John York Abbey (1785 – 1859) was an English organbuilder worked in Paris by ca. 1825 with piano maker Sébastien Érard in building an organ Érard had designed for the 1827 Exhibition of the Productions of National Industry, held at the Louvre in Paris. 

Abbey became extensively employed in the construction, renovation, and enlargement of organs in France and elsewhere. He promulgated in France advanced winding systems based on parallel reservoirs rather than cuneiform bellows, conveniently operated couplers, balanced key action instead of suspended action, and even swell shutters. 

Abbey installed the organ in 1849 at St-Etienne Cathedral in Châlons-en-Champagne. Mechanical renovation and tonal modifications occurred in 1898 by Abbey’s sons John Albert and Eugène. The Roethinger firm of Alsace made repairs and modifications in 1957. Later work began in February 2000 by the organ firm Renaud-­Menoret of Nantes and was completed in December 2006 by the Lacorre & Robert Frères firm which included former workers of Re­naud-Menoret, returning the organ mostly but not entirely to its 1898 specification.

1849 John Abbey, Versailles
Cathédrale St-Etienne, Châlons-en-Champagne, France

I Grand Orgue 56 notes
16 Montre
16 Bourdon
8 Montre
8 Flûte harmonique
8 Bourdon
8 Gambe
8 Salicional
4 Prestant
4 Flûte douce
2 Doublette
16 Bombarde
8 Trompette
8 Basson
4 Clairon
III Cymbale
IV-III Fourniture
V Cornet
Anches G.O.
Octaves graves G.O.
Réc./G.O.
16 Réc./G.O.
Pos./G.O.

II Positif ouvert 56 notes
8 Flûte harmonique
8 Principal
8 Bourdon
8 Salicional
8 Unda maris
4 Dulciane
2 Doublette
2-2/3 Nazard
1 Piccolo
8 Clarinette
8 Trompette

III Récit expressif  56 notes
16 Quintaton
8 Cor de nuit
8 Flûte traversière
8 Viole de gambe
8 Voix céleste
8 Diapason
4 Flûte octaviante
2-2/3 Quinte (formerly 8 Cor Anglais)
2 Octavin
16 Basson
8 Trompette
8 Basson hautbois
8 Voix humaine
4 Clairon
V Cornet
IV-III Plein-jeu
Tremblant
Anches Réc.

Pédale 30 notes
32 Principal
16 Flûte
16 Soubasse
8 Flûte
8 Violoncelle
8 Bourdon
4 Flûte
16 Bombarde
8 Trompette
4 Clairon
Anches Péd.
G.O./Péd.
Pos./Péd.
Réc./Péd.