St John's Anglican Church
Menangle Road, Camden

T.P. Bates (London)1821 (1/10 mechanical)

From SOJ March 1978:

St. John's Church Camden, occupies a splendid position atop a high hill and, with its dramatic spires dominates the landscape for miles around. The church is constructed in a very rich-toned red brick and was designed by Mortimer Lewis, its consecration taking place in 1849. This is a most capable Gothic design for the periods the proportions, curvilinear window tracery, stained glasss and atmosphere within being wholly admirable. The organ was built in 1821 by T.P. Bates, of Ludgate Hill, London, a firm which specialised in building barrel organs, a small example of whlch survives in the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Victoria. The St. John's organ was presented in 1865, its previous location being unknown. The instrument is located high up on the west gallery, framed by the tower arch, with an interesting Gothic case consisting of three gabled flats. A thorough restoration took place in 1969 by Arthur Jones who replaced the mixture stop which had been removed at some stage. The sound in the building is excellent, aided by the lofty placement of the instrument.

From OHTA News April 2000:

In 2000, Manuel da Costa began a cautious restoration project. It is hoped that this will be able to include a restoration of the original G compass, the original pipe layout and specification.

October 2007


March 1967

The current specification is:

Manual Bourdon Open Diapason bass Open Diapason Stopped Bass Clarabella Dulciana Principal Flute Fifteenth Mixture 19.22 Pedal Bourdon

16 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 2 II 16

A A

Manual to pedal coupler

Mechanical action

Photos: Trevor Bunning (Oct. 2007)