Samuel Green Organ

St. John’s Church and the Samuel Green Organ

The church of St. John the Evangelist was built between May 1823 and May 1825 as a Chapel of Ease attached to the Parish Church of St. Mary's, Princes Risborough. The polygonal chancel was added in 1871.  It was designed by the architect responsible for the Vicarage, and is said to have been commissioned by the vicar at the time.

The Samuel Green organ was previously in the Vicarage. Rumour has it that before that time it was in Hampden House, but this has not been verified. During the incumbency of the Rev. William Burgess, who served at Lacey Green from 1848 to 1880, and to whom the East window is dedicated, the church acquired the Samuel Green Organ. Records tell us that it was presented by Miss Burgess, who had owned it, and played it in the Vicarage (now Lacey House) drawing room.

In 1861, it is recorded as having been located in the West Gallery (now the Upper Room), where we believe it was played by the donor.  It was later moved and placed further forward than it is today. There was then only one row of choir pews in front of it, and the choir vestry was behind. The fireplace of this small room can still be seen to the right of the organ in its present position in the alcove on the north side of the chancel Boys from the village used to manually pump it when the organist, Miss Nancy Hawes, who was also a teacher at the local Church of England School, waved her handkerchief. One of her pupils, Harold Williams, became organist after her, and continued playing for many years.