Pipe Organ MapAuckland, Ponsonby Baptist Church
| Builder | J. Avery |
|---|---|
| Year | 1779 |
| Period/Style | Classical |
| Stops | 9 |
| Keyboards | 1 |
| Keyaction | tracker/mechanical |
Auckland's Ponsonby Baptist Church houses New Zealand's oldest pipe organ, built in 1779 by John Avery, a prominent 18th-century English organ builder. Known for his colorful personality and significant contributions to organ construction, Avery's works include those at Winchester Cathedral, King's College Chapel in Cambridge, and Carlisle Cathedral. The organ at Ponsonby Baptist Church is the best-preserved example of his craftsmanship.
Originally likely used in a private mansion or smaller chapel, the organ was acquired in 1859 by George Selwyn, Bishop of Auckland, for installation in old St. Paul's Church, Auckland. It was restored and shipped to New Zealand under the supervision of George Job Elvey, organist of St. George's Chapel in Windsor. In 1897, the organ was bought by Ponsonby Baptist Church. A significant restoration by Goetze & Gwynn organ company between 2004 and 2005 returned the instrument to its original condition after 20th-century alterations. This restoration reestablished the organ as a fully playable historical gem, considered the oldest pipe organ in New Zealand and the Australasian continent where the maker's name is identifiable.
The manual compass is GG,C,AA,D-e3 with 54 notes, featuring a "Shifting Movement" pedal and a rebuilt Hautboy enclosed in a swell box. The temperament is unequal, enhancing its historical authenticity and unique sound.
Originally likely used in a private mansion or smaller chapel, the organ was acquired in 1859 by George Selwyn, Bishop of Auckland, for installation in old St. Paul's Church, Auckland. It was restored and shipped to New Zealand under the supervision of George Job Elvey, organist of St. George's Chapel in Windsor. In 1897, the organ was bought by Ponsonby Baptist Church. A significant restoration by Goetze & Gwynn organ company between 2004 and 2005 returned the instrument to its original condition after 20th-century alterations. This restoration reestablished the organ as a fully playable historical gem, considered the oldest pipe organ in New Zealand and the Australasian continent where the maker's name is identifiable.
The manual compass is GG,C,AA,D-e3 with 54 notes, featuring a "Shifting Movement" pedal and a rebuilt Hautboy enclosed in a swell box. The temperament is unequal, enhancing its historical authenticity and unique sound.
| Manual |
|---|
| [Stop]Pd Diapason (8 ft, split to Bass/Treble) |
| Op[en] Diapason (8 ft, from c) |
| Dulciana (8 ft, from c1) |
| Principal (4 ft) |
| Twelfth (2 2/3 ft) |
| Fifteenth (2 ft) |
| Sesquialt[era] Bass |
| Cornet Treble (from c1) |
| Hautboy (8 ft, from c1) |
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