Campaign started to save failing church organ

A campaign has been launched to help save a church organ in need of thousands of pounds of repairs.

All Saints Church in Westbury, Wiltshire is home to a Bevington organ made in the 19th Century, but it has fallen victim to rust and corrosion in recent years.

Director of music Ian McManus, who plays the organ at services, said: "It is very awkward to play and can have a lot of 'sticking' notes. Sometimes when I'm playing a hymn, the pedal motor will stick and I'll have to completely stop."

All Saints wants to raise £8,000 to cover the three months of repairs, with the cost and timeframe quoted by a restorer.

To do this, people can now donate £10 to sponsor a key or £15 to sponsor a pedal on the organ, with their names etched on the historic instrument for generations to come.

McManus, who lives in the village of Bratton just outside Westbury, said: "I think if people can write their name on a part of the organ, they'll feel a connection with it in a personal way and have that sense of community."

The organ at All Saints Church was restored 25 years ago, but steel was used instead of stainless steel.

This meant that in cold temperatures, the exposed organ fell victim to the elements which damaged the springs and pins used to make it play.

It still relies on mechanical workings, many of which are now in desperate need of replacing and some parts are simply unplayable.

McManus acknowledged that the repairs are "expensive" but said churches like All Saints rely on public support.

He added: "The church is completely self-funded, we don't get any money from the diocese. Any money given will go straight into the fund for the organ.

"If churches have historical items like this, they do have a duty of care to look after them. If the organ can be repaired with stainless steel, that does save it for the future and means we won't need to worry about it ever again."

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