Ridley College: Chapel
2 Ridley Road
St. Catharines, ON, CA
Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
Images
circa 1923 - Organ behind the organ screen of the new Memorial Chapel (Photograph from an archival source: Journal, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (July-August 1925), submitted by Andrew Henderson/Andrew Henderson)
Taken between 1909-1923 - Organ in the Old Chapel (now Assembly Hall) (Photograph from an archival source: From Kim Beattie, "Ridley: the Story of a School" (1963), submitted by Andrew Henderson/Andrew Henderson)
Taken between 1909-1923 - Organ in Old Chapel (now Assembly Hall) (Photograph from an archival source: From Kim Beattie, "Ridley: the Story of a School" (1963), submitted by Andrew Henderson/Andrew Henderson)
Consoles
Main
- Organ type: Traditional With a Keyboard Cover That Can Be Lifted To Form a Music Rack
- Console position: Keydesk Attached
- 2 manuals
- 3 divisions
- Key action Type: Mechanical (Details Unknown)
- Stop action Type: Mechanical
- Stop layout Type: Drawknobs
- Combination action: None
Notes
2020-05-11 - This instrument was installed in the original chapel of Ridley College in 1909, donated by the boys of the school through their Sunday evening chapel collections, and known as "The Boys' Organ." A testimonial from the Principal of the College appears below.
When the College's new Memorial Chapel was built in 1923, the instrument was moved to the new organ chamber behind an organ screen designed by the chapel's architects, Sproatt & Rolph. This instrument was replaced by Casavant Opus 1099 (1925). The fate of the Lye organ is unknown. -Andrew Henderson
2020-05-11 - From "Descriptive Catalog of Church Organs manufactured by Edward Lye & Sons" (c. 1910)
"Testimonial from Dr. Miller, Principal, Ridley College, St. Catherines [*sic*], Ont.
Messrs. Edward Lye & Sons,
Toronto,
Dear Sirs: I have great pleasure in congratulating you upon the excellent workmanship displayed in the Organ--Two Manual--built by you in our chapel here. In every respect it is giving us the greatest satisfaction, and everyone who hears it remarks upon the rich and mellow tone of the various stops. This, I imagine, is due to your care in importing from England the best quality of metal pipes. The combined power and sweetness of tone in our Organ is a surprise to all who hear it, considering the size and cost of the instrument. For the money spent you have given us what we consider the greatest possible value. We will gladly give to anyone proposing to purchase such an Organ from you our willing testimony to the skill and thoroughness of your workmanship.
Yours faithfully,
J. O. Miller
Dec. 13, 1900 [*sic*, 1909]" -Andrew Henderson
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