Organ Restoration Challenge

Background

St Anne’s Church organ is 180 years old. It’s been repaired a few times in that time but is now in desperate need of major work to restore this historic instrument. The overall cost for the required work is approximately £100,000. The first phase will cost £25,000 and we will be fundraising in 2024 to begin the high priority repairs. We hope you can support us in any way you can.

the st anne’s organ its history and plans

There has been an organ at St Anne’s for nearly two centuries and its music and sounds have been enjoyed by many generations at Sunday services and for weddings, funerals and special occasions.

The organ is now over 180 years old. Originally built in 1842 by G M Holditch of London, major additions and alterations were made by Bristol and Clevedon based organ makers in 1895 and 1926. In 1938 an electric blower, still in service today, was fitted. In the 1990s our organist, Brian Bishop, regularly serviced the organ and, with the help of some members of the congregation, even added more pipes. Many of the original parts are, incredibly, still in good working order but much of the electrics and the leather bellows are nearing the end of their life. The symptoms at present are largely limited to unreliable operation of some organ stops and rogue sticky notes creating ‘unusual’ sounds as the organists play. These are largely caused by the poor condition of the electrical controls. Moreover, the electrical insulation on much of the wiring is made of cotton thread and needs replacing. Maintenance of this fine machine has been intermittent with the result that the whole organ and all the pipes need a major clean!

An extensive survey of the instrument has been undertaken and we have consulted the Organ Advisor for the Bristol Diocesan Committee. It is recognised by both the PCC and the advisor that extensive work to allow the organ to continue to be usable for the foreseeable future is required over the next 10+ years. This would give the organ another 100+ years of life. Full details and costing of the restoration work and how it will be phased are still being worked out but it is likely to be progressed in 3 or more phases over a 10+ year timeframe. Initial estimates indicate that the first phase will cost approximately £25,000 and should be started as soon as possible.

A fundraising challenge has therefore been set and this will begin with an organ recital on Saturday 13th April at St Anne’s. This will be performed by Dr David Ponsford an internationally recognised organist and music scholar. He is a professor in the organ department of the Royal Academy of Music and this year has been given a medal by the Royal College of Organists for his distinguished achievement in organ performance and scholarship. He has played many famous organs in the UK and Europe and has made a series of recordings. We are very privileged to have him playing at St Anne’s and look forward to an amazing start to our fundraising challenge. Details of the recital can be found here. All are welcome – but be there early as we hope to have a full church. For further information please email Debbie (organist) on organ.saoc24@gmail.com.