Improved barrel organ, c.1831. Tunelists are headed ‘MANUFACTURED BY BATES & SON, 6, LUDGATE HILL, LONDON’, and the barrels also have Bates labels. Given by the Burgoyne family c.1831 at a cost of £100. On his death in 1836 Montague Burgoyne bequeathed £100 of 3% consolidated bank annuities in trust, the dividends to be used for ‘keeping in repair and preserving the organ of this church’. In 1969: ‘Half a century ago its many tiny pipes were a constant target for small boys seeking tin whistles.’ The organ is located in the west gallery. It is operated from the rear, blown by pedal independent of the barrel mechanism, therefore the barrel can be held in position for accompanying chant without loss of wind pressure. The castellated dummy front gives the appearance of a much larger organ, and has three panels of gold painted pipes. Restored 1967 by John Budgen, and again in 1982. Tunes recorded in 1998. BIOS Historic Organ Certificate awarded 2008 (Grade I). The three colour-coded barrels x 10 tunes correspond with the original tunes handwritten on forms headed ‘SACRED BARREL ORGAN No. 2917’, and ‘MANUFACTURED BY BATES & SON, 6, LUDGATE HILL, LONDON.’ The heading on barrel 3’s tunelist is different, and is likely to be a slightly later addition.

References: Bedfordshire Archives & Records Service, P123/2/2/8 press cuttings (1966-7); Letter, Notes and Queries (1924) p.234; Boston (1959); James Dyer, ‘All Saints, Sutton’, Bedfordshire Magazine (Summer 1969) pp.35-9; Boston & Langwill (1967); Turner (2002); NPOR, D01330.