Blessing of pipe organ and first performance
in St Patrick's Cathedral

Wednesday 23 March at 7.30pm

Bishop Kevin Manning blessed the restored Norman and Beard pipe organ in St Patrick's Cathedral prior to the start of the annual Chrism Mass in Holy Week.

The organ is one of the finest examples of late Victorian English romantic organs in Australia and was originally installed in St Saviour's Anglican Church in Knightsbridge, London in 1898.

In 1996 the organ was destined to be destroyed when the Anglican authorities decided to renovate the church and turn it into flats.

The Diocese of Parramatta purchased the organ and it was dismantled and shipped to Australia. The restoration work has been undertaken by the firm of Peter Jewkes and Associates at Ermington.

The new organ case was designed by Stephen Bicknell in collaboration with Romaldo Giurgola, the Cathedral architect. Elements of the old console have been incorporated into the new console including keyboards, music desk and stop jambs.

Bishop Manning was the Principal Celebrant at the Chrism Mass (Mass of the Oils), which is concelebrated by all the Priests of the Diocese of Parramatta, on the Wednesday before Easter. During the Mass the sacred oils were blessed and given to the parishes for use during the year.