Pipe Organs in WA
 
 
 
 
 

Johnston Memorial Congregational Church, Fremantle
The pipe organs of Western Australia




Johnston Memorial Church

Johnston Memorial Church

Johnston Memorial Church
Interior in 1927, showing the Clifton organ



Property
Name of institution   Johnston Memorial Congregational Church
Type of institution0   Church
Street Address   23 Adelaide Street
City   Fremantle
State   Western Australia
Postcode  
Country   Australia
Name of building   Johnston Memorial Congregational Church
Name of room   Church sanctuary
Dates of the building   1877
Register of Heritage Places  
Heritage Place number  
Architect   Mr Broomhall, the Clerk of Works for Fremantle, and J Manning
Builder   Mr. Geo. Heal then replaced by Mr. J. J. Harwood

Special architectural features and fittings   The predominant colours are listed as green, salmon, citron, terracotta, Persian red and cream. Among the features described in more detail are a frieze under the ceiling line with a foliated design introducing quartrefoils and Maltese crosses, a deep red dado with a medieval acanthus scroll painted in cream, and gold dog roses against a cardinal red background interspersed at regular intervals. The terracotta and cream design painted onto the green balcony is described as '˜Gothic', and behind the rostrum ˜is a Gothic canopy in deeper tones of colour, with a gold diapered pattern in deep blue, forming a background to the preacher. The decorations were designed and carried out by J. Ross Anderson, who was also noted for his decoration of the Wesley Church in Perth.

Other location information   The Johnston Memorial Congregational Church was completed in July 1877 and demolished December 1968. The foundation stone was laid by Henry Trigg on 24.12.1875. The church was originally known as Congregational Church, Fremantle and was re-named in memory of Joseph Johnston (1814-1892)

Johnston Memorial Church

This fine building stood in Adelaide St from 1877 to 1969 when it was demolished in favour of a block of flats called Johnson [sic] Court - they couldn't even get the name right!

Name of contact  
Mailing Address  
Telephone  
Email  
Other contact information  

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Previous organ(s)
Date of previous organ   1880
Detail of previous organ   Robert Cecil Clifton
Opus 2: 2m., 12 sp.st., 3c.,tr.

GREAT
Open Diapason 8'
Stopped Diapason 8'
Dulciana 8'
Principal 4'
Harmonic Flute 4'
Twelfth 2 2/3'
Fifteenth 2'
Great to Pedal
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SWELL
Violin Diapason 8'
Lieblich Gedackt 8'
Gemshorn 4'
Stopped Flute 4'
Oboe 8'
Swell to Great
Swell to Pedal
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PEDAL
Bourdon 16'
Dates when key work has been undertaken   Renovated 1906 by J E Dodd.

Dates of any moves that have taken place   Removed in 1929 by Russell Fowler to make way for new organ and relocated to Congregational Church, Bunbury.
Variations from original design of organ  
Information on previous organ   FROM THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
8 August 1893

The organ of Johnston Memorial Church, Fremantle, is one of the first that Mr. Cecil Clifton has erected, and is an excellent instrument. It has long been felt that it should be placed upon the ground floor at the pulpit end of the church, instead of in an end gallery. Shortly after the arrival of the Rev. S. Bryant, as interim pastor, it was decided to effect this improvement. The work has been carried out under the direction of Mr. Clifton, who has successfully realised his idea of removing the wind chest several feet to the rear of the organ, so that it can be overhauled at any time, and all annoyance arising from the mechanical work of blowing the bellows, and from escapes of air might be obviated. The organ has been used for the last two Sundays with entire satisfaction, end is to be formally, re-opened this evening, at 7.30, by an Organ Recital and Sacred Concert, in which the leading talent of Fremantle will be combined. Admission is by complimentary tickets, which have only been restricted by the seating capacity of the church.

FROM THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
9 August 1893

An organ recital was held last evening at the Johnston Memorial Church, Fremantle, to inaugurate the re-erection of the organ in the church. The Rev. S. Bryant presided, and there were also present the Revs. E. T. Dunstan, W. H. Peters, A. F. Ferguson, C. Brown, and W. A. Potts. Mr. W. O. Mason acted as organist, and Mr. G. Skaife as conductor. The choir was very greatly augmented by the kind assistance of a number of ladies and gentleman outside the congregation, and the programme of sacred music was rendered with completeness and full expression. Mr. W. O. Mason's organ solos, Andante in A flat, and March in G, were excellent pieces. Mrs. Broomhall contributed a much appreciated solo, and Miss Haley's rendering of "He shall feed His flock," from the Messiah, was excellently sung. Mr. Blauton's rich voice was heard to advantage in "It is enough," from Elijah, his expression giving full light and shade to this beautiful passage. Miss Mofflin's sweet contralto voice showed evident care in her solo, "The Lord is mindful of His own." Mr A. Boss and Mr. Jones contributed solos. At the close of the recital the Rev. S. Bryant gave an address in which he made special reference in eulogistic terms to the work done by Mr. Cecil Clifton and Mr. W. O. Mason, in connection with the re-erection of the organ.

Information about comparable instruments to previous organ   Robert Cecil Clifton built five pipe organs. Please refer to Western Australian Organs Builders Index.
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Present organ
Type of installation  

Case description  

Placement in room   Central front

Builder's name   Norman & Beard

Opus number  

Date of completion/installation   1892, installed 1893

Construction materials  

Number of manuals   Two (2)

Key compasses  

Number of keys  

Key material  

Pedal compass  

Number of pedals  

Pedalboard type  

Pedalboard material  

Type of chests  

Type of key action   Electro-pneumatic

Type of stop action   Electro-pneumatic

Couplers  

Tremulants  

Accessories   

Console type  

Stop label material  

Placement  

General design  

Playing aids  

Divisions   Great, Swell, Pedal

Wind pressures  

Stop list  
GREAT
Bourdon 16'
Open Diapason 8'
Dulciana 8'
Open Gedact 8'
Principal 4'
Flute 4'
Fifteenth 2'
Mixture III
 
SWELL
Open Diapason 8'
Stopped Diapason 8'
Principal 4'
Voile d'Orchestre 8'
Horn 8'
Oboe 8'
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PEDAL
Open Diapason 16'
Bourdon 16'
Principal 8'
Flute 8'
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Total number of stops   18

Total number of ranks  

Total number of pipes  

Dates when key work has been undertaken on current organ  

Dates of any moves that have taken place to current organ   Built 1892 installed 1893 Trinity Congregational Church, Perth.

Removed and  installed 1929 Johnston Memorial Church, Fremantle.

Removed, rebuilt and installed 1969 at St Patrick's Church, Mt Lawley by Paul F. Hufner.

Information on current organ   Newspaper clipping provided by the Norfolk Organists' Association and sourced by Anne Page:
    Norfolk
EDP = Eastern Daily Press
Comparable instruments to current organ  

Assessment of organ and current status   No longer in this location

Other organs by this builder  

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Document control Original entries J R Elms, OAM, Gazetteer of Western Australian Pipe Organs, 1971, 1999, 2003 and 2004.
This entry D B Duncan 27 December 2008.
Photographs and transcripts from Andrew Gardner 25 August 2009.
Historical newsprint sourced by Anne Page 28 March 2016.
Historical detail provided by Jennifer Fowler 23 June 2017.
Historical information from Hitchcock, J.K. 1921, 'Early Days of Fremantle: An Old Church and Its Pastor', Fremantle Times, Friday 4 February 1921.
Newspaper cutting from the Western Mail by National Library of Australia.
Photographs and information from Freotopia.