The Organ
R. Spurden - Rutt & Co. Ltd. 1931
Robert Spurden-Rutt was born at Purleigh Hall, near Maldon in Essex; his father was Rector's Warden at the Parish Church and his mother played the organ there. He trained in draughtsmanship at the South Kensington School of Art and was apprenticed to the organ-builder Alfred Kirkland of Holloway in 1895. After four years he set up his own business in Leyton, which soon prospered. He exported twenty organs to Jamaica after the Kingston earthquake of 1908; his instruments were widely commended for the way in which they stood up to hot and humid climates. He was awarded the Gold Medal at the Crystal Palace Festival of Empire Exhibition in 1911
His firm became a Limited Company in 1930, and built around one hundred instruments up to the outbreak of the Second World War, including the organ at S. Cyprian's, about which contemporaneous opinion was flattering. The July 1931 issue of the journal Musical Opinion carried an anonymous review that spoke of 'a feast of good things' in the tonal architecture of the instrument. The writer admired the beauty of the Pedal diapasons, and characterised the Great Tromba as 'not a "honker", but possesses fire'. He particularly admired the finish of the console, paying tribute to the care with which Spurden-Rutt had mathematically laid out the wiring.
The August 1931 issue of Musical Opinion carried a review, again from the factory as the organ had not yet been set up in the Church, by Herbert Snow. He considered that the specification successfully met the needs both of the liturgy and the recitalist. He liked the sonority of the Pedal department – 'big, though not booming' – and thought the Choir division to be quite the best of the whole organ.
Installation was completed early in 1932. In a letter to Fr. Mayhew, dated 20th May, 1932, Spurden-Rutt wrote 'I am longing to see that Organ Case an accomplished fact!! I am very glad that musically and mechanically the Organ gives satisfaction, but that it stands at an immense disadvantage without its Case you will I am sure heartily agree.' The design prepared by the Church's Architect, Sir Ninian Comper, still exists, but it has not yet been possible to build the Case.
During the War, many of the firm's large instruments, such as those in the City Temple and Greenwich Parish Church, were destroyed. Spurden-Rutt was kept busy restoring damaged organs and building new ones until his retirement in 1959, when the firm was absorbed into Messrs. J. W. Walker & Sons.
Although he had travelled widely on the continent, Spurden-Rutt rarely introduced European ideas into the choruses of his instruments; in this he no doubt faithfully reflected the tastes of most English organists of that time, with their penchant for orchestral tone colours. To the end, however, he maintained his reputation for clear, singing fluework, careful voicing and a high quality of craftsmanship.
Restoration
The comprehensive restoration in 2000 by Michael Broadway was made possible by a generous legacy from the late Geoffrey Parsons, who worshipped in the Church.
An Octave 4' and Clarion 4' were added to the Great, a Tromba 8' to the Choir and a Principal 8' and Fifteenth 4' to the Pedal.
| GREAT | |
|---|---|
| Contra geigen | 16 |
| Open Diapason 1 | 8 |
| Open Diapason 2 | 8 |
| Geigen Principal | 8 |
| Clarabella | 8 |
| Principal | 4 |
| Twelfth | 2 2/3 |
| Fifteenth | 2 |
| Tromba | 8 |
| SWELL | |
| Double diapason | 16 |
| Lieblich gedackt | 8 |
| Open diapason | 8 |
| Salicional | 8 |
| Celeste | 8 |
| Genshorn | 4 |
| Harmonic twelfth | 2 2/3 |
| Harmonic piccolo | 2 |
| Harmonic tierce | 1 3/5 |
| Oboe | 8 |
| Trumpet | 8 |
| Contra fagotto | 16 |
| CHOIR | |
| Dulciana | 8 |
| Lieblich gedackt | 8 |
| Viol d’orchestre | 8 |
| Harmonic flute | 4 |
| Clarinet | 8 |
| Orchestral oboe | 8 |
| Tuba mirabilis | 8 |
| Tremulants | |
| 1 to Swell, 1 to Choir | |
| PEDAL | |
| Acoustic bass | 32 |
| Open diapason | 16 |
| Bourdon | 16 |
| Violone | 16 |
| Octave | 8 |
| Bass flute | 8 |
| Contra Bassoon | 16 |
| Trombone | 16 |
| Couplers | |
| Swell to Great | |
| Choir to Great | |
| Swell octave | |
| Swell sub-octave | |
| Swell unison-off | |
| Swell to Choir | |
| Choir octave | |
| Choir unison-off | |
| Swell to Pedal | |
| Great to Pedal | |
| Choir to Pedal | |
| Pistons | |
| 5 to Great and Pedal | |
| 5 to Swell, 3 to Choir | |
| Cancel Pistons | |
| 1 for each department | |
| Reverse pistons | |
| Swell to Great | |
| Great to Pedal | |
| Compass 61/32 | |
| Electro-pneumatic action |