Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
St Albans Cathedral
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Donate
Menu
  • Worship
    • Ways to Worship
    • Monthly Service & Music List
    • Pilgrimage
    • Life Events
    • People
  • Visit
    • Your Visit
    • How to Find Us
    • Shop and Café
    • Tours and Trails
    • Group Visits
    • What else can I do in the area?
  • What's on
    • All Events
    • What's On Guide
    • How to Book Tickets
    • Join our Mailing List
    • My Account
  • Learning
    • Schools
    • Adult Learning
    • Library and Archives
    • Learn With Us Blog
    • Support Our Learning
  • Music
    • Choirs and Music
    • Music Department
    • Organ
    • Visiting Choirs
    • Support Our Music
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteering
    • The Friends
    • Become a Patron
    • Our Supporters
  • Discover
    • Our History
    • Our Values
    • How We Work
    • News
    • Job Vacancies
    • Safeguarding
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Organ

Organ

The Cathedral Organ was built in 1962 by Harrison & Harrison of Durham to a design by Peter Hurford (then Master of the Music) and Ralph Downes. It contains over 4,500 pipes, spread across keyboards (manuals) and pedals.

The instrument was revolutionary: it was the first cathedral instrument to be voiced and built on neo-classical lines. It includes certain ranks of pipes – radically re-voiced – from earlier instruments. The logical internal layout and the clarity of speech of the pipes enables a good balance between stops well-suited to solo music, choral accompaniment and congregational singing.

The two facing organ cases were designed by John Oldrid Scott in 1908: the smaller central case dates from 1962. In 2007-9 the organ was comprehensively refurbished by Harrison & Harrison.

The organ is the centrepiece of the biennial St Albans International Organ Festival and Competitions, founded by Peter Hurford in 1963. A large number of recordings have been made on the organ.

Organ Specification

Photo © Chris Christodoulou

Published: 16th November, 2018

Updated: 15th July, 2021

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • In a Strange Land Concert

    In a Strange Land Concert

    St Albans Cathedral Education Trust hosted their first concert in the Cathedral

  • 20's and 30's Group | Prepare for Lent

    Join Rev'd Charlotte Bradley for an open discussion as we prepare for Lent.

  • 20s and 30s Group | Curry and Compline

    Curry and Compline, for those in their 20s and 30s

  • Curry and Compline

    Curry and Compline

    Sundays 26 February - 26 March | A group for 20s and 30s on Sundays during Lent.

Related

  • St Albans Choral Society: Mozart Requiem

    St Albans Choral Society: Mozart Requiem

    St Albans Choral Society perform Mozart's Requiem alongside the world premeire of a new work, The Innocent Fields, by Hertfordshire-based composer Adrian Williams.

  • IOF Concert: Mona Rozdestvenskyte

    IOF Concert: Mona Rozdestvenskyte

    All are welcome to this free Organ Concert, given by Mona Rozdestvenskyte. Donations go towards the International Organ Festival Society.

  • The Sixteen - Choral Pilgrimage 2023: A Watchful Gaze

    The Sixteen - Choral Pilgrimage 2023: A Watchful Gaze

  • St Albans Bach Choir - Antonin Dvorak Requiem Op 89

    St Albans Bach Choir - Antonin Dvorak Requiem Op 89

    Performance of Dvorak’s Requiem with Sinfonia Verdi Orchestra, Soloists and St Albans Bach Choir conducted by Andrew Lucas

  • Rachmaninoff Vespers

    Rachmaninoff Vespers

    St Albans Chamber Choir performs Rachmaninoffs Vespers in the tranquill surroundings for the Lady Chapel

  • Joint Schools' Choral Society & Orchestra Concert

    St Albans School and St Albans High School for Girls are delighted to present the annual Joint Schools’ Choral Society Concert, a coming together of pupils, staff, family and friends of both schools accompanied by a semi-professional orchestra

  • A Night at the Opera

    A Night at the Opera

    London Concertante present a sensational evening at the opera with an array of the finest opera arias and overtures, including works from Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, and Mozart.

  • Organ concert: Oliver Morrell

    Organ concert: Oliver Morrell

    On Wednesday 22 March at 12.30pm Oliver Morrell (Organ Scholar, St Albans Cathedral) gives a free organ recital.

  • Organ concert: James Hicks

    Organ concert: James Hicks

    On Wednesday 8 February at 12.30pm James Hicks (USA) gives a free organ recital.

  •  Hertfordshire Chorus: Fauré’s Requiem and Widor’s Toccata with music by Vasks, MacMillan and Monteverdi

    Hertfordshire Chorus: Fauré’s Requiem and Widor’s Toccata with music by Vasks, MacMillan and Monteverdi

    In the magnificent setting of St Albans Cathedral Hertfordshire Chorus showcases powerful works for voices with minimal accompaniment from across the centuries.

Most read

  • Basket checkout

  • We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

    We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

    Special services will be taking place at St Albans Cathedral to pray, mark her death and commemorate her life.

  • Live Streaming

    Live Streaming

    We are a worshipping community, united by prayer in the Spirit. Wherever you are we invite you to tune into one of our live streamed services.

  • Visitor Information

    Visitor Information

    We are open daily from 8.30am -5.30pm. Entry is free.

  • Regular Services

    Regular Services

    All are welcome to attend our weekly services, visit the Cathedral for private prayer and to light a candle.

  • The Story of Alban

    The Story of Alban

    A remarkable story of standing up for what you believe in which takes us back to the beginning of the Christian faith in Britain.

  • My account

    Log into your account to book tickets for events at St Albans Cathedral, view tickets that you have already bought or reset your password.

  • How to find us

    How to find us

    Everything you need to know about travelling to St Albans.

  • Abbot's Kitchen

    Abbot's Kitchen

    The Abbot's Kitchen is open daily, 10am - 4pm

  • Ministry Team

    Ministry Team

    Meet the clergy team here at St Albans Cathedral.

Join our mailing list
Be the first to hear about exciting events, activities and talks, straight to your inbox.

Useful links

  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Safeguarding
  • Job Vacancies
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy policy
  • Admin login
  • My details
  • Log out

St Albans Cathedral

Cathedral Office: 01727 890210

[email protected]

St Albans Cathedral
Sumpter Yard
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 1BY

© Copyright 2019 The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban. All rights reserved.