Ostend (B) | Saint John the Baptist

Thanks to stylistic feature analysis and to a list of on-site jobs dated 1885 we were able to attribute this organ to Louis Benoit Hooghuys, from Bruges. Its installation in the church of Notre-Dame Immaculée Conception in Oostende (Hazegras) could be dated between 1867 and 1869. Although unknown, the original specification must have contained 19 stops played from two manuals and a coupling Pedal division.

 

During the first decade of the 20^th century Joris added a borrowing system to the Pedals so they could command the 16’ ranks from the Great. He also enclosed the Positif positioned above the Great, installed a new console and probably added a Barker machine as well.

 

Between 1955 and 1956 the organ underwent major transformations by Delmotte: the action became electrical, the console was refurbished, new divisions were added on new chests – enclosed Récit and independent Pedal –and the specification was adapted to serve the purpose of the neo-classical taste then in vogue.

 

The church in Hazegras closed doors in 1994 and in 1996 all organ parts of historical significance were stored. These elements were then purchased by the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Oostende where the organ was reinstalled at ground level in the right flank of the transept.

 

The restoration project was based upon the reconstruction of the Hooghuys organ with minor enlargements: the Great was strictly reconstituted on its original chest, whereas the Positive was disposed on a new chest placed on top of the Great – its original position – with original stop list enriched by two little mutation ranks replicated after other instruments that Hooghuys had built with a keener classical accent. The independent Pedal now consists of two wooden stops recovered from the 1955 overhaul. The tracker action was entirely reconstructed using some of the original material from the Great still preserved, and the parallel reservoir was located at ground level. Since the organ was originally installed under the gallery archway, the case possessed neither sides nor back. For its new location we provided the case with new wooden sides and back, all made of oak.