The Forster and Andrews Organ

The Forster and Andrews Organ was originally built for Blackfriars Congregational Church, Aberdeen, in 1876. However, it didn’t stay there for long – Wadsworth Bros (who by then had a branch at 38 Market Street, Aberdeen, with John Wardle as manager) were to transplant it to Skene Street Congregational Church in 1884, with some minor tonal adjustments. Before arriving at St Mary’s, the organ was to be moved once more, to John Knox Church, Mounthooly, by Rushworth and Dreaper in 1975, with further modifications. Finally, it was completely rebuilt for St Mary’s by A. F. Edmonstone of Perth, and consecrated for use here in May 2000. The stop-list is modest but versatile and the pipe-work of fine quality, its tone enhanced by the sympathetic acoustics of the building. The organ lends itself best to English music, however with the versatility of the Sesquialtera, it is also adaptable to the music of the French Classical period and also German Baroque. 

GREAT	SWELL	PEDAL
Open Diapason Claribel Flute Principal Wald Flute Twelfth Fifteenth Mixture Trumpet	8 8 4 4 2 2/3 2 III ranks 8	Open Diapason Lieblich Gedact Viola Voix Celestes Principal Principal Sesquialtera Tremulant	8 8 8 8 4 2 II ranks (prepared for)	Open Diapason Bourdon Principal	16 16 8
COUPLERS
Swell to Great Swell to Pedal Great to Pedal

The Samuel Green chamber organ

The famous 1778 Samuel Green chamber organ in the side chapel was built for Sir William Gordon of Oyne, Aberdeenshire. It is of national historic importance and holds a Grade 1 listed Certificate from the British Institute of Organ Studies. The casework is thought to be by Chippendale. This beautiful little organ was gifted to St Mary’s after the church was bombed on 21 April 1943, when the chancel, crypt, sacristy and old organ were severely damaged, windows blown out, walls gaping. The donor was Sir William’s great-granddaughter, Mary L Leith, the organ given “to the glory of God and in memory of her mother” in 1946. It has been admired by many, including Ralph Vaughan Williams and Herbert Howells, who wrote two pieces especially for this instrument – Dalby’s Fancy and Dalby’s Toccata (1959). The organ continues to be played regularly, usually during communion as the quieter Stopped and Open Diapasons lend to the more contemplative mood. 

LEFT SIDE	RIGHT SIDE
Fifteenth (bass) Principal (base) Stopped Diapason (bass) Open Diapason (from tenor c)	2 4 8 8	Fifteenth (treble) Principal (treble) Stopped Diapason (treble) Swelling Hautboy (from middle C)	2 4 8 8
Pedal Operating “nag’s” head swell for Hautboy Pedal removing Principal and Fifteenth