The William Hill Organ
at Arundel Cathedral

View of the William GHill organ in the west end of Arundel Cathedral


Latest news
Recital series announced to mark the organ's restoration and rebuild.

The organ in the west end gallery (which can just be seen in this photo) of the cathedral is by William Hill and is acknowledged to be one of the finest organs in the South of England.

Although it was built originally for St John's Church, Islington, the Duke of Norfolk acquired it for the Church of Our Lady and St Philip Neri (later renamed the Cathedral of Our Lady and St Philip Howard), designed by Joseph Hansom. It was installed in 1873 in the newly-built church. Pipe work appears to be from c.1860.

In 1893 the organ's action was changed from mechanical to tubular pneumatic by Hill's son, Thomas, and further changes, not always for the best, were made in 1931 and 1966.

In 2005-06 the organ was restored and rebuilt by David Wells of Liverpool.

The organ's design makes it ideal for both the accompaniment and recital performance of English and French romantic organ music.

2006 Recital series

An exciting series of recitals is planned to mark this restoration. The inaugural recital on 3 June will include large-screen projection of the organ and recitalist, and will be followed by a reception.

All recitals start at 8pm.

Saturday 3 June
Inaugural recital
James O'Donnell
(Westminster Abbey)

Saturday 24 June
Katherine Dienes-Williams
(Warwick Parish Church)

Saturday 1 July
Mark Wardell
(Chichester Cathedral)

Saturday 22 July
Gordon Stewart
(Kirklees Borough Organist)

Saturday 5 August
Mark Blatchly
(Charterhouse School)

Saturday 19 August
Daniel Moult
(St Peter's Eaton Square)

Friday 1 September
Daniel Roth
(Saint Sulpice, Paris)
in conjunction with the Arundel Festival

Saturday 9 September
Joseph Cullen
(formerly Westminster Cathedral)

Tickets for reopening recital and 1 September £12 (children £9)
Tickets for all other recitals £8 (children £6)
Season ticket for all recitals: £60 (children £45)

Further details and tickets are available from the Cathedral Music Office
T: 07971 090724; E: cathedral.music@dabnet.org

Organ Specification

The organ specification (prior to the 2006 restoration) was as follows:

Great Organ Swell Organ (enclosed) Choir Organ (enclosed) Pedal Organ
Double Open Diapason
16
Viola da Gamba
8
Gedact
8
Open Diapason (metal)
16
Open Diapason 1
8
Open Diapason
8
Dulciana
8
Open Diapason (wood)
16
Open Diapason 2
8
Hohl Flute
8
Vox Angelica (II)
8
Bourdon
16
Stopped Diapason
8
Stopped Flute
4
Harmonic Flute
4
Flute
8
Cone Gamba
8
Octave
4
Suabe Flute
4
Fifteenth
4
Octave
4
Larigot
1 3/5
Flageolet
2
Mixture
III
Wald Flute
4
Fifteenth
2
Clarionet
8
Trombone
16
Twelfth
2 2/3
Mixture
III
Tremulant
 
Fifteenth
2
Trumpet
8
   
Sharp Mixture
II
Contra Oboe
16
   
Trumpet
8
Scharff
II
   
Clarion
4
     
Swell to Great
Swell to Great octave
Swell to Great sub-octave
Swell to Choir
Choir to Great
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
4 Pistons to each manual
4 Composition pedals to Pedal
On/off lever for Great to Pedal
Pitch: A = 440 + 1/4–2/5 tone

This page was last updated on 13 March 2006

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