Church organ saved by lottery grant

10:30am Saturday 19th July 2008

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The future of a rare 19th Century church organ has been safeguarded thanks to a £165,000 grant to restore it.

The organ, in St Mary’s Parish Church, Tottenham, was built in 1889 by esteemed organ makers William Hill & Son, but has more recently fallen into disrepair.

Once the Grade I listed organ is fully restored, it will be used for church services, concerts and educational activities.

The restoration work will be financed by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Father Luke Miller said: “I think this work is very important because the organ is part of the community’s heritage.

“The interesting thing is the organ still works on the principle of the keys pulling the strings which pump the air that plays the music.

“We already have around 600 pupils coming in each year, but when the organ is restored it can be used for music, religious education, history and design technology classes.

“Most organs from the same era have been rebuilt over the years, but this one hasn’t, so there’s probably only one or two examples of its kind remaining.”

Although maintaining the original state of the organ will be key to the restoration, a remote- operated camera will be fitted inside it. The camera will beam pictures on to screens inside the church showing how the organ works.

The value of St Mary’s organ was recognised in 2004 by English Heritage.

The Government agency gave it Grade I listed status, legally protecting the organ from being altered.

The organ had been sitting unused in the church for years, as a lack of funding hampered restoration efforts, until experts from the British Institute of Organ Studies paid a visit.

Father Miller said: “Someone came to see the organ who said it was very special. It was a bit like finding Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in your garage.”