Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
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- Textual record
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Edition area
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Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
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Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1881-1895, 1939-1964, 1996, 2011, 2018, N.D. (Creation)
- Creator
- The Choir of St. Peter's
- Note
- The documents related to the organ have been linked to the Choir of St. Peter's although the organ likely predates the formal establishment of a church choir.
Physical description area
Physical description
11.50 cm of textual records.
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Archival description area
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Administrative history
Music has been a central part of St. Peter's Cathedral since the 1860s, as evidenced by the archives in the church's collection. The choir normally rehearses once a week and sings the main Sunday morning Eucharist throughout the year. Major festivals and holy days are celebrated with Solemn Evensong and Benediction, often followed by a parish social event. Special services include the Advent Carol Service on the First Sunday in Advent, and a full range of Holy Week services, including the Easter Vigil. Each year, on Ascension Day, the choir sings a Latin Mass, alternating year about between a Renaissance and a Classical setting, the latter of which is accompanied by a small orchestra.
The choir's other social and fundraising activities have included selling cookbooks, holding yard sales, organising coffee hour treats, and so on.
Walter ("Bunny") MacNutt served as both organist and choirmaster from ca. 1944-1946. Gwen Patterson served as choir director and Suzanne Brenton as organist in the late 1960s to early 1971. Alan Reesor served as organist and choir master from February 1971 to his retirement in June 2015. Ruth Ann Read Clay held both positions over 2015-2016. From 2016 till 2022, Gloria Jay served as organist and Carl Mathis as choir director until the church welcomed Reverend Clement Carelse as organist and choir director.
Custodial history
The documents related to St. Peter's organ are part the backlog of records held by St. Peter's Cathedral Church, which were relocated from the church bell tower to the church basement in and then moved into a purpose-built archival room. The records had been stored in boxes and bags at one point and original order was lost.
Scope and content
The documents relate to St. Peter's Cathedral Church's organ and include records related to the purchase, installation, and management of the organ, particularly in the 19th century. Among the documents are correspondence with organ builders, music stores, and individuals. Among the names identified in the archives from the 19th century are the following, presented in the order in which they appear in the file list: W.E Greenwood organ builders; Peter Conacher & Co. Organ Builders, Huddersfield; Charles [Darling?]; [George] S. Hutchings; Lawrence W. Watson; S. R. Warren & Sons; James Watson; John M. Davenport, Mission Church of St. John the Baptist; John B. Holroyd; [Thomas] W. Hales; Fletcher’s Music Store; Cowan & Co. Dublin; L. R. Stanley, Ross Water Motor; and Ross Valve Co. Archives from 1996 and 2011 relate to Alan Reesor and an anniversary booklet for the organ. Organ specifications from after the restoration in 1995-1996 are also included.
Notes area
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Finding aids
A file list is available.
Uploaded finding aid
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General note
LOCATION: SPCA BOX 43, SPCA BOX O/S 29.