The organ of the Vauquelin Chapel

On the outside wall, to the right of the entrance to the large front door of the Vauquelin Chapel there is a plaque which reads :

Our Lady of Charity

Chapel built from 1785 to 1790

Rouen architect Bernard Vauquelin

Organ of St. Nicholas' Church 1801 built in 1730-1733

by Charles Lefebvre organ builder in Rouen.

Restored in 1986.

Magnificent instrument of the classical period, whose construction predates that of the chapel, this organ is contemporary to the great German musician, organist and composer of the 18th century, Johann Sebastian Bach.

Built with a single case by the organ builder Guillaume Lesellier in 1631, it was originally installed in the church of Saint-Nicolas d'Albane (located in rue Saint-Nicolas) which served one of the smallest parishes in the heart of the city of Rouen. This church was sold in 1801 and destroyed in 1840.

In 1730, the parish approached Charles Lefebvre, an organ builder born in Rouen in 1670, who worked with his son Jean-Baptiste Nicolas in order to thoroughly redesign the instrument. The work took place from 1730 to 1733 and cost 2500 pounds. The old Lesellier case then became the back positive hung on the gallery to which the present large case was added by Charles Lefebvre.

In 1801, when the church was sold, this organ was donated by the municipality of Rouen to the Hospices of the city for the community of the sisters of our Lady of Charity and was transferred to this chapel in 1812.

This instrument has 1494 organ pipes, three 48-note manuals and a pedalboard. The lowest notes of the great organ are given by 8-foot pipes.

Remaining mute from 1907 to 1928, it was restored by Henri Firmin, organ builder in Paris and Granville, and put back into operation.

By decrees of October 19, 1976 and January 6, 1977, it is classified as a historical monument for the instrumental part, then for the organ cases.

Major restoration work was carried from 1981 to 1985. This renovation was greeted by a recital by the great organist Louis Thiry on April 22, 1986.

The organ in the chapel of Charles-Nicolle hospital is one of the jewels of Rouen heritage. It is the only authentic classical organ in the city dating from before the revolution.