© Maggie Kilbey 2025
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Cheshire
Aston by Sutton (St Peter) : Barrel organ. Ref: Liverpool Evening Express (6 Jul. 1950) p.3
Audlem (St James) : Barrel organ.
Ref: Sir Stephen R. Glynne, Notes on the Churches of Cheshire (ed. J.A. Atkinson) The Chetham Society, 32 (1894) p.11
Barthomley (St Bertoline) : Barrel organ transferred from Crewe Hall 1842. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1842) p.165
Chester (St Bridget) : Gray & Son barrel organ installed 1839. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 3 (1839) p.127
Farndon (St Chad) : Gray & Son barrel organ installed 1839. Sold 1869.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 3 (1839) p.123; Chester Chronicle (6 Mar. 1869) p.4
Heswall (St Peter) : Barrel organ. Ref: Liverpool Mercury (21 Sep. 1875) p.6
Holmes Chapel (St Luke) : Barrel organ installed 1816. Ref: NPOR, H00023
Hulme Walfield (St Michael) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1857. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 5 (1857) p.3
Kelsall (St Philip) : Barrel organ. Ref: Chester Courant (17 Nov. 1869) p. 8
Little Budworth (St Peter) : Barrel organ. Ref: Crewe Chronicle (27 Jul. 1935) p.10
Marbury (St Michael) : Barrel organ. Ref: Church Bells (6 Mar. 1875), p.162 & 13 Mar.1875) p.175; Glynne (1894) p.20
Marthall (All Saints) : Barrel organ. Converted to finger organ 1885. Ref: Crewe Guardian (30 Oct. 1909) p.7
Mobberley (St Wilfred) : Barrel organ. Converted to finger organ.
Ref: Glynne (1894) p.76; Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser (16 Apr. 1909) p.3; Winsford Chronicle (3 Jan. 1953) p.10
Over Peover (St Lawrence) : Barrel organ installed 1826. Ref: Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser (13 May 1898) p.3
Plemstall (St Peter) : Barrel organ sold 1872. Ref: Chester Chronicle (5 Oct. 1872) p.4
Runcorn : Barrel organ. Ref: Chester Chronicle (27 Jul. 1827) p.1
Tarporley (St Helen) : Barrel organ. Ref: Cheshire Observer (20 Sep. 1913) p.7; Winsford Chronicle (4 Apr. 1953) p.9
Tarvin (St Andrew) : Barrel organ sold 1875. Ref: Crewe Chronicle (1 May 1875) p.4; Chester Chronicle (5 May 1875) p.4;
Glynne (1894) p.128
Tattenhall (St Alban) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne (1894) p.42
*Tushingham (St Chad) : Barrel organ installed 1841. Ref: Chester Chronicle (6 May 1950) p.10
Weaverham (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ.
Ref: Glynne (1894) p.57; Northwich Guardian (2 Jul. 1904) p.5; Manchester Evening News (16 Aug. 1923), p.3
Whitchurch (St Catherine) : Barrel organ. Ref: Chester Chronicle (10 Dec. 1870) p.8
Whitegate (St Mary) : Flight & Robson barrel organ installed 1828. Ref: Rachel Cowgill, ‘The London Apollonicon Recitals, 1817-32:
A Case-Study in Bach, Mozart and Haydn Reception’, Journal of the Royal Musical Association, vol.123 no.2 (1998) p.192
*Woodchurch (Holy Cross) : Barrel organ. Removed to vicarage.
* Listed in Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston, Church and Chamber Barrel Organs, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970) p.71