© Maggie Kilbey 2025
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Somerset
*Aisholt (All Saints) : Barrel organ. Ref: Church Bells (6 Mar. 1875) p.162; (13 Mar. 1875)
p.175.
*Ash Priors (Holy Trinity) : Barrel organ. Ref: W.G. Willis Watson, Letter, Notes & Queries,
12th series, CXLVII (1924) p.326; Boston (1959) p.119.
Banwell (St Andrew) : Barrel organ installed 1830.
Ref: Central Somerset Gazette (29 Jun. 1934) p.8; ‘The Glory of Banwell Church’, Weston
Mercury (23 May 2008).
*Bathealton (St Bartholomew) : 1854 J.W. Walker barrel organ. Scrapped 1901.
Ref: W.G. Willis Watson, Letter, Notes & Queries, 12th series, X (22 Apr. 1922) p.316; The Times
(8 Sep. 1953); Boston (1959) p.119.
Bawdrip (St Michael & All Saints) : Barrel organ. Ref: Parish Magazine (Jan. 1902) p.11
*Bedminster (St John) : George Astor barrel organ. Transferred to Bristol Museum 1950.
*Berrow (Blessed Virgin Mary) : John Avery barrel & finger organ ex Brent Knoll 1881.
Barrel mechanism removed. Ref: Country Life (24 Jun. 1965) includes photograph; M.I.
Wilson, The Chamber Organ in Britain, 1600-1830 (2001) p.171
*Bishop’s Hull (St Peter & St Paul) : Bevington & Sons improved barrel organ installed 1845. Transferred to Kilton 1862.
Brent Knoll (St Michael) : John Avery barrel & finger organ installed 1791. Transferred to Berrow 1881. Ref: Wilson (2001) p.171.
Burrington (Holy Trinity) : Barrel organ. Ref: Bristol Daily Post (31 Jan. 1872) p.3
Burrowbridge (St Michael) : Barrel organ. Ref: Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser (17 Sep. 1938) p.2
*Burtle (St Philip & St James) : H. Bryceson barrel & finger organ. Transferred to Roy Mickleburgh Collection, Bristol 1950.
[Castle Cary : NOT A BARREL ORGAN] Ref: Ken Baddley, ‘Trouble in the Gallery’, in: Turner, C. (ed.), Georgian Psalmody 1, The Gallery Tradition (Corby Glen, 1997) pp.17-
25; Christopher Turner, ‘Barrel Organs’, BIOS Reporter (April 1997); ‘Castle Cary - Religious History’, in: A History of the County of Somerset: vol.10 (Woodbridge, 2010)
pp.67-74, BHO www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol10/pp67-74
*Charlton Musgrove (St Stephen) : Barrel organ. Converted to finger organ. Ref: Willis Watson (1922)
*Chew Stoke (St Andrew) : Barrel organ. Ref: MacDermott (1948) p.69
*Churchstanton (St Peter & St Paul) : Barrel organ. Ref: Willis Watson (1922)
*Closworth (All Saints) : Barrel organ.
Combe Hay (Parish Church) : Barrel organ.
Ref: The Church Rambler; a series of articles on the churches in the neighbourhood of Bath (London, 1876) p.300
Compton Dando (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ. Ref: Shepton Mallet Journal (26 Aug. 1887) p.5
Croscombe (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ. Ref: Cheddar Valley Gazette (1 Sep. 1961) p.13
*East Chinnock (St Mary) : Bates barrel organ.
*Edington (St George) : H. Bryceson barrel & finger organ installed 1820. Barrel mechanism removed.
Farrington Gurney (St John) : Barrel organ. Ref: Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer (28 Mar. 1952) p.2
Greinton (St Michael & All Angels) : Barrel organ. Ref: ‘Greinton’, in: A History of the County of Somerset: vol.8 (London, 2004) pp.63-70,
BHO www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol8/pp63-70
Halse (St James) : Barrel organ installed 1830. Ref: Somerset Heritage Centre (SHC), DD/SF/3934 Papers including bill for barrel organ (1830);
Northamptonshire Archives, L(C) 220 Letter (1829)
*Heathfield (St John the Baptist) : Barrel organ. Ref: Willis Watson (1924)
*Ilchester (St Mary Major) : Barrel organ. Ref: Boston & Langwill, 1st edn. (1967) pp.21-37
Isle Abbots (St Mary the Virgin) : See Surviving instruments
*Kilton (St Nicholas) : Bevington & Sons improved barrel organ ex Bishop’s Hull 1862. Transferred to West Quantoxhead 1981.
Ref: Musical Opinion (1911) p.188; Boston (1959) p.119
*Kings Brompton (Brompton Regis) (Blessed Virgin Mary) : Barrel organ installed 1846.
Lilstock (St Andrew) : Barrel organ. Ref: Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser (13 Nov. 1935) p.10
Lydford (St Peter) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1833. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger, 1 (1833)
Milborne Port (St John the Evangelist) : Barrel & finger organ.
Ref: Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser (5 Oct. 1927) p.10; Country Life (12 Aug. 1965) p. 405
Milverton (St Michael & All Angels) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1827. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger, 1 (1827)
*Misterton (St Leonard) : Barrel organ. Destroyed by fire c.1900. Ref: The Organist & Choirmaster (Jul. 1905) p. 52; Willis Watson (1922)
Monkton Combe (St Michael) : Barrel organ. Ref: Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette (7 Jun. 1941) p.11
Muchelney (St Peter & St Paul) : See Surviving instruments
Nether Stowey (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ. Transferred from Wembdon c.1860.
Ref: West Somerset Free Press (17 Apr. 1909) p.7; Western Daily Press (17 Aug. 1929) p.7
Paulton (Holy Trinity) : Barrel organ. Ref: Somerset Standard (16 June 1972) p.5
Portishead (St Peter) : Barrel organ installed c.1827. Ref: SHC, D/P/pthd/4/1/2 Subscribers to barrel organ (1801-27)
*Priston (St Luke) : Barrel organ.
Ref: Church Rambler (1876) p.300; Willis Watson (1924); Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser (28 Sep. 1927) p.10
Rodden (All Saints) : Barrel organ. Ref: Somerset Standard (11 Oct. 1907) p.8
Sampford Arundel (Holy Cross) : Barrel organ. Ref: Taunton Courier & Western Advertiser (17 Nov. 1926) p.7
Shapwick (St Mary) : Bates barrel organ installed 1853. Ref: Musical Times (1 Jun. 1859) p.57
South Petherton (St Peter & St Paul) : H.C. Lincoln barrel organ. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger, 5 (1856)
South Stoke (St James the Great) : Dumb organist. Transferred to private collection. Ref: Mickleborough Collection.
Staple-Fitzpaine (St Peter) : Gray & Davison improved barrel organ installed 1843. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger, 4 (1843)
Staplegrove (St John) : Barrel organ. Ref: Willis Watson (1922)
*Stawley (St Michael & All Angels) : Improved barrel organ installed 1820. Transferred to Bristol Museum 1940.
Ref: HSC, D/D/cf/1940/19 barrel organ to Bristol Museum (1940); Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser (22 Apr. 1891) pp. 4 & 5; Bristol Times
and Mirror (18 Sept. 1908) p.5; Nottingham Evening Post (18 Sep. 1908) p.6; Shepton Mallet Journal (25 Sep. 1908) p.3; Somerset County Herald (10
Oct. 1908); Western Gazette (23 Oct. 1908) p.5; Tower Hamlets Independent and East End Local Advertiser (5 Dec. 1908) p.5; Willis Watson (1922)
Stockland Bristol (St Mary Magdalene) : See Surviving instruments
*Stoke St Gregory (St Gregory) : Gray & Davison improved barrel organ installed 1842. Removed to schoolroom 1867.
Ref: Willis Watson (1922); Boston (1959) p.120
Street (Holy Trinity) : Barrel organ installed 1843. Ref: Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser (19 Sep. 1923) p.10
Trull (All Saints) : Barrel & finger organ installed c.1827.
Ref: SHC, D/P/tru/4/1/4 Churchwardens’ a/cs. Resolutions concerning provision of finger and barrel organ (1827)
Twerton (St Michael & All Angels) : Barrel organ. Ref: Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette (12 Dec. 1895) p.3
Upper Swainswick (St Mary) : Barrel organ. Ref: Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette (26 Oct. 1929) p.4
Walton (Holy Trinity) : Barrel organ. Ref: Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser (31 Oct. 1923) p.10
Wedmore (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ installed 1828.
Ref: Bristol Mirror (4 Oct. 1862) p.4; W. Marston Acres, A Brief History of Wedmore (c.1949) online at:
www.tutton.org/content/brief_history_wedmore.pdf
Wellington (St John the Baptist) : John Gray barrel & finger organ installed 1837.
Ref: Colin Drummond, 'St John the Baptist, Wellington, Somerset', The Organ (Aug. 1998), pp.120-3; NPOR, D01573
Wembdon (St George) : Barrel organ. Transferred to Nether Stowey c.1860.
Ref: Wells Journal (18 May 1861) p.3; West Somerset Free Press (17 Apr. 1909) p.7
*West Bradley (Parish Church) : Barrel organ. Ref: Willis Watson (1924); Boston (1959) p.119
West Buckland (St Mary the Virgin) : Gray & Son barrel organ installed 1840. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger, 3 (1840)
West Quantoxhead (St Etheldreda) : See Surviving instruments
Westonzoyland (Blessed Virgin Mary & Holy Trinity) : Barrel organ. Ref: ‘Westonzoyland’, in: A History of the County of Somerset: vol.8 (London,
2004), pp.190-210, BHO www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol8/pp190-210
Winsham (St Stephen) : Barrel & finger organ installed c.1857. Ref: Chard and Ilminster News (10 Aug. 1907) p.3
Yeovilton (St Bartholomew) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1838. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger, 1 (1838)
* Listed in Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston, Church and Chamber Barrel Organs, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970) pp.91-3
Photo: M. Kilbey
Charlton
Musgrove