The foundation of the institution originated with Henri IV, who gave his château in La Flèche to the Jesuits in 1603, to enable them to establish a seminary intended for the education of the children of the King’s home servants. From the opening of the chapel in 1622, there was a 19-stop organ with two 45-note manuals and a 10-note pedal-board. A new organ gallery was designed in 1637, including the organ case which exists to this day. In 1640, the manual keyboards were extended from 45 to 48 notes and the pedal-board from 10 to 17 notes. The new organ included 28 stops spread over three manuals and pedals.

In December 1772 a fourth manual was added with a Cornet, and a second Trumpet, the Vox Humana on the Grand Orgue was removed, and the pedal-board extended to 24 notes. The instrument now boasted 30 stops over four manuals and pedal-board.

During the Revolution several pipes disappeared, some of which were found in the shop of a local glazier! In 1859-60 some repairs and alterations were carried out; the number of manuals was reduced to three, rebuilt and extended to 54 notes. Other alterations were made in 1890, by which time, the organ had been greatly altered from its original condition.

The instrument was listed as a ‘Monument historique’ in 1933. The original pipe-work was consequently saved. The organ was rebuilt between 1935-1947, although with important alterations to the original disposition.

After reconstruction of the wind-chests in 1963, important repairs in the church between 1989 and 1991 rendered the protection of the organ necessary, and it was decided to rebuild it to its 17th-18th century specification. These works were completed in January 1996 by organ-builders Benoist and Sarelot, from Laigné-en-Belin, who studied all the surviving parts for the necessary restoration and rediscovery of the spirit of the historical instrument. From indications suggested by the original roller-frame, it was possible to rebuild four new keyboards matching the original disposition, and a ‘French’ pedal-board was installed. Today, the organ boasts 35 stops with 2,162 pipes, half of which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

The organ of La Flèche offers the organist the rare experience of being able to perform the French repertoire of the ‘Grand Siècle’ on a beautiful musical instrument situated in an architectural surrounding perfectly suited to it.

This is the first recording of David Ponsford's transcription of the Charpentier.