Organ transplant for cathedral
Installation of largest church pipe organ in southern hemisphere means Holy Trinity can at last be consecrated
An historic project dubbed the “great organ transplant” has been completed. It makes Auckland the home of the largest church pipe organ in the southern hemisphere but, more significantly, Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell can finally be consecrated.
Replacing the cathedral’s George Croft organ, New Zealand’s largest musical instrument, was the last — and most complex — part of the $15.1 million Selwyn’s Vision project that began in 2011 when the organ showed signs of serious wear and tear.
A five-year initiative was launched to replace it along with finishing the east end of the cathedral, behind its High Altar, with a smaller chapel.
Because a cathedral cannot be consecrated until it is completed and fully paid for, it means the Anglican Church community has had to wait until now for the dedication.
It comes 174 years after Bishop Selwyn bought the land the Holy Trinity Cathedral occupies, with the aim of building a centre for educational, social, charitable and missionary work.
English firm Nicholson and Co started work on replacing the 46-year-old George Croft organ in 2014, manufacturing and shipping to New Zealand 5432 pipes in seven 12m, 45-tonne crates. It took eight months to ship the pipes, followed by a sixmonth installation period. This involved two teams of four working in six-week “relays” so they wouldn’t be away from family for too long.
The firm’s managing director, Andrew Moyes, says the project was a double celebration because the firm marked its 175th anniversary in 2016 while working on its largest-ever project. Asked whether he thinks the firm’s founding fathers could have imagined such a thing, Moyes says he doubts it.
“And if we thought it was difficult for us to get parts to New Zealand, well it was nothing compared to the type of logistics it would have involved for them back then.”
It’s also doubtful his predecessors could have imagined the type of technological advances which have taken place. The organ has a fixed and mobile console, meaning it can be moved around the cathedral with signals sent digitally to activate its thousands of pipes.
Things went so smoothly, the project was finished two months ahead of schedule. Soon to retire, Moyes says it is a satisfying end to his career which began as an electrical engineer before his love of pipe organs led him to the business.
If it’s a satisfying outcome for Moyes, it’s also hugely pleasing to To hear the organ, go to nzherald.co.nz cathedral organist Philip Smith and musical director Michael Stoddart. They say the sound produced is majestic, all-encompassing and so captivating it draws people in off the street to listen.
Smith says a recent practice session caught the attention of brothers, aged 2 and 4 years old, who live locally and were out walking with