© Maggie Kilbey 2026
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Kent
Aylesford
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Joseph Walker barrel organ installed 1837.
Ref:
St James Chronicle
(7 Apr. 1838) p.3;
Maidstone Telegraph
(16 Dec. 1865) 3
*Barham
(St John the Baptist)
:
Barrel organ installed 1834.
Ref: BL Add. Ms. 47775A; Ashton Oxenden,
The History of my Life
(London, 1891) 49-51; MacDermott (1948) 68
Bearsted
(Holy Cross)
:
Thomas Goodwin barrel organ installed 1848.
Ref:
South Eastern Gazette
(5 Dec. 1848) 5
Beckenham
(St George)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Stephen Richard Glynne,
Notes on the Churches of Kent
(London, 1877)
271
Biddenden
(All Saints)
:
Robson barrel organ. Sold 1881.
Ref:
Musical Times
(1 Dec. 1881) 615
Bobbing
(St Bartholomew)
:
Joseph Walker barrel organ ex
Milton Regis
1862. Converted to finger organ 1870.
Ref:
NPOR, D05722
*Borden
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Joseph Walker barrel & finger organ installed 1838. Transferred to
Tunstall
c.1910.
Boxley
(St Mary the Virgin)
:
Joseph Walker barrel organ installed 1838.
Ref:
St James Chronicle
(7 Apr. 1838) 3
*Bredgar
(St John the Baptist)
:
Barrel organ. See
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6C3eplMb98
Ref:
Boston (1959) 113
Bromley
(Holy Trinity)
:
Gray & Davison improved barrel organ installed 1844. Sold 1881.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1844) 203
Canterbury
(St Stephen)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald
(23 Oct. 1915) 2
*Chart Sutton
(St Michael)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Kent History and Library Centre p83/28/7 Letter from
South Eastern Gazette
(1892)
Chevening
(St Botolph)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne, Kent (1877) 302
Cowden
(St Mary Magdalene)
:
Barrel organ. Ref:
English Mechanic & World of Science
(26 Feb. 1875) 613
Cuxton
(St Michael & All Angels)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
www.cuxtonandhalling.org.uk/cuxton.htm
[accessed 12 Oct. 2023]
Darenth
(St Margaret)
:
Barrel organ. Sold 1864.
Ref:
London Evening Standard
(19 Jan. 1864) 1
Detling
(St Martin of Tours)
:
Thomas Goodwin barrel organ installed 1847.
Ref:
South Eastern Gazette
(28 Dec. 1847) 5
Downe
(St Mary the Virgin)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 273
Eastchurch
(All Saints)
:
Bevington & Sons barrel organ. Ref:
South Eastern Gazette
(1 Dec. 1863) 1; Bevington (2022) 403
East Farleigh
(St Mary)
:
Joseph Walker barrel & finger organ installed 1838.
Ref:
St James Chronicle
(7 Apr. 1838) 3
East Peckham
(St Michael)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Tonbridge Free Press
(28 Feb. 1936) 9
Eastwell
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ installed 1843.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(28 Sept. 1901) 5
Erith
(St John)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877)
Farnborough
(Kent) (St Giles)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 303
Frittenden
(St Mary)
:
Gray & Davison barrel & finger organ installed 1847. Sold 1861.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Shop Book 3 (1847) 10
Great Chart
(St Mary)
:
Forster & Andrews barrel & finger organ installed 1854.
Ref:
Kentish Gazette
(29 Aug. 1854) 3; Glynne (1877) 69; Elvin (1976) 26
Harbledown
(St Michael)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(25 Oct. 1940) 3
*Harty
(St Thomas)
:
T.C. Bates & Son barrel organ. No barrels.
Headcorn
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
NPOR, N14790
Herne
(St Martin)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 29-30
Hoo
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Church Bells
(6 Mar. 1875) 162; (13 Mar. 1875) 175
Kennington
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(14 Dec. 1901) 5
Leigh
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 152;
Kent & Sussex Courier
(28 Mar. 1930) 7 & (19 Feb. 1965) 13
Loose
(All Saints)
:
Bevington & Sons barrel organ installed c.1840. Sold 1868.
Ref: Bevington & Sons (c.1841);
Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser
(3 Feb. 1868) 1
Lympne
(St Stephen)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Dover Express
(18 May 1877) 3;
Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald
(29 Oct. 1932) 8
Lynsted
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Joseph Walker improved barrel organ installed 1842. Converted to finger organ 1863.
Ref: Plumley (2023); NPOR, D02996
Marden
(St Michael)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 86
*Meopham
(St John the Baptist)
:
T.C. Bates barrel organ installed 1855. Transferred to
Trottiscliffe
1865.
Ref:
Musical Times
(1 Jan. 1864) 196
Mersham
(St John the Baptist)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 58
Milton
(Kent) (Holy Trinity)
:
Barrel organ installed 1829. Converted to finger organ 1887.
Ref:
Discover Gravesham
www.discovergravesham.co.uk/gravesend/milton-church.html
[accessed 15 Oct. 2023]
Milton Regis
(Holy Trinity)
:
Joseph Walker barrel organ installed 1845. Transferred to
Bobbing
1862.
Ref:
NPOR, D05722
Molash
(St Peter)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(30 Nov. 1895) 6
Newchurch
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(4 Mar. 1871) 7
New Romney
(St Nicholas)
:
Flight & Robson barrel organ installed 1825.
Ref: Glynne (1877) 64;
Kentish Express
(26 May 1933) 5;
Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald
(4 Mar. 1939) 9
Norton
(St Mary)
:
Bevington barrel organ.
Ref: Bevington & Sons (1847);
Faversham Times and Mercury and North-East Kent Journal
(18 Dec. 1915) 6
Otham
(St Nicholas) : G.M. Holdich barrel organ installed 1842. Ref:
Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser
(1 Nov. 1842) 3
*Pembury
(St Peter)
:
J.W. Walker dumb organist ex
Botley
(Hants.) 1858.
Ref:
Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser
(30 Jun. 1950) 7 & (21 Sep. 1962) 9; Plumley (2023)
Penshurst
(St John)
:
Barrel & finger organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 282
Rainham
(St Margaret)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
St James Chronicle
(9 Jan. 1840) 1;
Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser
(14 Jan. 1840) 4;
The Satirist
(2 Feb. 1840) 35
Ringwould
(St Nicholas)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) p.100;
Studies in Modern Kentish History
(Maidstone 1983)
River
(St Peter)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Dover Express
(24 May 1901) 2
Rodmersham
(St Nicholas)
:
Barrel organ. Ref:
East Kent Gazette
(10 Jul. 1869) 5
Sandhurst
(St Nicholas)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 220
Sheldwich
(St James)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Faversham News
(22 Jul. 1899) 2
*Shoreham
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
G.M. Holdich barrel & finger organ installed 1848.
Ref:
Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser
(2 May 1930) 2
*Shorne
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Barrel organ installed 1817.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 313
Sittingbourne
(St Michael) : Barrel & finger organ. Ref:
Church & State Gazette
(London) (5 Jan. 1849) 11
Snodland
(All Saints)
:
Barrel organ installed 1824.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) p.295; Andrew Ashbee,
A Little History of Snodland
www.snodlandhistory.org.uk/localhis/churches.htm
[accessed 15 October 2023]
Staplehurst
(All Saints)
:
Barrel & finger organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 89
Stone
(St Mary)
:
John Gray barrel organ installed 1833. Converted to finger organ 1862.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1833) 105
Sundridge
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 347
*Swalecliffe
(St John the Baptist)
:
Bevington & Sons barrel organ. Transferred to Aldro School chapel.
Teynham
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 178
*Tonge
(St Giles)
:
Bevington & Son barrel organ. Transferred to the Mechanical Music Museum, Cotton (Suffolk).
Now in
The Grange Musical Collection
. Ref:
Berks and Bucks Advertiser
(20 Jul. 1928) 7;
Framlingham Weekly News
(13 Jun. 1931) 3
Trottiscliffe
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
See
Surviving instruments
Tunstall
(St John the Baptist)
:
Joseph Walker barrel & finger organ transferred from
Borden
c.1910. Transferred to The Netherlands 1994.
Ref: NPOR, D03971
Upchurch
(St Mary)
: Barrel organ.
Ref:
East Kent Gazette
(28 Jul. 1888) 5
Waldershare
(All Saints)
:
Now in the care of the
Churches Conservation Trust
. Barrel organ.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(6 Dec. 1924) 5
Wateringbury
(St John the Baptist)
:
Bevington barrel organ installed c.1840.
Ref: Bevington & Sons (c.1841);
Bromley Journal and West Kent Herald
(20 Mar. 1896) 7;
Kentish Express
(2 Jan. 1959) 6
West Farleigh
(All Saints)
:
Ref: ‘All Saints Church’,
The Farleighs
www.thefarleighs.co.uk/all_saints_church.html
[accessed 15 Oct. 2023]
West Peckham
(St Dunstan)
:
Gray & Davison improved barrel organ installed 1842.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1842) 151
*Willesborough
(St Mary)
:
William Goldfinch barrel organ installed 1817. Converted to finger organ 1850.
Ref: Glynne (1877) 73; MacDermott (1948) 68
Wrotham
(St George)
:
Bevington & Sons barrel organ installed c.1845.
Ref: Bevington & Sons (1847);
Brockley News, New Cross & Hatcham Review
(8 June 1928), 2
Wye
(St Gregory & St Martin)
:
Gray & Davison barrel & finger organ installed 1843.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1843) 20
*
Listed in
Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston,
Church and Chamber Barrel Organs
, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970)
81-2
© Maggie Kilbey 2026
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Kent
Aylesford
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Joseph Walker barrel organ
installed 1837. Ref:
St James Chronicle
(7 Apr. 1838) 3;
Maidstone Telegraph
(16 Dec. 1865) 3
*Barham
(St John the Baptist)
:
Barrel organ installed 1834.
Ref: BL Add. Ms. 47775A; Ashton Oxenden,
The History of my
Life
(London, 1891) 49-51; MacDermott (1948) 68
Bearsted
(Holy Cross)
:
Thomas Goodwin barrel organ
installed 1848. Ref:
South Eastern Gazette
(5 Dec. 1848) 5
Beckenham
(St George)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Stephen
Richard Glynne,
Notes on the Churches of Kent
(London,
1877)
271
Biddenden
(All Saints)
:
Robson barrel organ. Sold 1881.
Ref:
Musical Times
(1 Dec. 1881) 615
Bobbing
(St Bartholomew)
:
Joseph Walker barrel organ ex
Milton Regis
1862. Converted to finger organ 1870.
Ref: NPOR, D05722
*Borden
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Joseph Walker barrel & finger
organ installed 1838. Transferred to
Tunstall
c.1910.
Boxley
(St Mary the Virgin)
:
Joseph Walker barrel organ
installed 1838. Ref:
St James Chronicle
(7 Apr. 1838) 3
*Bredgar
(St John the Baptist)
:
Barrel organ.
See
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6C3eplMb98
Ref: Boston (1959) 113
Bromley
(Holy Trinity)
:
Gray & Davison improved barrel
organ installed 1844. Sold 1881.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1844) 203
Canterbury
(St Stephen)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald
(23 Oct. 1915) 2
*Chart Sutton
(St Michael)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref: Kent History and Library Centre p83/28/7 Letter from
South Eastern Gazette
(1892)
Chevening
(St Botolph)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref: Glynne, Kent (1877) 302
Cowden
(St Mary Magdalene)
:
Barrel organ. Ref:
English
Mechanic & World of Science
(26 Feb. 1875) 613
Cuxton
(St Michael & All Angels)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
www.cuxtonandhalling.org.uk/cuxton.htm
[accessed
12 Oct. 2023]
Darenth
(St Margaret)
:
Barrel organ. Sold 1864.
Ref:
London Evening Standard
(19 Jan. 1864) 1
Detling
(St Martin of Tours)
:
Thomas Goodwin barrel
organ installed 1847. Ref:
South Eastern Gazette
(28 Dec.
1847) 5
Downe
(St Mary the Virgin)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref: Glynne (1877) 273
Eastchurch
(All Saints)
:
Bevington & Sons barrel organ.
Ref:
South Eastern Gazette
(1 Dec. 1863) 1; Bevington (2022)
403
East Farleigh
(St Mary)
:
Joseph Walker barrel & finger
organ installed 1838. Ref:
St James Chronicle
(7 Apr. 1838) 3
East Peckham
(St Michael)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Tonbridge Free Press
(28 Feb. 1936) 9
Eastwell
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ installed 1843.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(28 Sept. 1901) 5
Erith
(St John)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877)
Farnborough
(Kent) (St Giles)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref: Glynne (1877) 303
Frittenden
(St Mary)
:
Gray & Davison barrel & finger organ
installed 1847. Sold 1861.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Shop Book 3 (1847) 10
Great Chart
(St Mary)
:
Forster & Andrews barrel & finger
organ installed 1854. Ref:
Kentish Gazette
(29 Aug. 1854) 3;
Glynne (1877) 69; Elvin (1976) 26
Harbledown
(St Michael)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(25 Oct. 1940) 3
*Harty
(St Thomas)
:
T.C. Bates & Son barrel organ. No
barrels.
Headcorn
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref: NPOR, N14790
Herne
(St Martin)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 29-30
Hoo
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Church Bells
(6 Mar. 1875),
162; (13 Mar. 1875), 175
Kennington
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(14 Dec. 1901) 5
Leigh
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 152;
Kent
& Sussex Courier
(28 Mar. 1930) 7 & (19 Feb. 1965) 13
Loose
(All Saints)
:
Bevington & Sons barrel organ installed
c.1840. Sold 1868. Ref: Bevington & Sons (c.1841);
Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser
(3 Feb. 1868) 1
Lympne
(St Stephen)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Dover Express
(18 May 1877) 3;
Folkestone, Hythe,
Sandgate & Cheriton Herald
(29 Oct. 1932) 8
Lynsted
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Joseph Walker improved
barrel organ installed 1842. Converted to finger organ
1863. Ref: Plumley (2023); NPOR, D02996
Marden
(St Michael)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 86
*Meopham
(St John the Baptist)
:
T.C. Bates barrel organ
installed 1855. Transferred to
Trottiscliffe
1865.
Ref:
Musical Times
(1 Jan. 1864) 196
Mersham
(St John the Baptist)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref: Glynne (1877) 58
Milton
(Kent) (Holy Trinity)
:
Barrel organ installed 1829.
Converted to finger organ 1887. Ref:
Discover Gravesham
www.discovergravesham.co.uk/gravesend/milton-
church.html
[accessed 15 Oct. 2023]
Milton Regis
(Holy Trinity)
:
Joseph Walker barrel organ
installed 1845. Transferred to
Bobbing
1862.
Ref: NPOR, D05722
Molash
(St Peter)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(30 Nov. 1895) 6
Newchurch
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(4 Mar. 1871) 7
Otham
(St Nicholas) : G.M. Holdich barrel organ installed
1842. Ref:
Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser
(1 Nov.
1842) 3
New Romney
(St Nicholas)
:
Flight & Robson barrel organ
installed 1825. Ref: Glynne (1877) p.64;
Kentish Express
(26
May 1933) 5;
Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald
(4
Mar. 1939) 9
Norton
(St Mary)
:
Bevington barrel organ.
Ref: Bevington & Sons (1847);
Faversham Times and Mercury
and North-East Kent Journal
(18 Dec. 1915) 6
*Pembury
(St Peter)
:
J.W. Walker dumb organist ex
Botley
(Hants.) 1858. Ref:
Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser
(30 Jun. 1950) 7 & (21 Sep. 1962) 9; Plumley (2023)
Penshurst
(St John)
:
Barrel & finger organ.
Ref: Glynne (1877) p.282
Rainham
(St Margaret)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
St James
Chronicle
(9 Jan. 1840) 1;
Maidstone Journal and Kentish
Advertiser
(14 Jan. 1840) 4;
The Satirist
(2 Feb. 1840) 35
Ringwould
(St Nicholas)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877)
100;
Studies in Modern Kentish History
(Maidstone 1983)
River
(St Peter)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Dover Express
(24 May 1901) 2
Rodmersham
(St Nicholas)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
East Kent Gazette
(10 Jul. 1869) 5
Sandhurst
(St Nicholas)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref: Glynne (1877) 220
Sheldwich
(St James)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Faversham News
(22 Jul. 1899) 2
*Shoreham
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
G.M. Holdich barrel &
finger organ installed 1848. Ref:
Sevenoaks Chronicle and
Kentish Advertiser
(2 May 1930) 2
*Shorne
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
Barrel organ installed 1817.
Ref: Glynne (1877) 313
Sittingbourne
(St Michael) : Barrel & finger organ.
Ref:
Church & State Gazette
(London) (5 Jan. 1849) 11
Snodland
(All Saints)
:
Barrel organ installed 1824.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 295; Andrew Ashbee,
A Little History of
Snodland
www.snodlandhistory.org.uk/localhis/churches.htm
[accessed 15 Oct. 2023]
Staplehurst
(All Saints)
:
Barrel & finger organ.
Ref: Glynne (1877) 89
Stone
(St Mary)
:
John Gray barrel organ installed 1833.
Converted to finger organ 1862.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1833) 105
Sundridge
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) 347
*Swalecliffe
(St John the Baptist)
:
Bevington & Sons barrel
organ. Transferred to Aldro School chapel.
Teynham
(St Mary)
:
Barrel organ.
Ref:
Glynne (1877) p.178
*Tonge
(St Giles)
:
Bevington & Son barrel organ.
Transferred to the Mechanical Music Museum, Cotton
(Suffolk). Now in
The Grange Musical Collection
.
Ref:
Berks and Bucks Advertiser
(20 Jul. 1928) 7;
Framlingham
Weekly News
(13 Jun. 1931) 3
Trottiscliffe
(St Peter & St Paul)
:
See
Surviving instruments
Tunstall
(St John the Baptist)
:
Joseph Walker barrel &
finger organ transferred from
Borden
c.1910. Transferred
to The Netherlands 1994. Ref: NPOR, D03971
Upchurch
(St Mary)
: Barrel organ.
Ref:
East Kent Gazette
(28 Jul. 1888) 5
Waldershare
(All Saints)
:
Now in the care of the
Churches
Conservation Trust
. Barrel organ.
Ref:
Kentish Express
(6 Dec. 1924) 5
Wateringbury
(St John the Baptist)
:
Bevington barrel
organ installed c.1840. Ref: Bevington & Sons (c.1841);
Bromley Journal and West Kent Herald
(20 Mar. 1896) 7;
Kentish Express
(2 Jan. 1959) 6
West Farleigh
(All Saints)
:
Ref: ‘All Saints Church’,
The
Farleighs
www.thefarleighs.co.uk/all_saints_church.html
[accessed 15 Oct. 2023]
West Peckham
(St Dunstan)
:
Gray & Davison improved
barrel organ installed 1842.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1842) 151
*Willesborough
(St Mary)
:
William Goldfinch barrel organ
installed 1817. Converted to finger organ 1850.
Ref: Glynne (1877) 73; MacDermott (1948) 68
Wrotham
(St George)
:
Bevington & Sons barrel organ
installed c.1845. Ref: Bevington & Sons (1847);
Brockley
News, New Cross & Hatcham Review
(8 June 1928) 2
Wye
(St Gregory & St Martin)
:
Gray & Davison barrel &
finger organ installed 1843.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1843) 220
*
Listed in
Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston,
Church and Chamber
Barrel Organs
, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970)
81-2
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