 St Michael’s Organ History
The first organ of which anything is known was built by Samuel Green around 1788 and seems to have been in need of replacement by the 1840s since an advertising leaflet from George Sherborne (c.1800-1862) is preserved in the parish records. Sherborne was a Bath organ builder who worked from an address in Somerset Buildings until the mid1850's when he moved to Sunderland. He was Sweetland’s apprentice master, but it was Sweetland who was chosen to build the organ at St. Michael’s. It may have been that, as he had never built a church organ before, his price was less than that quoted by his master. Sweetland’s Organ at St Michael's first used on
the 29th November 1849
Bath and Cheltenham Gazette, 39, (1953)
3d. December 8th 1849.
'An excellent selection of chants Services and anthems were sung, with the aid of a small but efficient choir….Mr Gibbs, the recently appointed organist, presided at the new organ which is an instrument of great sweetness and considerable power for its size, and does much credit to the mechanical abilities of its builder, Mr Sweetland.’ On 23 March 1877, this testimonial was sent to William Sweetland, signed by John C Burnett St Michael's Rector and Churchwardens Henry J. Walker and J. W. Marsh. ‘Dear Sir, We have
much pleasure in saying that the organ you erected
in St Michael’s Parish Church in 1849 has proved
in every respect a most excellent and
satisfactory instrument, having required no outlay
for it in repairs during the period of twenty-eight
years it has been in use, beyond small matters
included in your tuning, viz., £4 4s per annum.
The organ is considered to be as good now as when
first built, and very favourable opinions have
been expressed by good judges of music as to the
quality of tone and power’.
William Sweetland began on his own account in 1846 and continued building quality organs until the beginning of the 20th Century Around 300 organs were built or rebuilt by Sweetland in churches and private residences throughout the UK and as far away as Genoa. The Genoa instrument was the desire of the Crown Princess of Germany, Princess Royal of England, to provide the English church with an organ. The Princess and the Emperor of Germany paid most of the costs. Instruments which survive in the Bath area in 2010, include, St Michael's Without, Broad Street, Central United Reform, Argyle Street, Manvers Street Baptist, All Saints Weston, St Saviour's Larkhall, Partis College Weston, Christ Church Bradford-on-Avon, St Leonard Farleigh Hungerford, St Peter Freshford, St Bartholomew Corsham, Holy Cross Seend, Dauntsey Church, St Andrew Holcombe, Downside and Grittleton School, St Mary, S t Peter and St Andrew Devizes. Sweetland Music Festival and Celebrities Exhibition 18th - 25th September
2010. Sweetland Music Festival at St Michael's
Without, commemorated the centenary of the death
of St Michael's organ builder, William Sweetland,
with a week of music and exhibition. The Exhibition
based on Sweetland, included a special Festival
painting by Bath artist Peter Brown, together
with displays of Bath's great citizens. The opening
concert was given by internationally acclaimed
organist Thomas Trotter, City of Birmingham Organist,
and Organist of St Margaret's Church, Westminster
Abbey. Other events included the RUH Choir, City
of Bath Bach Choir, Paragon Singers, Autumn Equinox
produced and composed by Steven Faux (curate of
St Miachel's) and Vocal Works Gospel Choir. Historic
Bath walks were provided by well known city guide
Andrew Swift, and lunchtime organ recitals were
given by Bath Organist James Scott and Tim Campain,
Organist of Coventry Cathedral. Proceeds of the
Festival were divided between RUH Forever Friends
Appeal and Dorothy House Hospice.
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