Renatus Harris facts for kids

Renatus Harris (around 1652 - 1724) was a very skilled English organ maker. He worked in England in the late 1600s and early 1700s.

During a time called the Commonwealth, in the mid-1600s, a group called the Puritans were in charge. They did not allow organ music in churches. Many organ makers, including Harris's father, Thomas, left England. Harris was born in France while his family lived there. After the king returned to power in England, the family moved back.

Renatus Harris learned the organ-making business from his father. He became one of the two most famous organ builders of his time. His main rival was "Father" Bernard Smith. Harris was good at getting attention and sometimes used tricky methods against Smith. Harris came from a family of organ makers. His great-grandfather, Thomas Dallam, and his father, Robert Dallam, also built organs. His sons, John and Renatus, followed in his footsteps too.

Harris is known for adding pedals to organs for the first time. This happened at St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol. These pedals were simple, just one octave that pulled down other keys. They were not like the independent pedalboards we see today. He also became famous for creating organ stops that sounded like other instruments. These included sounds like a trumpet or a cornet.

Renatus Harris passed away in Salisbury in 1724. He died shortly after finishing his last organ with his son John. This final organ was for St Dionis Backchurch in London.

The Famous Organ Rivalry

The competition between Renatus Harris and Bernard Smith was very well known. It led to a famous event in 1684 called the Battle of the Organs. Both men wanted the job to build a new organ for the Temple Church in London.

Building Organs for a Contest

Each builder set up an organ in the Temple Church. They hired famous musicians like Giovanni Battista Draghi, John Blow, and Henry Purcell. These musicians played the organs to show which one was better. Harris's organ did not win the contest. Smith got the job instead.

A Second Chance in Dublin

In 1697, Smith backed out of a deal to build an organ for Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Harris then cleverly installed the organ that had lost the Temple Church battle there. John Baptist Cuvillie and later Philip Hollister took care of Harris's organ. A new organ replaced it in 1752. However, the original Harris-Cuvillie organ from the "Battle of the Organs" still exists. You can find it today in St John's Church, Wolverhampton.

Organs You Can Still See Today

Some organs built by Renatus Harris are still around. They show his amazing skill.

Oldest Surviving Organ

The most complete organ by Harris is at St Botolph's Aldgate. He built it between 1702 and 1704. This organ is also thought to be the oldest church organ in the United Kingdom. Experts restored it from 2005 to 2006. It was even featured in a film called The Elusive English Organ.

Other Harris Organs

Other organs by Harris that still exist, at least in part, include:

• The organ at Bristol Cathedral (from 1685).
• The organ at All Hallows Twickenham (from 1700).
• The organ at the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors' Hall in City of London (from 1722). Mander Organs restored this one in 1966.

An organ by Harris at Christ Church Greyfriars in London was heavily rebuilt in 1838. Sadly, it was destroyed along with the church in 1940 during the Blitz. The organ at St Michael, Cornhill still has nine parts from Harris's original instrument from 1684.