Wells-Kennedy Partnership - Organs Rebuilt and Restored

1st Presbyterian Church, Omagh, Co. Tyrone - 1997

Great

1.	Lieblich Bourdon	16	ex-Swell, wood; 1-12 from Pedal Bourdon
2.	Open Diapason	8	new, zinc & spotted metal, 1-19 in front display
3.	Stopped Diapason	8	ex-Swell Lieb Gedackt, wood & metal; transposed & revoiced from ten. C13
4.	Dulciana	8	original, revoiced
5.	Principal	4	from stock, zinc & spotted metal
6.	Twelfth	2 2/3	from stock, spotted metal
7.	Fifteenth	2	from stock, spotted metal
8.	Trumpet	8	duplexed from Swell

Swell (enclosed)

9.	Open Diapason	8	original; 1-12 grooved to Claribel Flute
10.	Claribel Flute	8	ex-Great, wood; open from mid. C25
11.	Echo Gamba	8	original revoiced
12.	Vox Angelica T.C.	8	original revoiced
13.	Gemshorn	4	new, spotted metal, tapered
14.	Suabe Flute	4	original revoiced, stopped metal
15.	Flageolet	2	new, spotted metal
16.	Mixture 26.29	II-III rks	new, spotted metal
17.	Contra Fagotto	16	new 1/2-length bass + ex-Cornopean
18.	Trumpet	8	ex-Cornopean revoiced; harmonic treble
19.	Oboe	8	from stock, reconditioned (E&B)
	Tremulant

Pedal

20.	Bourdon	16	original, wood
21.	Octave	8	ex-Great Open Diapason
22.	Bass Flute	8	original, from Bourdon
23.	Fifteenth	4	from Octave
24.	Fagotto	16	from Swell no.17
25.	Trumpet	8	from Swell no.18

Couplers
Swell Octave, (playing through Sw to Gt & Sw to Ped)
Swell to Great
Swell to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Melodic Bass, Pedal to Manual coupler, playing on Great nos. 1-25

Accessories
5 thumb pistons to Great & Pedal
5 thumb pistons to Swell
3 reversible thumb pistons to Sw to Gt, Sw to Ped, Gt to Ped
1 thumb piston to General Cancel
Balanced Swell Pedal (electric)

1,207 pipes

Builder: Evans & Barr Ltd, Belfast, 1915
Rebuilt: Wells-Kennedy Partnership Ltd, Lisburn, 1997

The original pipe organ was built in 1915 by the Belfast firm of organ builders, Evans & Barr Ltd. It consisted of 2 manuals and pedals, 14 speaking stops, and had mechanical key and stop action with tubular pneumatic action to the pedals. It was located in one half of the left-hand transept with the console built-in.

The organ as rebuilt by the Wells-Kennedy Partnership Ltd of Lisburn in 1996-97 is virtually a new instrument, retaining certain parts and pipes from the former. Although slightly shallower in depth, it now occupies the full width of the transept and the console is detached, from where the organist has a better balance, both aural and visual, between organ and choir, pulpit and congregation. The organ case of solid oak consists of the reconstructed original frontage, together with a matching façade, the latter woodwork undertaken by a highly skilled local craftsman.

The internal mechanism of the rebuilt organ consists of new slider soundboards to the Great and Swell manuals employing modern materials and construction techniques to withstand normal temperature and humidity fluctuations. The original main building frame has been retained for the enlarged Swell division and a new frame made for the Great. A new Swell Box has been constructed complete with a front of vertical louvres operated by servo-controlled DC electric motor. In addition to the main wind reservoir retained from the old organ, the new soundboards are fitted with integral 'Schwimmer' wind regulators to ensure a steady wind supply under all levels of demand. A new electric blower and silencing cabinet have also been installed.

The new key and stop action is electric throughout, coupler and note switching being undertaken by an up-to-date microprocessor-based electronic control system. In addition there is a solid state piston system within the console, allowing the organist to pre-select and recall combinations of stops.

The adoption of a scheme involving new soundboards and electric action allowed for a complete reappraisal of the tonal specification, now enlarged to a total of 25 speaking stops. This has resulted in a more easily playable and flexible musical instrument well suited to the primary needs of service accompaniment, as well as providing much enhanced scope for the general organ repertoire than heretofore.