The Organ Restoration Fund was launched in the December 2021 edition of ‘The Obelisk’ newsletter:

Many of you will be aware that aside from restrictions imposed by Covid, our church organ has been out of action for a number of months.

In September 2020 the Pedal division became unplayable. Following a survey of the entire organ by Trevor Crowe, the highly respected Organ Restorer, a scheme for a three-phase restoration and repair of the instrument was proposed and subsequently agreed by the Select Vestry.

The programme may be summarised as follows:

i) The overhaul and reconstruction of the Pedal division.
ii) The recasting of the Swell division, including the provision of a new soundboard of eleven stops, effectively combining the functions of the existing Choir and Swell divisions, with roughly the same number of pipes but with enormously improved musical range in terms of service accompaniment and solo performance.
iii) Restoration and enhancement of the Great division, including overhaul of the soundboard together with rescaling, revoicing and general upgrading of pipework.

The phases of work are constructed in such a way as to enable each to be contracted and completed independently of the others.

The total cost of the work is €139,000, inclusive of VAT. The parish has sufficient resources to fund the overhaul of the Pedal division at a cost of €30,000. This work commenced in May 2021 once Covid restrictions were relaxed and was completed during October 2021.

The second and third phases will not proceed unless and until sufficient funds are available.To this end an Organ Restoration fund has been established and we have been fortunate to have already received donations from a number of parishioners, totalling €21,000. When coupled with the charitable donations rebate from Revenue, which should yield a further €9,500, this means we are half-way towards the €61,000 needed to carry out the second phase.

The impact of Covid has made us all realise how much we need music in our lives, and the benefit of a fully restored instrument would be immense.