Notes

Our Lady of the Rosary Merthyr Tydfil Gets a Viscount Ensign 51 FV Organ
Aspire Digital Organs are thrilled to announce the installation of the stunning Viscount Ensign 51 FV Organ at St. Mary (Our Lady of the Rosary) Church in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.


The highlight of our two-day voicing session was observing the usually very reserved Canon Barry English smile broadly and exclaim, "Phwoar", as he listened to the finished instrument during Richard's demonstration.

This organ, with our exclusive 6-channel audio system option, designed by Aspire Classical Organs and voiced by the renowned Richard Lowe, is a perfect addition to any home or church seeking a more comprehensive stoplist.

Key Features:
51 tilt-tab speaking stops and four orchestral pistons
32 Note pedal board
6-Channel Digital Audio System: Experience unparalleled sound quality.

Ideal for Homes and Churches: Perfect for those wanting an extensive stop list.


Church History
Our Lady of the Rosary is an Early English Gothic design for the Benedictines, and J. S. Hansom’s only Catholic church in Wales. It has a notable townscape presence, and an impressive internal volume. Original or early furnishings of note include a fine reredos in memory of the priest who built the church and some good stained glass. The attached brick-built presbytery slightly predates the church. The buildings and site make a significant contribution to the Morgantown Conservation Area.

St Mary's is in thirteenth century Gothic style, constructed of randomly coursed Pwllypant stone with Bath stone dressings and slate roofs (partly pantiles on the lean-to extension to the north aisle). On plan it consists of an aisled nave with transepts and a square-ended sanctuary with side chapels. The west front is tripartite, with buttresses framing a gabled porch with an arched doorway of three orders. There are five-light stepped lancet windows to the west and east fronts, triple lancets over paired lancets in the transepts, triple lancets at the east end of the side chapels, paired lancets in the nave and clerestory and paired lancets with plate tracery in the clerestory of the sanctuary. The transepts and side chapels are under lower ridgelines.

The interior is majestic and spacious, with Corsham Down stone used for the architectural detail. A modern glazed screen at the west end forms a narthex with a piety stall and archway through to the WCs in the north aisle lean-to addition. Above the narthex is a gallery accessed by a modern spiral stair in the northwest corner. The nave is of three bays, the arcades with octagonal piers with moulded capitals and arches with connected hood moulds, all painted. The timber roof is of king-post construction with wall posts springing from moulded stone corbels. A panelled confessional (with cusped blind tracery) and Lady Chapel give off the north aisle. The transept arches are taller than the nave arcades. The wide chancel arch is set on half-column responds. The sanctuary is arcaded to north and south, with stout polished granite columns with painted stone bases, capitals and moulded arches. The chancel roof is timber barrel vaulted, the chief ribs rising from tall stone wall posts. To the north is a Blessed Sacrament Chapel, to the south a Sacred Heart Chapel.


The following furnishings may be noted:
The carved reredos is of alabaster and various marbles. It has elaborate open tracery and carved figures of St Bernard and St Stephen under canopies, the pelican in her piety and foliage detailing. It forms part of the high altar ensemble erected in memory of the Rev. Bernard Stephen Canon Wade OSB, who built the church and served here for 25 years (d. 9 July 1909), as recorded in a marble memorial in the narthex.
The forward altar of 1992 incorporates marble from the former communion rails, with cusped tracery detailing.
The carved and painted stone and marble pulpit is polygonal, with open arcading. It has been cut down the pillars reused for the tabernacle plinth in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel to the north.
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel retains its marble altar rails and metal gates, given in memory of Mrs Bernasconi.
The elaborately-carved octagonal stone font of 1910 has been relocated to Sacred Heart Chapel.
The five-light east window depicts the five Joyful Mysteries. It appears to be of twentieth century date and is similar in style to the windows of the north (Coronation of the Virgin and the Assumption) and south (Way of the Cross and Crucifixion) transepts.
A brass plate on the gallery states it was erected in 1921 by the C.Y.M.S. in memory of their deceased members.
The Stations of the Cross are painted plaster reliefs.


Aspire Digital Organs has 100's of Viscount Organs In Stock For Immediate Delivery

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Need a new classical organ for your home, school or church? As an accredited Viscount Organ Stockist , Aspire Classical Organs are committed to providing the finest level of service both pre and post sale. Visit our website at www.viscountorgans.wales

We are also Viscount Authorised Service Agents and can provide immediate technical assistance and advice for your Instrument.

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