The stunning organ at St Chad’s Cathedral is to undergo a major overhaul to ensure its continued use for decades to come.

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

The project is set to cost in the region of £50,000 and will be undertaken by specialists Nicholson & Co.

An appeal is now being launched to raise the final £15,000 needed to get the work started.

So far £15,000 has been pledged by the Cathedral Association and a further £12,000 has been raised through charitable trust grants and individual donations.

It is hoped a grant will cover the £8,000 VAT charge (to be applied for).

The current organ is the work of J. W. Walker & Sons, who were commissioned to build it at the end of 1990.

Since its installation, the organ has proved itself to be effective and versatile and has won plaudits from organists all over the world.

It is considered to be one the finest modern instruments in the country and has featured on recordings by David Saint, Henry Fairs and Paul Carr and been broadcast on Radio 3.

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

However, a major overhaul is now well overdue. True, the organ continues to sound wonderful but too often churches wait until something goes wrong before giving their organ any attention and that’s when it can become even more expensive.

The work we are now planning should see the instrument performing well for at least another 25 years!

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

It is our plan to commence the work during the Summer.