Musical Traditions

To the right of the altar stands the Chamber Organ, a historic wind instrument that was installed in 2004 to celebrate the Cathedral’s 200th anniversary.

Built in London in 1790 by England & Son, it is one of the few organs still in its original condition.Traditionally, the choir sings to the left of the organ, oriented towards the rising sun—a symbol of Christ’s resurrection.

In England, house organs were popular among the wealthy before the introduction of the pianoforte. These organs were often crafted by cabinetmakers to match home decor. 

The organ was originally owned by Sir William Bagshawe, a physician and friend of composer Franz Joseph Haydn. The organ was installed in his home in Oakes Park in 1811, where it stayed until it was sold in 1984.

Ontario collector and patron, Gordon Jeffery acquired it reinstalled in London, Ontario. When Gordon Jeffery died in 1986, the Foundation responsible for disposing of all the instruments in his collection offered it to the city of Montreal, which accepted it and stored it in organ builder Hellmuth Wolff’s shop. Thanks to a large anonymous gift, the organ was purchased by Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral in 2004 and restored by organ builders Wolff & Associates.

The 1882 gallery organ of Quebec City’s Anglican Cathedral has undergone a three-year restoration by Ateliers Bellavance and will resound in its full splendor once again in 2023. Originally built by Montreal organ builder Samuel Warren in 1884-1885 to support congregational hymn singing, the instrument has evolved over time. Its console was relocated in 1926, and it has been rebuilt and enlarged twice while preserving most of its original pipework. 

A major restoration in 1959 by WM Hill & Son and Norman & Beard introduced a neoclassical style inspired by the 18th century, enhancing its luminous sonorities for early music. This latest restoration ensures the preservation of this unique piece of Quebec’s musical heritage, allowing it to continue enriching the cathedral’s worship and musical traditions.

The goal of this restoration was also to preserve the spirit of the instrument, which was designed in 1882 by Warren. Les Ateliers Bellavance spent nearly three years restoring the gallery organ, a task completed in 2023. The work included rebuilding the organ's lungs, replacing the blowers, restoring the console and keyboard, inspecting the condition of all 4,000 pipes and removing any dust build-up.

This project was made possible with the financial support of the Conseil du patrimoine religieux and Ministère de la culture et des communications du Québec.

The cathedral hosts a rich and diverse array of concerts throughout the year, showcasing talented musicians from various traditions, from classical ensembles to choral performances and contemporary recitals. Renowned for its exceptional acoustics, the cathedral owes its warm and resonant sound to its entirely wooden structure, free of plaster. This unique characteristic makes it one of the finest acoustic spaces in Quebec, allowing each note to be heard with clarity and depth, creating an immersive and memorable musical experience for both performers and audiences.

Join us for our next concert and let the music resonate in this extraordinary setting!