A faculty was granted for the removal of a mid-nineteenth century pipe organ situated in the north chapel of the church and its replacement with an electronic instrument. Letters of objection had been received from the Victorian Society, the British Institute of Organ Studies and four individuals. The chancellor held that there was a strong presumption in favour of pipe organs, as opposed to electronic replacements, for use in parish churches. While not accepting certain claims by the Victorian Society as to the historic interest of the instrument, the chancellor was of the view that, viewed musically, it would be hard to conclude that the petitioners had rebutted the presumption in favour of pipe organs. No specific shortcomings had been identified with the instrument, which had a ‘most pleasant tone’ and was of some local interest. The petition was nevertheless granted because the petitioners had made out a case for re-ordering the north chapel so that it could be used more flexibly, for meetings, social gatherings and discussion groups. The presence of the organ in the chapel was an obstacle to such use of the chapel and the instrument would have to be removed in order to facilitate the re-ordering. As there was nowhere in the church to relocate it, it would have to be disposed of and replaced by the proposed electronic organ, which would be installed where three pews currently stood. [Alexander McGregor]
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