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 and it is hoped that the instrument will serve the congregation at Wesley well into the new Millennium.
New console

The old organ console

Guidelines for visiting groups wishing to use the organ or piano at Wesley

· The organ and piano are not in tune with each other and cannot be played together (there is a difference in pitch of about half a semitone). Because of the age and design of the instruments, no altering of their pitch can be allowed beyond routine fine-tuning adjustments.
· The instruments are tuned twice a year, which is considered adequate for the needs of the church and for general accompaniment purposes. Groups wishing to have the instruments tuned in between these regular visits must do so at their own expense, but they are advised to check first whether they actually need to do so - different groups have very different requirements and expectations. Please contact the Organist for an initial demonstration of the instruments.
· The organ and piano tuners have a busy schedule. In order to guarantee a tuning visit, they will require a minimum period of notice. Emergency tuning visits may also be charged at a higher rate.
· The piano or organ console must not be moved without the Organist or an authorised member of the church being present. You are advised to confirm before hiring the church whether it is possible to move the instruments to your required concert layout position.
· Under the church's current procedures, the Organist is responsible for the piano and organ. As a formality and courtesy, please ask permission to use the instruments before undertaking to hire the church. Permission will not normally be denied. The settings of the organ pistons should not be altered in any way without permission of the Organist.
· Application to use the church for rehearsals should be made to the church Bookings Secretary, not to the Organist. The secretary has an overview of the use of the whole premises and will be aware of conflicting bookings.
If you have any further questions, you are advised to contact the Organist or a church steward before hiring the church.

The Organist

Christopher Cipkin began his musical career as a chorister of Leeds Parish Church. He later went on to become Organ Scholar at the University of Keele (1992-1994), where he gave the inaugural recital of the refurbished Chapel Organ. He was also awarded the Wedgwood Prize for a dissertation on organ history. While working at Canterbury Cathedral Library, he researched and catalogued the eighteenth-century music of the Canterbury Catch Club. He served as Organ Scholar at Newcastle Cathedral (1996-1997) and he studied organ with James Lancelot (Durham Cathedral), gaining his ARCO in 1997. After a short time as Director of Music at St. James the Less, Pangbourne (1998-2000), he took up post at Organist and Choirmaster at Wesley Methodist Church, Reading. As part of his job as a library manager at the University of Reading he has responsibility for music collections. He has an MA degree in Musicology from the University of Reading. Christopher is currently Secretary of the Berkshire Organists’ Association and the Reading Bach Choir and he regularly gives organ recitals in the area.


	Wesley Methodist Church, Queens Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4BW