St Pancras Organ

Organ Music for Holy Week and Easter

Introduced by our Director of Music, Dr Chris Batchelor, here

Passiontide
We sing the praise of him who died
Drop, drop slow tears

Palm Sunday
Ride on, ride on in majesty

Maundy Thursday
Soul of my Saviour

Good Friday
There is a green hill, far away
When I survey the wondrous cross

Easter    
Good Christian men rejoice and sing
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Alleluya, Alleluya, hearts to heaven and voices raise

The Organ at St Pancras Church

The first organ in St Pancras Church was a 3 manual instrument by John Gray. The present organ was originally built by Gray and Davison in 1856 for the New Music Hall in Birmingham. When this failed in 1864, the Church Trustees purchased the organ for £400. It was rebuilt to the specification of Henry Smart, the well known hymn writer. He was persuaded to become an organist at the church, where he remained until his death in 1879.

1,000 new pipes and a solo organ were added in 1884 and in 1910 an electric blower replaced the five manual blowers. Following the restoration of the church in 1954, N P Mander converted the organ from 4 to 3 manuals with 54 speaking stops, taking care to retain the fine original flue work.

The console was moved to its present position in 1962 and further repairs were made in 1980.

The church also has a newer 2-manual Peter Collins organ, which can be used as a continuo instrument for Baroque ensembles.