A warm welcome is extended to all those interested in finding out about our historical pipe organ.
The St. Aidan’s organ is the first pipe organ built in WA and the first of five instruments by Robert Cecil Clifton. It was begun in December 1875 as a spare time hobby when Clifton was 21 and a clerk in the Survey Office of the Lands Department.
After its completion in October 1878, the organ was installed in the original St John’s Anglican Church, Fremantle, where he was organist and choirmaster.
It remained there until 1911, when the Adelaide firm of JE Dodd accepted it as part payment on the new organ they were building for the church. The Clifton organ was substantially re-built and sold to the Claremont Presbyterian Church (now St Aidan’s) for the sum of £280.
The Herald, in its issue of 19 October 1878, ran an article which commenced as follows:
‘COLONIAL GENIUS: – Mr R Cecil Clifton, a young gentleman, born and educated in the colony, has just accomplished one of the most surprising mechanical and artistic performances we have ever heard or read of.
Literally – almost unaided – he has constructed throughout a large organ, which has been pronounced by competent judges to be as perfect in every respect – with the exception of ornamental cabinet work – as any instrument turned out by first class firms of organ builders.’
The Herald, 19 October 1878
In mid-1882 the organ was relocated to the new St John’s. At the same time, Clifton began working on a larger instrument for the church, and when this was completed in 1884, the original organ was sold for the equivalent of $500 to St Matthew’s Anglican Church at Guildford. It remained there until 1911, when the Adelaide firm of JE Dodd accepted it as part payment on the new organ they were building for the church.
The Clifton organ was substantially re-built and sold to the Claremont Presbyterian Church (now St Aidan’s) for the sum of £280. Further work was carried out in 1975, 1987 and 1999 by FJ Larner & Co. The most visible change from that period was the beautifully executed diapering of the set of show pipes by Graham Devenish to a design found on several pipes within the organ; these may possibly have been some of the original show pipes added by Clifton in 1883, a year after the instrument was shifted into the new St John’s, Fremantle.
The original position of the organ was in the south east corner of the church.
Maintenance and tuning of the organ is currently carried out on a regular basis by Pipe Organs WA. In 2013, the organ was again restored by Pipe Organs WA.
“This organ is now in its second century of duty, following a long, at times almost romantic history. It is hoped that all who play and hear this instrument will be mindful, not only that it is the first organ built in Western Australia, but also that it represents the fulfilment of one young man’s patience, ingenuity and determination to succeed.”
Gathered Fragments: The Biography of Robert Cecil Clifton, by By Leon D. Cohen 1979