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The Nicholson Organ

The organ was built by Nicholsons of Malvern, and the inaugural recital was given by Dr Peter Hurford in June 1995. It is a versatile instrument enabling music from all periods of the organ repertoire to be convincingly interpreted as well as providing effective accompaniment to the liturgy. The organ has 1,430 pipes and is played from two manuals with pedals and with largely mechanical action. 

The instrument is located in the South Aisle and housed in a fine case of mainly English oak and was designed by Anthony Hall. The majority of the pipework was not new but taken from the previous 1950 three manual instrument built by A E Davies and Sons of Northampton housed at the West end of the North and South Aisles.

In 2023 the instrument was overhauled and cleaned by Anthony Hall’s own company Clevedon Organs Ltd. A mechanical swell octave coupler was added together with a bell stop called a Zimbelstern. The piston system was expanded to six per department with six generals and a stepper was also added. The work was made possible with the support of the PCC and much appreciated financial assistance from:

• Sandwich Tollbridge Fund •

• The Tory Family Foundation •

• The Bernard Sunley Foundation •

• Mrs Fiona Sunley •

• The Benefact Trust •

• Broadstairs Scaffolding Contractors •

• The ON Organ Fund •

• Anthony Hall •

• Various Legacies •

Click here to read the organ specification (.pdf)

Celebration Concert to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Nicholson Organ – 25th July 2015 

From left to right : The Revd Canon Mark Roberts (then Rector), Andrew Moyes – Managing Director of Nicholsons, Dr David Flood – Organist and Master of the Choristers – Canterbury Cathedral, John Perkins – Director – Becker Ensemble, Julian Sampson – Director of Music – St Clement’s Church.

The church supports an annual organ recital series giving the opportunity for established national and international recitalists to play this fine instrument.

In recent years these has been given by:

  • Malcolm Archer – St Paul’s Cathedral (2006)
  • Peter Wright – Southwark Cathedral (2007)
  • Martin Baker – Westminster Cathedral (2008)
  • James O’Donnell – Westminster Abbey (2009)
  • Stephen Cleobury – King’s College Cambridge (2010)
  • David Hill (2011)
  • Ian Tracey – Liverpool Cathedral (2012)
  • James Lancelot – Durham Cathedral (2013)
  • Stephen Disley – Southwark Cathedral (2014)
  • David Flood (Canterbury Cathedral) and Ian Tracey (Liverpool Cathedral) in concerts marking the 20th anniversary of the organ (2015)
  • Roger Sayer – Director of Music at The Temple Church, London (2016)
  • Daniel Cook – Westminster Abbey and Organist designate of Durham Cathedral (2017)
  • Adrian Bawtree – Second Assistant Organist at Canterbury Cathedral and acting Cathedral Organist Rochester Cathedral (2018)
  • Charles Maxtone – Smith, Organ Scholar at New College Oxford (2019)
  • Adrian Bawtree – Director of Music & Organist at Rochester Cathedral (2022)
  • Ian Tracey – Organist Liverpool Cathedral, Gala Re-Opening Recital (2024)

In addition to the Re-Opening Recital that took place in May 2024, the completion of the organ works will be celebrated with the following events :-

“The Organist Entertains” given by Robert Tapsfield with tea and cake – Sunday 16th June at 4pm.

Deal Festival Concert given by Paul Stubbings “Times and Seasons: Bach and the Organ” – Saturday 13th July at
11am.