This story starts with the Baptist church in Semaphore, S.A., which was formally constituted in August 1878. Their first church was to be outgrown in four years. The replacement structure was opened in March 1893 and was designed by architect David Chapman.
The last church service was in the summer of 2000. The building now houses The Urban Peasant, an eclectic clothing shop with imported furniture and housewares.
The pipe organ at Semaphore was built in 1902 as a single-manual instrument by Mr. J.E. Dodd of Adelaide.
This organ is among the earliest examples of Dodd's work to survive and remains almost entirely intact, preserving its original mechanical action, pipework, hand blowing apparatus and outstanding three-tower case, with carved details, suggesting a far larger organ. Compare to the Dodd organ at Burra's Anglican Church (below).
JOSIAH EUSTACE DODD (1856-1952)
Organ builder Josiah Eustace Dodd was born in Richmond, Victoria and trained there with Melbourne organ builder George Fincham.
From 1880, Dodd was leading hand in the firm of Fincham & Hobday (Adelaide) and in 1894 he bought them out.
Until his death in 1952 he was the pre-eminent organ builder in South Australia. He constructed instruments for all States of Australia, except Queensland.
The organs he built ranged in size from one manual to three manual organs and had a distinctive tonal palette favouring rich, foundational sounds and orchestral colours.
Below: the pipe organ at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Burra.
St. Joseph's Church at Burra
The foundation stone was laid on 11/5/1873 by Fr Christopher Reynolds. The text on the foundation stone is not known.
A plaque records: The Catholic Church - of St Joseph - Opened and blessed - by - Most Rev C A Reynolds, Bishop of Adelaide - on - 8.11.1874 - Consecrated - by - Most Rev Bryan Gallagher, Bishop of Port Pirie - 8.11.1974.
Stone work high up on the front tower of the building records: IHS
Organ Removal to Sevenhill
The Semaphore Baptist Church closed in 2000. The organ was dismantled and voluntarily moved to Sevenhill in October 2011 with professional assistance from the Organ Historical Trust of Australia.
It is now in the St. Aloysius 'loft', partially assembled.
The historic pipe organ is currently stored on the rear upstairs gallery and the pipes under the church tower.
It could be restored to working order with a great deal of financial funding which is being considered through the Organ Historical Trust of Australia.
St Aloysius, begun in 1864 and substantially completed nine years later, is a magnificent example of Gothic revival architecture set among the vines and gardens of the Sevenhill winery and centre of retreat.
St Aloysius will provide an ideal environment for the J.E. Dodd organ where it will be used not only for services but also for concerts for the wider community and in visits to the building by tourist groups.
Music played on Dodd's Organs (purchase the CD):
