A Georgian / Victorian masterpiece in need of restoration
Gosport lies at the southern tip of a peninsula between the Solent and the eastern edge of Portsmouth Harbour. It was a
busy and growing naval seaport from the 12th century till it was overshadowed in the mid 18th century by the enhanced
facilities in Portsmouth. The current population of Gosport is 65,000.
Near the harbour edge, situated in the centre of a green park, is Holy Trinity church, built at the end of the 17th
century for the needs of a thriving seaport and farming community.
In 1748 the church acquired the organ from Cannons, the grandiose house of the late Duke of Chandos, said to be the wealthiest man in England circa 1710. In 1717, the Duke appointed the young Handel as his musician in residence. By 1720 Handel had composed, inter alia, the Chandos anthems, Acis and Galatea, and Esther. A new 3 manual organ, built by Abraham Jordan, had been installed in the chapel. Handel surely advised on the design of the organ, probably played it at its installation, and subsequently. Even though he moved into his London house about this time, he continued to play for the Duke for another four years.
Bankruptcy forced the Dukes' heirs to auction many of the Cannons treasures in 1747. The windows and furnishings of the chapel were bought for the parish church of Great Witley in Worcestershire, and the organ came to Gosport. It was installed in Holy Trinity with an enlarged Swell by 1748. During the next 150 years the organ experienced several rebuilds. In 1897, William Hill built the 3 manual and pedal 32 stop organ which stands in the church today.
Fortunately, Hill included in it eight ranks remaining from the 1720 Jordan organ, inside the 1720 case. This unique assembly of Jordan pipework remaining in existence today forms the basis of both Great and Choir choruses. The organ has an historic organ certificate. The organ sounds magnificent in the generous acoustic of the spacious church. Alas, the action is now 110 years old and needs complete replacement urgently.
FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION, HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, AS THE CUSTODIAN OF THIS FINE ORGAN FOR THE NATION, HAS LAUNCHED AN APPEAL FOR £150,000. PLEASE HELP BY MAKING YOUR CONTRIBUTION
