Cathedral of the Good Shepherd

Location‘A’ Queen Street, Singapore 188533
BuilderBevington & Sons, UK
Diego Cera Organbuilders, Inc., Philippines
Year1912/2016
Last surveyed2017
StatusPlayable
Last updated: 2 April 2021

Built from 1844-1847, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore. It is the seat of the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Singapore. In 1973, it was designated a national monument by the National Heritage Board. The Cathedral completed a three-year building restoration project in November 2016.

The choir loft organ was built in August 1912 by Bevington & Sons (1794-1955), one of the oldest pipe organ builders in London, at the cost of £5,894.61. The two-manual organ was dedicated on 20 October 1912, 4.30pm by His Lordship, the Right Rev. Emile Barillon, Bishop of Malacca. In 1984, the organ was restored by Robert Navaratnam and subsequently re-dedicated on 17 December 1984 by Rev. Fr. Robert Balhetchet.

In November 2016, Diego Cera, an organ building company led by Cealwyn Tagle and based in the Philippines, concluded a complete restoration of the organ. The 28-rank organ uses tracker action, and is also playable via remote console in the south transept of the church.

Technical Specifications

1912-1984

Stoplist

Great (56 notes)

Open Diapason 8’
Violin Diapason 8’
Dulciana 8’
Hohl Flute 8’
Principal 4’
Lieblichflote 4’
Gemshorn 2’

Swell (56 notes)

Geigen 8′
Gedacht 8’
Viole d’orchestre 8’
Celeste 8′
Gemshorn 4’
Harmonic Flute 4’
Flautina 2’
Cornopean 8’

Pedal (30 notes)

Bourdon 16′
Bass Flute 8′

Couplers

Swell to Great
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal

Accessories

Generals: Thumb pistons
Swell Pedal


1984 – 2013

Stoplist

Great

Open Diapason 8’
Violin Diapason 8’
Dulciana 8’
Hohl Flute 8’
Principal 4’
Lieblich Flute 4’
Gemshorn 2’
Mixture III
Krummhorn 8’
Vogelgesang
Glockenspiel
(f-g”)

Swell (Enclosed)

Geigen 8’
Gedeckt 8’
Viole d’orchestre 8’
Celeste 8’
Gemshorn 4’
Harmonic Flute 4’
Rohrquinte 2 2/3’
Flautina 2’
Terz 1 3/5’
Cymbel III
Oboe 8’
Trompete 8’
Cornopean 8’

Pedal

Bourdon 16’
Bass Flute 8’
Bombarde 16’
Trompete 8’
Trompete 4’

Couplers

Swell to Great
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Swell Octave to Great
Swell Octave to Swell

Accessories

Tremulant


2016 – Present

Stoplist

Great (56 notes)


Open Diapason 8’
Violin Diapason 8’
Dulciana 8’
Hohl Flute 8’
Principal 4’
Lieblich Flute 4’
Gemshorn 2’
Sesquialtera II
Full Mixture IV
Cromorne 8′
Trompete 8′
Nightingale

Swell (56 notes, enclosed)

Geigen 8’
Viole d’orchestre 8’
Celeste 8′
Gedeckt 8′
Gemshorn 4’
Harmonic Flute 4’
Twelfth 2 2/3′
Flautina 2’
Terz 1 3/5′
Mixture III
Oboe 8′
Cornopean 8′
Tremulant

Pedal


Double Diapason 16’
Bourdon 16’
Open Bass 8’
Bass Flute 8’
Principal 4’
Contra Bombarde 16’
Trombone 8’

Couplers

Swell to Great
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal

Accessories

Generals: Thumb pistons
Swell Pedal

Photos: Ong Te-Min
Article: Ong Te-Min, Julian Tay and Robert Navaratnam


References:
Straits Times Article, “Hark, the pipe organ in all its glory” (12 February 2017) (http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/hark-the-pipe-organ-in-all-its-glory)
Organs in Asia, by James Welch, The American Organist article July 1988

Used with permission