In an age where many churches are replacing pipe organs with electronics it is unusual to hear of the opposite happening but one example of this is at Tower Hill Methodist Church in Hessle near Hull where a Compton organ replaced a 3 manual Wyvern electronic!

The original instrument here was built by Abbot & Smith of Leeds in 1896. This was replaced in 1981 by a 3 manual Wyvern electronic. However, by 2001 this instrument was in need of repair and the church were made aware of the present instrument - a happy GODincidence!

The organ at Tower Hill today was originally built in the early 1950s for Oxted United Reformed Church in Surrey. In 2001, as a result of this church being refurbished the organ was advertised and subsequently was installed at Tower Hill Methodist Church where it was dedicated in October 2004. 

The bulk of moving the organ from Oxted to Hessle and installing it here was undertaken by members of the church with some help by George Sixsmith & Co. A full restoration has been done and new actions fitted throughout. 

The console is situated on the gallery and the fully enclosed chamber containing the 4 ranks of pipes is housed behind the casework of the original Abbot & Smith instrument. 

The specification reads:

PEDAL
Acoustic Bass 32'
Contra Bass 16'
Bourdon 16'
Salicional 16'
Flute 8'
Trombone 16'
Trumpet 8'
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal

GREAT
Bourdon 16'
Open Diapason 8
Hohl Flute 8'
Salicional 8'
Octave 4'
Flute 4'
Salicet 4'
Twelfth 2.2/3'
Fifteenth 2'
Trumpet 8'
Swell to Great

SWELL
Contra Salicional 16'
Hohl Flute 8'
Salicional 8'
Flute 4'
Salicet 4'
Nazard 2.2/3'
Piccolo 2'
Cymbale III
Trombone 16'
Trumpet 8'
Clarion 4'
Tremulant (affects entire organ)

ACCESSORIES
6 thumb pistons to Great
6 thumb pistons to Swell
8 general thumb pistons
4 toe pistons to Pedal
3 reversible thumb pistons - all couplers
1 reversible toe piston - Great to Pedal
1 thumb piston - general cancel
1 thumb piston - setter
1 thumb piston - set free
6 ventil switches
1 balanced expression pedal - organ
1 balanced expression pedal - crescendo

Congratulations must go to everyone at Tower Hill Methodist Church for their work on such a brilliant installation!