The completion of the organ restoration project is still on course for the end of this month (July).

Nicholson & Co, who are carrying out the work, did find an unexpected fault with one of the two organ blowers - but this has now been repaired.

However, it has led to an additional cost of £2,376, bringing the total left to raise to complete the restoration to £7,857.

The organ, considered one of the finest modern instruments in the country, is currently out-of-action, with a temporary organ in place to provide musical accompaniment.

The restoration project - initially set at £50,000 - is being undertaken by Nicholson & Co staff, who have been painstakingly taking the organ apart and putting it back together.

Thanks to the generosity of benefactors the following is already raised:

£15,000 has been pledged by the Cathedral Association;
£7,900 pledged through charitable trust grants;
£7,620 from private and business donations;

A grant will cover the £8,350 VAT charge, plus the £5,000 deposit was met by the Choir.

After almost 25 years in use – the organ was installed as part of the Cathedral’s 150th anniversary restoration – the time had come for a complete restoration.

The organ is the work of J. W. Walker & Sons, who were commissioned to build it at the end of 1990. The case and gallery were designed by David Graebe in late medieval style, with decoration by Gordon Foster.

The instrument has featured on recordings by David Saint, Henry Fairs and Paul Carr and been broadcast on Radio 3.

It has also been used extensively for teaching and masterclasses, and has been a particular inspiration for young organists at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

If you would like to make a donation please contact Margaret Regan, St Chad’s Cathedral finance secretary, on 0121 230 6208 or email: [email protected]