Renatus Harris
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Renatus Harris (c 1652 - 1724) was a master organ maker in England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
During the period of the Commonwealth, in the mid 17th century, Puritans controlled the country and organ music was banned. Many organ makers left England for the continent, including Harris' father, Thomas. It was while the family was living in France that Harris was born. After the Restoration the family returned to England.
Harris grew up in his father's business and eventually became one of the two most prominent organ builders of his generation, along with his hated rival "Father" Bernard Smith. Harris had a flair for publicity and was not above using under-handed tactics against Smith.
The rivalry between the two men led to the famous Battle of the Organs in 1684, when both were bidding for the contract to build the new organ for the Temple Church, London. Each erected an organ in the Temple Church and they hired prominent organists Giovanni Battista Draghi, John Blow and Henry Purcell to demonstrate the superiority of their instruments. Harris lost out to Smith. The organ that Harris built for the occasion still exists, in St John's Church, Wolverhampton.
He died in August or September, 1724.
Among Harris' surviving organs are those of Bristol Cathedral (1685), St Bride's, Fleet Street (1694), All Hallows, Twickenham (1700), and St Peter Mancroft, Norwich (1707) The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors' Hall, City of London (1722) (Restored by Mander Organs in 1966).
