitchell, former Dean of Windsor took place on Advent Sunday, November 28th 1999, with the Inaugural Recital later the same day. This was given by those most closely associated with the genesis of this instrument; Alan Thurlow (Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chichester Cathedral - Consultant), Kenneth Tickell himself, John Mingay (St. Paul's organist) and Robin Davis, a pupil of John Mingay and, at the time, Organ Scholar elect of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

This whole 'new organ project' occupied the Fund Raising Committee and the trustees for some seven years. Under the Presidency of Dr. Lionel Dakers O.B.E and the leadership of the Revd. Prebendary James Trevelyan M.A, Rector of Honiton from 1978 to 2000, many individuals worked tirelessly to achieve their goal. The splendid result amply rewards their dedication and resolve. The entire cost, c. £150,000 was contributed without recourse to church funds and the organ was dedicated and played for the first time 'debt free'. The fund was over-subscribed and as a result a significant sum has been 'ring-fenced' for capital expenditure on the organ at some stage in the future.

The Bishop organ was dismantled In January 2000 by Michael Farley of Budleigh Salterton, a respected local organ builder whom Kenneth Tickell has entrusted to care for the new organ. At the time of writing the Great soundboard and Swell box have been re-used in the organ at Farley (!!) Parish Church near Salisbury. The Swell 16' reed has become the Pedal Bombard at Bridport United Church and one or two other ranks have been incorporated in instruments elsewhere. The remainders await new homes in which to begin a further lease of life.

(c) John Mingay

(Third edition - December 2001)

The first organ The second organ