The Guards’ Chapel

The Chapel’s Organ

Music is an essential part of the Guards’ Chapel. For over fifty years, organ music has complemented the Chapel’s first-class professional choir and allowed for traditional hymns and anthems to be sung in all services. Our old organ was used on an almost daily basis, but in recent years, it suffered from the normal seasonal changes as well as increasing age. Consequently, it became consistently unreliable, with some stops failing to function when required. To address this critical situation, the Major General Commanding the Household Division and the Guards’ Chapel Committee took the decision to commission and install a new pipe organ. This new organ supports not only the Chapel’s ceremonial and weekly services but also a greater programme of recitals and concerts which make use of the Chapel’s facilities, including outreach initiatives for the local community and schools.

The new organ has 2,192 pipes, which range from 6” (15.2cm) to 32’ (9.75m) in length. It has three manuals (keyboards) and a pedalboard, which control four manual divisions (the Great organ comprises two separate divisions) and a pedal organ. Aesthetically, the organ bridges the architectural contrast between the apse and the main body of the Chapel. Musically, it takes inspiration from Harrison & Harrison’s proud history of building, restoring and maintaining a huge number of the great cathedral organs of the UK, but with some inventive and innovative modern touches. Designed to accompany the Chapel’s professional choir, work alongside military bands/ensembles, and to lead congregational singing, the instrument is also hugely colourful and varied in its tonal palette for the solo organ repertoire. From quiet, atmospheric string sounds to a thrilling ‘full organ’, the instrument works hand-in-hand with the Chapel’s excellent acoustics. The design and installation of the new organ was made possible by the largesse of the friends of the Household Division, the Army Central Fund, the Regimental Trustees of the Household Cavalry and Foot Guards Regiments, and a significant number of other generous donors.

Sponsor a Pipe

To ensure the new Harrison & Harrison organ stays in perfect condition for the next 50 years, and that the full complement of events for which it was built can continue at the Guards’ Chapel, we are opening donations for a sponsor-a-pipe scheme. Donors will be able to select a pipe in to be associated with their name, or in memoriam of a loved one, forever.

Donors will receive a certificate designating their pipe and their names will be recorded in a book on permanent display in the Chapel.

The pipes are assigned to tiers based on size, volume, and visibility. The minimum donations for each tier of pipe are:

Tier Four, a variety of small and softly-voiced pipes - £30

Tier Three, colourful-sounding pipes - £100

Tier Two, sizeable and commanding pipes - £200

Tier One, the loudest and longest pipes - £250

Sets of three Tier Four pipes can be sponsored as a discounted rate of £75, allowing the donor to sponsor of triad (chord).

Exceptional donation opportunities include:

An engraving identifying you as a ‘Department Sponsor’ – five spaces available – £2,500

An engraving identifying you as the ‘Console Sponsor – one space available – £10,000

If you would like to select a specific pipe, please view the full list (‘The Pipes’) below.

If you would like to sponsor a pipe, please email

sponsorapipe@householddivision.org.uk

specifying which pipe(s) you would like to sponsor and how much you would like to donate.

The Pipes

Ranges include A#, C#, D#, F#, and G#

Pipes for each stop in the PEDAL department

Pipes for each stop in the ORCHESTRAL department

Pipes for each stop in the PRIMARY GREAT department

Pipes for each stop in the SECONDARY GREAT department

Pipes for each stop in the SWELL department