The Wesley Organ

The organ was supplied in 1874 by the Hull firm of Forster & Andrews and remained unaltered until 1929 when a pedal Bourdon and an electric blower were added.

In 1974 George Osmond & Co. of Taunton took charge of a rebuild, during which the action was converted from tracker to electric and various changes were made to the design of the console (then situated below the organ chamber).

By the early 1990s, the action was starting to fail and it became clear that there was a need for substantial work. At the same time, it was also decided to install a detached console to make the organist less isolated from the congregation.

T. W. Fearn & Son of London were engaged to do the work. The original Forster & Andrews ranks were not tonally altered in any way, but new additions were prepared, including the Trumpet stop at 8’ and 4’ pitch, a Celeste and Twelfth. The 16’ Bourdon was also extended to 8’ and 4’ pitch.

The work, which was completed in May 1999, also exposed a tuning door at the rear of the swell box, which implies that the instrument may not have been designed specifically for Wesley Church. Nevertheless, in its refurbished state, the organ is an asset to the church.