Database Manager on April 5th, 2018:
Updated by Steven Bartley, who maintains the organ.<br>
1840s Gothic stone church with several fine additions to the church building and complex, over the years. A major early 20th century enlargement converted the original building into the transepts and crossing, the exterior work being well designed/executed, though the interior being somewhat bland and uninteresting. Knee deep carpet mars the acoustics. A Moller was installed (1907) at the time of the major renovations. In 1951, the Moller was sold off pipe by pipe, though the present organ contains some pipes which appear to be of this 1907 period, and replaced with a Kilgen organ. The present organ makes use of some of the Kilgen's chests and pipe work.<br>
The divided chancel contains matching side chamber of ample dimension. The 1993 instrument placed exposed window box chests in front of the chamber openings to hold the new Great and Pedal mid/upper work. A brass Trompette en chamade, was also installed, in the chancel, though appears to have been an after thought. The overall design and sound of the organ is typical of the 1980s/90s with an emphasis on brilliance and somewhat restrained mid & low range frequencies. In this dry acoustical environment, the result is a bit tiring. <br>(An interesting aside- The design of the 1907 renovations was carried out and probably funded by Edwin Turnbull, whose father was an original Govans church elder. Turnbull was a well known musician in Baltimore, being the founder of a very accomplished amateur orchestra, He also owned a 3 manual pipe organ in his large Baltimore row house.)