James Jepson Binns was a pipe organ builder based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Binns was born in Burley, Leeds, Yorkshire and was married twice - firstly, on 12 March 1883, to Frances Mary Neville Collins and secondly, in September 1919, to Marion Eva Cuff.
Organs
Pipe organs at the following locations were either built or rebuilt by James Jepson Binns or his JJ Binns company. A number of these buildings have been demolished and the organs broken up or destroyed. Many original Binns organs in this list have been subsequently rebuilt by other organ builders.
Albert Hall, Nottingham - built by Binns in 1909, replacing a Brindley & Foster destroyed by fire.
All Saints' Church, Stamford - the 1890 Hill organ was rebuilt by Binns in 1916.
Galston Parish Church - 1913. - 3-manual pipe organ by J.J.Binns installed in 1913. It has an electro-pneumatic action patented by the organ maker. Centenary celebrations for the organ commenced with a Songs of Praise in Galston Parish Church on Sunday, 10 February 2013, featuring the congregation, organist and choirmaster Graeme Finnie and the Church Choir - along with international mezzo soprano Linda Finnie. The service was conducted by Rev. Alastair Symington, locum tenens during the church's vacancy. Representatives of the Scottish Historic Organ Trust visited the church on 27 April 2013 to examine, photograph and play the organ. The British Institute of Organ Studies, in June 2013, awarded the Galston Organ a Grade 2* Historic Organ Certificate, the second highest grade of certificate awarded. A Celebrity Organ Recital was held on Saturday, 19 October at 7pm, featuring international organist Ian Hare.
Gilcomston South Church - 1902.
Providence Congregational Church, at Whitle, New Mills - 1914.
Jesmond Parish Church, Tyneside - rebuilt in 1913 with four manuals, but contains pipework from an earlier T.C.Lewis organ.
St. Dunstan's Church, Benoni, South Africa. The Ben Dijkman Organ was originally built in the 1870s by Binns in Leeds and installed in the NG Kerk in Queenstown. In 1925 it was brought to Benoni for the Dutch Reformed Church in Benoni. They sold it to St. Dunstan's in 1948 and it had to be totally rebuilt and enlarged in 1961 when the church was extended. Approximately one-third of the present pipework and most of the air-chests are original, however, the case is new. Christian Ganser was the Organ Builder.
St. George's Church, Hartlepool. Three-manual Binns organ built in 1904 and last renovated in 2015.
St. Laurence's Church, Frodsham - 1882-3 and rebuilt by J.J. Binns in 1923.
St. Mary's Church, Astbury- 1912 for King's Hall, Stoke, but presented to St. Mary's by Stoke City Council in 1962 and rebuilt and installed by Reeves & Merner.
St. Paul's Church, Boughton.
St. Peter's Church, Harrogate - work on 1879 Edmund Schulze organ.
Stoke Minster - 1899, moved from private residence by unknown organ builder in 1927.
Tonbridge School Chapel - 1909. Organ destroyed by fire in September 1988.
Wesley Chapel, Harrogate - 1912.
Former Wesleyan Chapel, Rodley, Leeds, had a Binns organ, recorded there in 1886 and 1888, and photographed between 1902 and 1914. The chapel was demolished in 1973.
George Street Methodist Church, Little Driffield - 1906. Moved to Acomb Methodist Church, Front Street, York in 1964. This organ is known locally to be one of the finest examples of the work of this well renowned organ builder. It is home to many tonal delights, and has stood the test of time. During 2009 a major restoration of the pedals was undertaken, and in 2010, the organ was awarded an Historic Organ Certificate.
