2004-10-30 - Status Note: There 1996 -Database Manager
2004-10-30 - Building owned by St. Paul Episcopal. Obtained through OCH from James Boeringer. About 1/2 of the pipes are older, probably by John Chappington, England, in the 1590's. Rest are replacement for non-original pipes. Altered by B. Smith c. 1680. Rebuilt c. 1730 by unknown. Rebuilt c. 1825 by John Vincent, London. Rebuilt 19th cent., unknown. Restored by Stuart Organ Co. in 1983 to 1680 state. All speaking pipes are wood. Quarter comma Meantone temperament. -Database Manager
2007-12-10 - From Richard Hedgebeth to PIPORL-L, December 7, 2007: "The Old Narragansett organ was restored by me 20 odd years ago. ... If my analysis of the evidence is correct, which I believe it to be, the organ can only have been built by the Dallams c. 1660, rebuilt by (presumably) George Dallam C. 1680. Surviving old pipework seems to be from a very large organ dating to the very early 17th century." -Database Manager
2008-03-29 - Updated through online information from Richard S. Hedgebeth. -- Old pipework of the organ dates from early 17th c. Chappington attribution of the pipework is wholly speculative. Location of the organ is in the side gallery, which is on the long axis of the building. Wind system is alternating lift wedge bellows. No blower. Misinformation derived from the dedicatory recital program resulted from a rewrite of what was given to the church which while cleaner writing wound up meaning several things quite different than what I had written. -- D,C,E-d, originally C,AA,D-c -Database Manager
Typed stoplist from the OHS PC Database. Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Old Narragansett Church, Wickford, RI c. 1660 Bernard Smith (Stoplist: Dedication program 1983) Restorers: Stuart Organ Co., Richard S. Hedgebeth 59 Kaveney Street Chicopee, MA 01020 Carving:Dimitrios Klitsas West Springfield, MA Ironsmithing: Bruce Walker Whately, MA Stop List: Stop Diapason 8' Principall 4' Mixture II Ranks Divided Bass/Treble Middle C/C# Pitch: Approx A 425 D-D 49 notes, lowest D# plays C Temperament: Quarter comma meantone Original Keyboard: C-C 49 notes, lowest C3 played A Pitch: approx 1 semitone high Wind system: two alternating wedge bellows (largely original) two pedals being necessary to transfer to the second as the air is depleted in the first. Pipework: Approx half dates from the 159O's; non-original pipes were replaced in the restoration by ones made especially to match the original ones. Casework: Circa 1660 - most stiles and rails of base and rear panel Circa 1680 - upper rear panel Remainder of casework is replicated from the Smith Chamber Organ circa 1670 i owned by Noel Mander, London, England. Relocation:Organ Clearing House Harrisville, N.H. The restorer wishes to express appreciation for the gracious assistance of Noel and John Mander, London; Stephen Bicknell, Taplow, Berks; and Barbara Owen, Newburyport, Massachusetts.
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