A blast with a Naval past

The recent restoration of the old chapel organ that stands in East Cowes Methodist Church uncovered an exciting clue to its rich history.

Behind one of the side panels, a small label was found, saying: “Called for at Kingswear, Rev. J.P. Aldous MA, HMS Britannia, Kingswear.” This kick-started a journey of discovery into the history of the 131-year-old organ.

On digging deeper, it became apparent that the organ has an intriguing naval history. The organ was commissioned by the Lords of Admiralty and was located in the chapel on the upper deck of cadet training ship, HMS Britannia, at Dartmouth. A newspaper article in the Western Morning News, dated Monday, April, 4, 1892, provided further information: “The organ will be a two-manual instrument of considerable power, and having a good variety of stops.” The organ was constructed by Messrs Hele and Co.

Once a new Naval College was built, with its own chapel and new organ in place, the original organ was transported to the Isle of Wight to be used at the Royal Naval College, which used to stand in the grounds of Osborne House. This served as the junior training establishment for naval cadets from 1903 to 1921. The organ took pride of place on the balcony in the Nelson Hall. In 1921, when the college was being repurposed, the government advertised for sale the then 19-year-old organ for the sum of £255, the equivalent of almost £16,000 today.

In October 1921 the trustees of the Wesleyan/Methodist Church in East Cowes managed to secure the organ for the grand price of £200, where it has stood proudly to this day.

In 2021 that the by now 129-year-old instrument was in much need of loving restoration and the organ was cleaned, revarnished, and returned to its original colours. Midland Organ Hele and Co, a successor company to the organ’s manufacturer, was enlisted to completely refurbish and repaint the pipes. They reported that “the organ now looks as good as it did in 1892.”