As
with most parish churches, there was always the problem of keeping
the building in good repair over the centuries. In the early days
the cost of repairs could only be met by means of a Parish tax.
In 1618, at the time of James I, it is on record that: The parish
church of Wootton is in decay and doth need and want reparacions
and other necessaries at present.
To
fulfil their obligations the churchwardens were obliged to impose
a tax or levy of 12 pence per yard-land. Subsequently, as the expectations
of the congregation changed, there came the need for pews to sit
in and a heating system. The lighting was originally rush lights
and candles, followed in 1890 by pendant oil lamps, from which the
suspension chains were retained in 1944 to support the new chandeliers
which came with the installation of electric lighting.
Before
the advent of organs, the music at St Mary the Virgin was provided
by a band. One parishioner, born in 1850, remembered a band comprising
a bass viol, piccolo, violin and harp.
In 1876
the Reverend F. P. Wickham organised the raising of funds for an organ
which was duly built in 1879 at a cost of just under £200 by
the Huddersfield firm of Conacher & Co. The organ was placed in
the north aisle in front of the east window, but was moved to its
present position in 1911 by Jackson of Oxford who added a second diapason
on pneumatic action to the great instrument. The cost of this removal
and addition was £56.
By the
1970s the organ was in a bad state of repair. The tracker-action was
badly worn and the newer rank of pipes, on pneumatic action, was completely
silent. Money was raised by an appeal, helped by an initial donation
but then set back by an unfortunate false start which left the organ
dismantled and much of the casework missing.
In 1979-80
the firm of Foster-Waite of Newbury agreed to take on a major rebuild
of the instrument during which the action was completely refurbished.
A balanced swell pedal, new stop mechanism and stop-knobs, and a new
pedal-box were provided and a new casework built. The Great Organ
remained much as before except for the important addition of a 15th
rank, but the Swell Organ was largely remodelled. The Viol da Gamba
and the Oboe were discarded and a Stopped Diapason and two-rank Sesquialtera
were introduced. The whole instrument was revoiced. The front and
side case-pipes were repainted by parishioners, reproducing the original
colours and designs.
In 1990
the Parochial Church Council approved a proposal of the then rector,
the Reverend L. W. Doolan, that a portion of the Thelma Kydd bequest
be used to enlarge the organ and the firm of Foster-Waite again undertook
the work. The pedal Bourdon was removed from the rear of the organ
and resited at the side and the action of the pedal organ was electrified,
thus enabling the 16' Bourdon to be extended to an 8' rank. A 15th
was also added in the Pedal Organ. This removal of the Bourdon from
its original position enabled the swell box to be enlarged in order
to accommodate the addition of a Trumpet rank.
