The image in our masthead is a fragment from a High Dynamic Range photograph by Stuart K Reid
The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity
St Andrews, Scotland
Music
Holy Trinity Church Organ
The organ in The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, St
Andrews, is a magnificent three-manual instrument built
by Harrison and Harrison of Durham in 1966, arguably
the finest church organ in the east of Scotland north of
Edinburgh. Among the instrument’s many impressive
attributes is the unique ‘Bobby Jones Bombarde’, a
division of fanfare trumpets (4-foot, 8-foot and 16-foot,
played from the Choir) and a Pedal 32-foot Contra
Bombarde, gifted by Mrs Mary Jones in memory of her
husband, the world-famous golfer, Robert Tyre Jones.
The organ plays a major part in the music of church
services, and especially so in the large civic and town-
and-gown services held in Holy Trinity as the historic Town
Church of the ancient university city of St Andrews; such services include those on
Remembrance Sunday and St Andrew’s Day, the annual Golf Service attended by
representatives and members of the Royal and Ancient Club and other golf clubs in the town,
and the annual University Carol Service. Additionally, with its beautiful proportions and fine
acoustics, Holy Trinity is an important venue for organ recitals. The opening recital on the
Harrison organ was given in 1966 by Gillian (now Dame Gillian) Weir. Many foremost national
and international recitalists have played here since, including Lionel Rogg (Switzerland), Daniel
Roth (Paris), the late George Thalben-Ball (London), Jane Parker-Smith (London), George
McPhee (Paisley), Marjorie Bruce (London), James Lancelot (Durham), and Lionel Pike (London).
Likewise, the organ plays a significant role in the numerous choral and instrumental concerts
which take place in Holy Trinity, some given by visiting choirs (largely from America and
Europe) which, year by year, come to perform in St Andrews.
This organ also has an important educational role: it is used in the St Andrews University
‘Church Music’ diploma course, in the annual week-long St Andrews University Organ Summer
School, and in the teaching of organ students (including the Holy Trinity Organ Scholar). The
organ also plays its part in the education of the five Holy Trinity Choral Scholars, supported by
the Friends of Holy Trinity as part of their commitment to education.
Following a comprehensive report from Harrison and Harrison Ltd the organ recently was
recently restored and (in some respects) upgraded.
To meet the costs of this extensive renovation an Organ Restoration Appeal was launched
aiming to raise £200,000, a daunting sum, but one which has to be considered in the light of
the fact that to build this organ from scratch today would require in the region of £1,000,000.
This Appeal has the full support of Minister and Kirk Session who are alike committed to
securing the future of the organ as an important part of the heritage of Holy Trinity and of St
Andrews.
Holy Trinity would gratefully welcome further public or private donations or suggestions as to
ways in which additional financial support might be found.
The Organs in Holy Trinity (1909-2009)
by Thomas G Duncan can be purchased at the Church - price £2.50.
Organ
Great Organ
ft
Choir Organ
ft
Swell Organ
ft
Pedal
ft
Double Diapason
Dulciana
Lieblich Bourdon
Sub Bass
Open Diapason
Koppelflöte
Geigen
Open Wood
Principal
Spitzflute
Lieblich Gedeckt
Open Metal
Stopped Diapason
Narard
Salicional
Bourdon
Octave
Blockflute
Vox Angelica
Octave Metal
Open Flute
Tierce
Spitzprincipal
Flute
Octave Quint
Sifflöte
Open Flute
Fifteenth
Principal
Cimbel
Sesquialtera
Octave Flute
Tierce
Krummhorn
Mixture
Mixture
Mixture
Trumpet
Contra Fagotto
Contra Bombarde
Sharp Mixture
Clarion
Cornopean
Ophicleide
Trumpet
Clarion
Fagotto
Clarion
Posaune
Bassoon
Choir to Great
Tremulant
Tremulant
Choir to Pedal
Swell to Great
Swell to Choir
Octave
Great to Pedal
Swell Octave to Great
Sub Octave
Swell to Pedal
Swell Sub Octave to Great
Unison Off
Bombarde Organ
Combination Coupler
Bombarde
Great and Pedal combinations coupled
Fanfare Trumpet
Fanfare Clarion
Bombarde on Pedal
Accessories
Eight general pistons and general cancel
Six foot pistons and cancel to the Pedal organ
Six pistons to the Choir organ
Six pistons to the Great organ
Six pistons to the Swell organ (duplicated by foot pistons)
Reversible pistons
Reversible foot pistons
Sequencer, operating general pistons in sequence
Eight divisional and 128 general memory levels
Balanced crescendo pedals to Choir and Swell organs
Manual compass is CC to A, 58 notes
Pedal compass is CCC to F, 30 notes
Pitch is A=440, C=523.3
Blowing equipment and rectifier by Watkins & Watson Ltd
The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, St Andrews (Church of Scotland) is a charity; Charity Number : SCO17173
