Rushden Echo, 9^th March 1923

The installing of a new organ at St Mary’s Church, Higham Ferrers, has long been under consideration, and on Saturday the Church Council met to discuss a scheme drawn up by a special committee. The committee reported that the present organ was built in 1877 by Messrs Brindley and Foster, just before the great advance in organ-building in the ’eighties. At first it was placed with its front close to the north range of the choir stalls, but it was soon moved to its present position as a slight improvement. The committee considered that the organ had always been a great eyesore in a unique church, nor had the position been entirely satisfactory from a musical standpoint. The nearly 50 years’ wear, aggravated by excessive damp rising from the floor, had played havoc with the mechanism of the organ, so that nearly half of the instrument was at present unusable without great expenses for repairs. The organ loft over the lady-chapel screen had been erected to give the organ, organists, and the choir the best advantage without affecting more than necessary the appearance of the church. A proposed new organ by Messrs. Hill and Son, Norman Beard & Co., to be erected one portion at a time in the organ loft, would enhance rather than mar the beauty of the church, and...... [part of a longer article]

New Organ Opened at Higham

There was great difficulty in finding seats for the vast congregation that attended the dedication of the new organ at St. Mary's Church Higham Ferrers on Saturday afternoon. Anglicans and Nonconformists of several denominations were present from Higham Ferrers, Rushden, Wellingborough and the surrounding district, a number of church and chapel organists being noticeable. The Bishop of Peterborough (Dr. Claud Blagden) attended to conduct the dedication..............[There follows a whole list of the visiting clergy]

Dr. Charles E. Jolley, F.R.C.O., organist of St. George's, Hanover Square, London, son of the late Alderman Charles Jolley of Higham Ferrers, and brother of Mr. W. O. Jolley, organist of St. Peter's Church, Rushden, gave the opening organ recital. Mr. A. E. Wright, who has long been the organist of the church, was also present and he was the first to play the organ in public, accompanying the hymns, responses etc. Mr. Wright was a member of the choir in 1877, when the late Dr. Keeton opened the organ which is now going out of commission.

The splendid organ loft, in which the organ is built, was a gift from Mr. Owen Parker in 1920. The sum of £1,200 has been raised and work to that value has been carried out. This includes the completion of the Great and Swell manuals. One stop, the Dulciana, though ultimately to be one of the Choir stops, is at present on the Great. Messrs W. Hill and Sons, and Norman and Beard Ltd. London have carried out the work...........[There follows the full specification of the instrument] ........ a few of the best pipes from the old organ have been re-used.

The dedicatory service began with prayers by the Bishop and people. The Bishop walked to a spot just beneath the organ, blessed and dedicated the organ, and with the responses "The Lord's name be praised" the organ was first used publicly. The Te Deum was chanted and the Rev. Canon Fry read the lesson: Rev. v.

The congregation sang the hymn "Praise My Soul the King of Heaven". [There follows the Bishop's address]

The hymn "We Love the Place O God" was sung during which a collection was taken for the organ fund.

Next followed a recital by Dr. Jolley. [This included Sonata in F by Mendelssohn, Fugue in D by Bach, and many others.]

The service concluded with the singing of the hymn "Now Thank We All Our God", prayers and the blessing.

The collection amounted to over £16. Tea was afterwards served in the Parish Rooms to a large company of out of town visitors.