The latest chapter in the life of city’s historic Holy Trinity organ
concerns from campaigners “Sunderland Save Our Heritage” with more than 650 objections lodged against the proposal.
Sunderland City Council wereduetoruleontheplansin December 2018 before church bosses withdrew the proposals.
Theorganisinstorageafter being temporarily removed to allow the trust to carry out the necessary repair works to the church.
This week, a fresh bid was launched for listed building consent to permanently remove the local treasure.
A heritage statement submitted with the application notes rising costs and the coronavirus pandemic as reasons for the move.
Itreads:“Giventhecostconstraintsoftheoverallregeneration
project, especially in light of the impact of the delays to capital works due to COVID 19 and the priority to deliver the main repair scheme successfully, CCT cannot accommodate the additional expenses associatedwithreinstallingthe organ,evenwithoutthecostsof overhauling.Furthermore,the area freed up by the removal of the organ benefits the overall regeneration scheme by enhancing the flexibility and utility of the space.”
The organ was previously GradeII-listed,butwas“de-listed” in 2017 following a review by the British Institute of Organ Studies which considered it to be of “low significance”.
The decision to dismantle the instrument for storage wasmadefollowingaconsultation with the local community in 2019.
According to planning papers, campaigners attempted to raise cash for the organ’s reinstallation, but stopped their fund-raising drive in November.
An option to keep the organ’s casing and console at the churchwasalsodiscounted,as it was not considered to conserveitscontribution“primarilyasamusicalinstrumentnot decoration”, the report states.
Prior to being dismantled, theCCTrecordedeverynoteon the organ which can be replicatedbyasoundengineertobe played electronically through a keyboard. A heritage statementaddsthiswillformpartof the learning and engagement activities at the venue while ensuring “future generations haveaccesstothesoundsofthe organ.”
A decision on plans to permanently remove the instrument is expected by the end of August.
If plans are approved, CCT would approach specialist company Instrumente Ladach with a view of relocating the organ to a church in Germany.
Comments on the plans can be made by writing to the council’splanningdepartment or commenting on its online “planning portal”.
More information at www. sunderland.gov.uk/online-applicationsandsearchplanning reference 20/01030/LBC