The Organ built by Peter Collins
As the previous organ became increasingly difficult to maintain, a report, commissioned in 1988 from Eric Pask of St Albans, recommended replacement or radical rebuilding. With Paul Hale of Southwell retained as consultant, the P.C.C. evaluated various specifications from organ builders, and different potential locations within the church. In October 1996, a contract was signed with Peter Collins of Melton Mowbray. In the meantime, the parish had raised £100,000 through its Heritage Appeal, allocating £60,000 to the new organ. This sum was subsequently significantly increased by generous donations, interest earned and fundraising to meet the final cost of £100,000. A recital by Paul Hale followed the dedication of the new organ by the Rt Rev'd Henry Richmond, Bishop of Repton, on 24th October 1998.
Peter Collins' 23-stop 2 manual organ stands against the east wall of the south transept. Its location sacrifices the light from the window behind, but allows a good relationship between the sanctuary, choir and instrument, without disturbing the existing traditional layout. The oak case was inspired by the oldest known in Britain, the sixteenth-century case at Old Radnor in Wales. The flowing and fretted pipeshades were the design of Nicholas Plumley, and the painted and embossed case pipes were created in Peter Collins' own workshop. About half the pipework in the new organ is from the old Taylor instrument. The organ has been voiced with the French classical tradition in mind - broad scale mutations and a Cavaille-coll scaled Basson Hautbois on the Swell. For a small organ the Great chorus is particularly complete, extending to a 16 foot Double. The stop-list includes a Great Organ Bourdon, rare in an organ of this size, a Cornet Séparé on the Swell and a half-length wooden Trombone. The wooden Pedal Violone is a survivor from the previous Taylor organ.
Specification
The organ has two manuals and pedals with mechanical action to the keys, and electric stop and combination control by microprocessor. There are twenty three stops. The disposition is as follows:
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| Great Organ | Swell Organ | |||
| Bourdon | 16 | Gedact | 8 | |
| Open Diapaison | 8 | Viol da Gamba | 8 | |
| Stopped Diapaison | 8 | Voix Celeste | 8 | |
| Principal | 4 | Principal | 4 | |
| Open Flute | 4 | Nasard | 2 2/3 | |
| Fifteenth | 2 | Doublette | 2 | |
| Mixture | IV | Tierce | 1 3/5 | |
| Trumpet | 8 | Mixture | III | |
| Basson Hautbois | 8 | |||
| Tremulant | Tremulant | |||
| Pedal Organ | Couplers | |||
| Violone | 16 | Swell to Great | ||
| Subbass | 16 | Swell to Pedal | ||
| Principal | 8 | Great to Pedal | ||
| Bass Flute | 8 | |||
| Octave | 4 | |||
| Trombone | 16 | |||
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| 6 pistons to Swell, 6 pistons to Great and Pedal 6 Generals each at 8 levels General Cancel |
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Previous Organs at St Wystan's
There is known to have been an organ at St Wystan's during the late 19th century. It is shown on a photo taken before the 1885/86 rebuilding work, situated in front of the east window of the north aisle. In 1888 an organist was paid £22 2s 4d. Prior to this it is supposed that the music was led by a church band and singers in the west gallery that was removed in 1886.
The Conacher Organ
The Parish Magazine of May 1901 tells us "it has long been felt that the present small and incomplete organ is unworthy" and appealed for donations towards the £650 cost of a proposed new organ. Events moved quickly and a fine new 3 manual organ built by Peter Conacher of Huddersfield was dedicated on 20th October 1901. This was situated in the Fynderne Chapel at the east end of the south aisle.
The Compton Electrone
By 1950 the Conacher organ was in need of general restoration. This coincided with a long-standing desire to re-order the church and restore the north and south aisle chapels. The Vicar writing in September 1919 said: "The position of the organ is altogether wrong; it ought never to have been allowed to block up the Fynderne Chapel..."
With no obvious place to relocate the Conacher organ, it was replaced in 1949, on the advice of Mr G.H. Heath-Grade, organist of Derby Cathedral with a Compton Electrone pipeless organ - the latest pipeless electronic organ made by the then leading company, John Compton of Acton, London. The Conacher was sold to St John's Essington near Wolverhampton where it is still in use. Unfortunately the Compton organ was temperamental and unreliable as dampness in the church affected its electro-mechanical components. Ultimately it became unplayable as parts wore out and could not be replaced.