Great	1		Open Diapason	8
	2		Stopped Diapason	8
	3		Principal	4
	4		Flute	4
	5		Fifteenth	2
	6		Mixture	IV
	7		Trumpet	8
	i		Swell to Great
Swell	8		Gedackt	8
	9		Salicional	8
	10		Principal	4
	11		Chimney Flute	4
	12		Gemshorn	2
	13		Sesquialtera	II
	14		Hautboy	8
Pedal	15		Sub Bass	16
	16		Flute	8
	17		Fagotto	16
	ii		Swell to Pedal
	ii		Great to Pedal

Suspended tracker key action : Slider soundboards

Electric stop and combination actions

      

click here to view main image of Witham organ

  

St Nicolas’ Church lies on the outskirts of the Essex town of Witham. Mainly built in the fourteenth century, side chapels were added on either side of the chancel in the fifteenth century, that on the north side subsequently serving as an organ chamber. The opportunity has been taken to bring the new organ into a more open position in the church, standing at the head of the north aisle, from where it is able to speak effectively into the Nave.

The organ case is of Oak, with front pipes of polished tin and carved pipeshades. The 'cottage roof' shaped swell box fits closely under the arch which separates the north aisle from the original organ chamber, while the towers of the Great organ take advantage of the full height of the aisle, rising in front of the wall. The Pedal pipes are positioned under the Swell in the lower part of the case, which unusually spans two different floor levels in order to accommodate an ancient stone coffin lid which is set into the masonry of the church floor. In consequence, the wood resonators of the Fagotto have been made in half-length, but with wide, lead faced shallots are able to produce a good foundational tone. The combination of a slightly cantilevered upper case and inset en-fenêtre console produced an ideal relationship to employ suspended tracker action, which has resulted in an extremely pleasant and responsive touch.

The specification was agreed with the church musicians and Ian Bell, the consultant. Though not a large organ for the size of church, the main chorus has been voiced fairly boldly. Softer colours on the Swell include a tapered Salicional, and the Sesquialtera and Hautboy give a variety of solo possibilities.

centre tower pipeshade