Knox College Chapel
Knox College Chapel is located within Knox College at the University of Toronto. It is chiefly notable for its Hellmuth Wolff organ.
Pipe organs in Knox College Chapel
The chapel has two separate pipe organs.
Chancel organ
The main pipe organ, with console located at the right front side of the chapel, is a three-manual Casavant instrument dating from about 1915.
Gallery organ
In 1991, a second thirty-two-stop, three-manual instrument was added in the rear gallery. It is an historically oriented organ in the North German baroque style built as Opus 33 by Hellmuth Wolff & Associés of Laval, Quebec. The pipework is modelled on the Johan Niclas Cahman organ at Leufsta Bruk, Sweden from 1726/28. The case, though, is a modern interpretation of the baroque style that does not refer to any particular historic instrument.
The key action and stop action are both mechanical. The two bellows can be pumped either by foot or with an electric blower.
Notably, the Wolff organ is tuned to a modified mean-tone temperament devised by Herwin Troje following 17th century Swedish theorists. This same tuning has been used for the Arp Schnitger organ in Norden, Germany.
Windows and natural light
The chapel has a large south-facing window that is largely unobstructed by other buildings. As a result, natural sunlight streams in through the window. The glass is such that it softens the light to some degree, but without taking away its directionality.
Seating and congregation capacity
Seating is provided by two rows of pews on either side of the central aisle. There is a front piece in front of the frontmost pews for hymn books of those at the front of the congregation.