Willis & Sons, 1874

Liverpool, Mossley Hill Church

Father Willis excelled thanks to the industrial revolution

The organ belonging to the Church of St Matthew and St James in Liverpool, Mossley Hill Church for short, is considered by many to be a world-class instrument.

In England itself, the organ is also seen as the cream of the musical crop. Two qualities in particular are responsible for that fame. One: the organ

is eminently suitable for liturgical and recitative purposes. Two: the organ offers infinite inspiration for choral and congregational singing.

The credit for these qualities must go to the British organ company, Henry Willis & Sons, which made a name f or itself in an e xtraordinary way during the Industrial Revolution. As it happened, during that era British cities were building themselves imposing town halls, which required equally imposing instruments. These were preferably to be manufactured by ‘Father Willis’, as he was known thanks to his extensive knowledge. There was no holding back the industrialists: they were all at the front of the line when it came to donating a luxurious hall or even an entire organ. It was this fierce competition that facilitated the meteoric rise of ‘Father Willis’, not only in Liverpool, but all around the world.

Note: depending on your Johannus LiVE model, the stoplist may differ from the original.