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Following an appeal launched in 1922 by the church in Low Row for a new organ the contract was placed. The church papers do not mention any tendering process or any other manufacturers being involved. One can speculate that perhaps the recommendation came through another Congregational Church: Huntingford's first 1919 commission in Westcliff.
In an undated specification for Low Row, Roy Huntingford describes the organ as being "under construction". This specification is precisely that of the existing instrument. No changes have been made since its installation except the addition of an electric blower in the 1950s.
Two interesting letters from Roy Huntingford in April 1924 show his concern for the safe arrival of the organ parts at Richmond station. The installation was completed by April 25th 1924. This was a busy period for the firm which at the same time had contracts for organs at Teignmouth Congregational Church and at All Saints, Brixham in Devon. Most of his later work was for churches much closer to London.
Here are two more pictures of the organ builders.
2. The present state of the organ
The organ is listed in the NPOR under reference number [N01433]. Since its installation, the organ has been tuned and cleaned from time to time. No major work has been carried out on it other than the fitting of an electric blower mentioned above. No changes have been made over the years; the swell box is still controlled by an unbalanced Trigger Pedal with a single position notch. The tone of the instrument is good, and its size and power admirably suits the church building. The manual stops all work, although some notes need attention, but the Pedal Bourdon is virtually unusable. One or two pedal notes sound faintly and the pedals are mechanically noisy.
3. The significance of the organ to the local community and the wider public
The URC at Low Row has a small but active membership, and Sunday services are held regularly throughout the year. The organ provides musical support for the services, and has been in regular use for more than 80 years. The church building is a venue for local music groups for rehearsals and performance, and it is used for concerts and other social activities. The Swaledale Festival is the major annual cultural event attracting performers of national and international status to North Yorkshire. Nowadays the organ is heard by a wider public than perhaps was the case in the past. A recent article in the Dalesman magazine featured one of the local choirs, the Swale Singers, rehearsing in Low Row URC.
4. National significance of the organ
The Low Row Organ is one of the earliest instruments designed and built by Roy Huntingford, and possibly the only one which remains unaltered to this day. A search through the published NPOR records and other sources reveals that other instruments listed as having been built by Roy Huntingford or having been worked on by him have subsequently been altered by others, or were restorations of earlier organs, or have since been destroyed. The unique nature of the Low Row organ is further supported by the paper by Bull (see 7 below) and by comments to us from the family of Roy Huntingford.
The Low Row organ is an example of a well-built instrument, designed and constructed by a little known London builder, used for over 80 years by an active church community in a remote part of the country, and which continues to play an important role in the wider musical life of the Yorkshire Dales.
5. Historical significance of the Low Row United Reformed Church
The church at Low Row played a significant part in the rise of Nonconformism in the late 17th century. Founded, built, and paid for by Philip Lord Wharton in 1690, it was an example of his benevolent and concerned approach to his tenants and lead miners in the dales. Historical notes have been compiled by the Rev. Gillian Bobbett, Minister at Low Row from 1996 to 2004.
6. Our proposals for the future of the organ
We hope to attract funding to allow a major overhaul of the instrument to be carried out. No changes in the specification are envisaged; our objective is to restore the instrument to its full function. It is an excellent example of a small church organ, ideally suited to the size of the building, and with a tone that has been praised by organists and listeners alike. The recent award of an Historic Organs Certificate by the British Institute of Organ Studies, and a grant of £10,000 from the Council for the Care of Churches has encouraged us to go ahead with the restoration in the hope that further funding might be forthcoming. See progress on organ restoration.
7. Acknowledgements
We have been greatly helped and encouraged by correspondence and discussion with Don and Norman Huntingford, sons of Roy Huntingford, who hold documents relating to their father's firm. They also have interesting personal reminiscences of helping their father with his work.
Thanks are also due to Antony C. S. Bull, author of the unpublished paper "A brief history of Roy Huntingford, Organ Builder, Walthamstow" 1991. This is a comprehensively researched document listing all the instruments built by Huntingford together with contemporary accounts and comments. A copy of this paper is held at the Vestry House Museum, Walthamstow, together with further material relating to the Huntingford Organ works formerly situated in that town. | 