History
A church at the Heart of Horsham
St Mary’s stands at the historic heart of Horsham, close to the ancient Causeway and the River Arun, and has served the town’s people for many centuries. As Horsham expanded with the coming of the railway and new industries, the church was restored and enlarged to reflect a growing and increasingly confident community.
By the mid 19th century, St Mary’s was in need of major renovation, with structural problems and a building no longer adequate for a thriving town. Investment in the fabric of the church went hand in hand with investment in music, leading directly to the purchase of a new, high quality organ.
The Victorian Transformation
The acquisition of the Willis organ formed part of a wider programme of Victorian renewal at St Mary’s. The town’s improving transport links brought new prosperity, and local benefactors were keen to endow the church with furnishings and fittings worthy of its growing status.
Parish records suggest that Henry Padwick, a prominent local figure known for his activities in finance and horse racing, contributed significantly towards the cost of the organ. His patronage allowed St Mary’s to acquire an instrument of a quality more often associated with cathedrals and major city churches.
A Continuously Used Instrument
Since its installation, the organ has accompanied worshippers through times of peace and conflict, economic change and social transformation. Generations have been baptised, married and commemorated to its sounds, making it part of Horsham’s shared memory.
Over the years, the organ has been maintained, altered and upgraded to keep pace with changing musical requirements and technologies, yet its core Victorian identity has remained remarkably intact. The current restoration project is the latest chapter in a long story of care and renewal.