Copyright © 2021 Jonathan Lane
St George’s Cathedral
Gloucester Street
Freetown
Sierra Leone
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Last Update: 10 November 2021
The organ was built in 1934 for the Shiloh Chapel, Capel Seilo in Welsh, which was a Welsh Presbyterian Chapel in Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire (Ceredigion). Some sources indicate the chapel was Calvinist Methodist. The design was by the chapel organist Mr R. Clements and built by the London firm of William Hill & Son and Norman & Beard Ltd, known as Hill Norman & Beard.
The organ was well known in mid-
The chapel was built in 1863, designed by John Lumley and rebuilt in 1868, with the facade being again rebuilt in 1956. In 1988 the church merged with Salem chapel and the chapel was demolished in 1995. Prior to this the organ had been removed, stored and was gifted to St George’s Cathedral.
NPOR
Great Organ
Double Open Diapason
Open Diapason I
Open Diapason II
Open Diapason III
Claribel Flute
Corno Dolce
Principal
Harmonic Flute
Twelfth
Fifteenth
Tuba
Swell to Great
Choir to Great
Swell Organ
Lieblich Bourdon
Open Diapason
Rohr Flote
Salicional
Voix Celeste
Gemshorn
Mixture
Contra Fagotto
Horn
Cornopean
Oboe
Clarion
Tremulant
Swell Octave
Swell Unison Off
Swell Suboctave
Choir Organ
Lieblich Gedact
Dulciana
Viola da Gamba
Suabe Flote
Nazard
Tierce
Clarinet
Orchestral Oboe
Vox Humana
Tuba
Tremulant
Swell to Choir
Choir Octave
Choir Unison Off
Choir Suboctave
Pedal Organ
Harmonic Bass
Open Diapason Wood
Open Diapason Metal
Bourdon
Lieblich Bourdon
Octave
Bass Flute
Flute
Ophicleide
Contra Fagotto
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Compass: Manuals: 61 notes
Pedals: 32 notes
16
8
8
8
8
8
4
4
2
2
8
16
8
8
8
8
4
III
16
8
8
8
4
8
8
8
4
2
1
8
8
8
8
32
16
16
16
16
8
8
4
16
16
2/3
2/3
3/5
The organ was installed in St George’s Cathedral in 2001, without any restoration work or remedial work being done, consequently, 60 years of previous use, dismantling, storage, shipping, and reinstallation caused some of the more fragile parts to wear more seriously and more rapidly than would have been the case if the organ had remained in the Shiloh Chapel.
This has, over the past few years rendered the organ unusable, and the cathedral Chapter has embarked on a programme to restore the organ and bring it up to date. This involves full restoration of the working parts and replacement of the switching system. A new blower, repair of the winding system, and improved access and internal safety measures.
Details of the work are listed on the Restoration page, as well as photographs of the work, as it progresses. This will show those interested, those with a vested interest, and those wishing to donate what is happening.
The Hill Norman & Beard Organ
Photo used under licence from RCAHMW