The church has a three manual organ built by Lance Foy of Truro. It is the largest organ in Cornwall, having 6 stops more than the instrument in Truro Cathedral.

The first pipe organ was installed in the west gallery of the church in the spring of 1703 and was built by John Russell, a London-based organ builder, costing £200. It was not met with universal acclamation. One local lampoonist versified: “Arrived at the church, ’tis diverting to see them all strut to Ned Kendall’s [the organist’s] vile twiddle-dum-dee, whose bass and whose treble, comparatively speaking, are like old pigs grunting and little pigs squeaking.”

After 95 years of service with little maintenance, the organ was dismantled and sold and a contract for a new instrument was placed with London organ builder Hugh Russell in 1798.

In 1881, the second organ was in a bad state of repair and was sold and replaced by a three manual pipe organ built by Hele and Co. of Plymouth. This was situated in the Warrior Chapel (the southeast corner of the church).

By the 1970s the organ had deteriorated to such an extent that it was becoming unplayable and in January 1978, Lance Foy of Truro started work on a new instrument. In 1979 a new organ was installed using parts of the organ from the redundant church of St. Thomas, Bristol, and much of the Hele pipework from the previous organ. In 1993, the organ was rebuilt again by Lance Foy. Further additions were made in 2023, once again by Lance Foy, to bring the specification up to 51 speaking stops and a full complement of couplers and pistons.

The full specification of the organ may be viewed here.

The organists at KCM are very keen to encourage anyone wanting to try playing the organ to do so. Everyone is welcome to have a go, regardless of their level of experience. The Director of Music, Richard Bailey, can be contacted at rhb1969.rb@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

 

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