The following article was taken from the
Scottish Historic Organs Trust Internet website [www.geocities.com/piped_ in/Shot5.html]
and relates to an instrument that once was the property of West End.

We are informed that the organ probably dates from the late 1830s.

Its early history is not documented but an instrument with identical specifications is advertised in the Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal in 1861: "A large chamber organ, property of a gentleman deceased … suitable for a small chapel, in elegant waincot Gothic case. 11' 6" high, 6' broad, 2' 6" deep, 7 stops - 3 on the Swell and 4 on the Great, one row of keys and separate Swell. Swell: Dulciana, Flute, Hautboy. Great: Stop Diapason (Treble & Bass), Open Diapason, Principal and Fifteenth. Organ in good order, was built by Small Bruce and cost £135."

Small, Bruce & Co. was a partnership between George Small (a former ironmonger who later became manager of the local workhouse) and James Bruce, the organ builder. The partnership lasted from 1829 to 1839. It was a very productive period for Bruce, whose distinguished organ building career spanned almost 45 years.

It is quite likely that the organ described in the advertisement was the instrument which is now owned by SHOT. We know that our organ was owned by a Dr McArthur, Beechcroft, Trinity, prior to 1898. Beechcroft had been recently built at the time of the above advertisement.

In 1898 the organ was moved to the West End Congregational Church, Kirkcaldy, by Herbert King, a former employee of D. & T. Hamilton who operated his own business in the closing years of the 19th century in Edinburgh.

Alterations were made: a hydraulic engine was installed and a pedalboard with a Bourdon stop added. The cost of purchase from Dr McArthur was £45 and the cost of installation and alterations was £147 5/-.

In 1920 the church in Kirkcaldy decided to buy a larger organ by Brook of Glasgow and our chamber organ was moved to Morison Evangelical Union Church in Dundee. This time the organ builder was John Miller of Dundee and the organ was re-opened on October 31 of that year, according to that indefatigable organ diarist of the period, A. M. Coutts. At this stage the pedalboard and pedal stop were removed and harmonium-like pedals were installed to power the new feeders which Miller also made. Wooden wings were also added on either side of the keyboard. These features remain today.

The organ remained at the Morison Church for only eight years, when it was superseded by a D. & T. Hamilton organ brought from School Wynd church, Dundee. Our chamber organ's next port of call was Aberfeldy Congregational Church, where it was opened on June 24, 1928. Here it remained until 1988, when a decision was taken by the proprietors to remove it. Hugh Ross arrived "in the nick of time" to rescue the organ and it was removed to Lethen Lodge, near Innerleithen, which Hugh had just acquired. Here it was installed first in the entrance hall and then in the newly decorated music room, where it was used for a concert and numerous soirees.

Following Hugh's death in 1995 it was moved to St. Columba's Parish Church, Largs, where SHOT personnel under the direction of Alan Rodger installed it in the chapel.

West End's former instrument has certainly got around down through the years!