to 1894 John Nathaniel Quirk: 1901 to 1905 F.G. Sandford: 1905 to 1928 Richard Brook: 1928 to 19?? Michael James Jackson: 1969 to 1973 The Revd John Bird Canon C. Smith Canon Paul Shackerley The Revd David Stevens Organs and organists Organists and choirmasters 1862 Schulze Organ Rising from the ashes The medieval Parish Church of St George possessed a fine Harris organ of 1739–40. This instrument was praised by John Stanley, who declared “every pipe in the reed stops to be worth its weight in silver”. It grew from an original specification of some 24 stops to one of 51 stops and was reputed to be the largest organ in England except for York Minster, due to the efforts of Jeremiah Rogers (organist 1835–1879), who paid for much of the work himself. The organ had just been relocated from the west gallery to the chancel and its pedal extended to 32’ pitch, when it was consumed by fire, along with the entire building, on 28 February 1853. The leading architect of the day, Sir George Gilbert Scott, was commissioned to rebuild the church, a task which he completed in only four years. Consecrated in 1858, the new church is the most cathedral-like of Scott's parish churches and is crowned by a bell tower 170 feet high. Jeremiah Rogers was desirous of commissioning an organ worthy of Scott's new church and set out to acquire “the best organ that could be obtained anywhere in the world”. Rogers made many visits around Europe inspecting famous organs, often in the company of his friend E. J. Hopkins (organist of the Temple Church). J. F. Schulze and Sons Johann Friedrich Schulze was born in Milbitz near Paulinzella, Thuringia, in 1794, and began making organs there in 1825. His first organs were for Horba (10 stops) and Milbitz (21 stops). In 1825, he moved to Paulinzella where his business increased and he undertook substantial contracts at Solingen and Bremen Cathedral. In 1851, he exhibited an organ at the Great Exhibition, reputedly at the express invitation of Prince Albert, himself a native of Thuringia. One of three foreign organs on exhibition, Schulze's instrument was a modest two manual of 15 stops. Subsequently, transferred to Northampton Guildhall, it was later destroyed. It presented several features which at the time were new to the country and aroused much interest, resulting in the award of a prize medal.