St John’s Stratfield Mortimer 2011

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St John’s Stratfield Mortimer were faced with a failing pipe organ and due to the prohibitive cost of restoring it was looking for a digital organ instead. We supplied a Regent Classic custom built built 3 manual organ that the church was very pleased with as is illustrated in the testimonial below.

The church also wanted to retain the existing front case and display pipes which can be seen in picture below. The organ the church chose initially did not fit into the space left after removal of the old console from the casework. To place it in front of the casework would destroy the sightline to the Sanctuary. We were however able to move the casework back into the organ chamber, and it is now 1 metre from its original position.

We were able to advice and help the client leading up to the purchase which they told us was a major reason for choosing Regent Classic in the end. Our expertise and knowledge of installation, placing of the speakers and voicing to the building was also important factors for the decision in the end.

Sadly faced with a pipe organ that was deteriorating, and having received independent advice that it would be a waste of money to try to renovate it, we decided to look for a digital organ as a replacement. Having looked at three suppliers' instruments and quotations we chose Regent Classic Organs. We did require slightly more than just an organ as we also wanted to retain the existing front case and display pipes.

The three manual custom built Viscount organ we chose would not fit into the space left after removal of the old console from the casework, and to place it in front of the casework would destroy the sightline to the Sanctuary. This was no problem as Regent Classic's staff were able to move the casework back into the organ chamber, and it is now 1 metre from its original position. This also required replacement of some old floorboards and carpet to be laid. Fortunately we still had some of the existing carpet. The carpentry work to the front case, filling in where the old console was, the replacement floorboarding and recarpeting, all carried out by the Regent Classic team, was excellent and if anything, has visually improved the balance of the Chancel.

The advice and help given to us by Regent Classic Organs leading up to the purchase was of considerable assistance, and the installation, placing of the 9 speakers and voicing to the building is all excellent. We now have a versatile custom built 3 manual organ that enhances the worship at St. John's, Stratfield Mortimer.

It is comfortable to play in its console layout and a joy to listen to and look at. The quality is evident both to the ear and the eye. The new Physis technology used by Viscount has certainly taken away the common criticisms of electronic instruments and it would be difficult not to think that we have ranks of pipes hidden somewhere.