Christ Church Anglican Church--Hamilton, Victoria, Australia

Hamilton,Victoria
Australia

About the Christ Church Anglican Church:

The foundation stone of Christ Church was laid in November 1876 and the building opened in 1878. Designed by Ballarat architect H.R. Casselli, this bluestone building incorporates a massive tower and spire at the west end, and a spacious nave, unusually of unplastered bluestone. The apsidal chancel was added in 1956-1957 to the design of G.S. Richards, Ballarat diocesan architect. In 1924, Robert Prenzel provided a design for a reredos and side panelling at the church.

The Organ:

The organ was built in 1892 by Cassons Patent Organ Company, London and was installed in the residence of the Hon. William Winter Irving, Toorak in 1894. The instrument was moved to Christ Church after 1901, and was rebuilt in 1957 by Hill, Norman & Beard, who electrified the action, resited the organ on a loft above the chancel and supplied a new console, but retaining all of the original pipework. The instrument is of particular interest for its imitative string stops, thought to have been voiced by William Thynne, who worked for Casson at the time, and the first such stops in Australia; and also for its floridly decorated facade pipes.