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Complete description of the selected organ
Reading, United Kingdom (Berkshire) - Caversham Heights Methodist Church
Municipal: Reading
Address: 74 Highmoor Road, RG4 7BG, Reading-Caversham
Website: https://cavershammethodist.org.uk/

Description nr.: 2075699.

Built by: William Sweetland (1878)

YearBuilderOpusActivity
1878 William Sweetland  new organ
1963 Rushworth & Dreaper  rebuild
1981 Geo. Osmond & Co.   

  • William Sweetland built an organ for Trinity Congregational Church in Reading in 1878. In 1913 it was replaced with a three-manual organ by J.J. Binns. The Sweetland organ was subsequently sold to the Methodist Church in Caversham Heights. The instrument was refurbished by Rushworth & Dreaper in 1963. The pedal action was made electropneumatic. The Bourdon 16' of the pedal was extended by twelve pipes, so that a Quint 10 2/3' and Flute 8' could be realized on the pedal. It was put back into use on December 13, 1963 with a concert by Eric Thiman.
  • In 1981 the organ was renewed by Geo. Osmond & Co. The action has been made completely electro-pneumatic, with a new console and new octave couplers. On Great the Keraulophon has been replaced by a Twelfth and on Swell the Bourdon 16' by a Celeste. The Bourdon was reinstalled on its own chest. Furthermore, a Mixture has been placed on Great in place of the Trumpet. The Trumpet has been installed on a new windchest, with extensions for a Trombone 16' and a Clarion 4'. The organ was put back into use on September 30, 1981. The inauguration concert was given by Dr. William Lloyd Webber.

Short list of all locations the organ has been
1878ReadingTrinity Congregational Church
1913ReadingCaversham Heights Methodist Church

Technical data
Number of stops per division
- Great Organ12 (11)
- Swell Organ10
- Pedal Organ7 (2)
Total number of stops29 (23)
Key actionElectropneumatic
Stop actionElectropneumatic
Windchest(s)Slider chests

Specification
Great Organ (C-g'''): Double Open Diapason 16', Open Diapason 8', Dulciana 8', Stopped Diapason Treble 8', Principal 4', Harmonic Flute 4', Twelfth 2 2/3' - 1981, Fifteenth 2', Mixture 2 ranks - 1981, Trumpet 8', Clarinet 8', Clarion 4' - 1981; extension.
Swell Organ (C-g'''): Bourdon 16', Open Diapason 8', Lieblich Gedackt 8', Viol di Gamba 8', Voix Celeste 8' - 1981, Gemshorn 4', Piccolo 2', Mixture 3 ranks, Horn 8', Oboe 8'.
Pedal Organ (C-f'): Open Diapason 16', Bourdon 16', Lieblich Bourdon 16' - from Swell, Quint 10 2/3' - 1963; extension, Flute 8' - 1963; extension, Lieblich Flute 8' - from Swell, Trombone 16' - 1981; extension from Great.
Couplers: Swell to Great, Great to Pedal, Swell to Pedal, Swell Octave - 1981, Swell Suboctave - 1981.
Accessories: 3 Composition Pedals to Great, 2 Composition Pedals to Swell.

Other specifications
Different specifications Before 1981, the stop list was:
Great Organ: Double Open Diapason 16', Open Diapason 8', Dulciana 8', Stopped Diapason Bass 8' (C-B), Stopped Diapason Treble 8' (from c°), Keralophone 8', Principal 4', Harmonic Flute 4', Fifteenth 2', Trumpet 8', Clarinet 8'.
Swell Organ: Bourdon 16', Open Diapason 8', Viol di Gamba 8', Lieblich Gedackt 8', Gemshorn 4', Piccolo 2', Mixture 3 ranks, Oboe 8', Horn 8'.
Pedal Organ: Bourdon 16', Open Diapason 16', Quint 10 2/3' - extension.
Couplers: Swell to Great, Swell Octave to Great, Great to Pedal, Swell to Pedal.
Accessories: 3 Composition Pedals to Great, 2 Composition Pedals to Swell.
Literature
  • The organ in Caversham Heights Methodist Church, Reading : Particulars supplied by Mr. R. Lascelles. - In: The Berkshire Organist, No. 17, 1964.
  • The story of the organ at Caversham Heights Methodist Church / Ralph Lascelles. - In: The Berkshire Organist, No. 35, 1982.
  • The Sweetland organ in Caversham Heights Methody Church / Dannis Tutty. - In: The Berkshire Organist, No. 52, 1999.