Attempts to save church organ
PLANS TO SEND HISTORIC SUNDERLAND INSTRUMENT TO GERMANY ARE SHELVED
Controversial plans to ship a historic Sunderland church organ to Germany have been shelved.
Now a drive is to be launched to raise more than £40,000 to allow the instrument to be partially restored and returned to Holy Trinity Church, in the city’s East End.
A Save Our Heritage appeal was launched late last year after the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) said it proposed to remove the instrument as part of a project to turn the disused church into a new community space and allow a German company to have it.
But a public meeting to discuss the plans at the Queen Street Masonic Hall heard the aim was now to put it back.
CCT regeneration manager Rachel Barrett told the meeting the trust had taken advice on what to do with the organ because the cost of restoring it had not been included in the original budget for the scheme.
“We did not have the money to put it back, so we started looking for expressions of interest,” she said.
“We did get a number of expressions of interest from abroad – the only expression from the UK was for parts.”
The idea had been to pass the organ on to a German firm which would refurbish it and give it to a community which would not otherwise be able to afford one.
“It was not going to be sold, it was going to be given,” she said.
GavinElliott,oftheSaveOur Heritage Group, said the plan had now changed: “The organ will go back in some form,” he said. “What form it goes back in will depend on what can be achieved in the next year.”
After the meeting, Denise Craig, a member of the campaign team, said: “Save Our Heritage are delighted that The Church Conservation Trust are keeping the pipe organ.
“At a meeting last week it was agreed we would work together. We are looking into fundraising to provide the CCT’s shortfall in their budget with the view to keeping the pipe organ for future generations who will be able hear its magnificent sound.
“Holy Trinity in the East End, known to locals as Sunderland Parish Church, holds a special place in the hearts of Sunderland people past and present.
“She stood through two World Wars and so many people turned to the church in their hour of need. We are also looking forward with interest and excitement to when the church is renovated and open to the public.
“We can’t wait to bring in the New Year with the bells ringing out once again on New Year’s Eve whilst our grand old pipe organ plays in triumphant splendour.”
Ms Barrett told the meeting the trust’s budget would cover the £57,000 cost of removing and storing the organ for the year-long duration of the church restoration but funds would have to be raised to cover what happened next.
To replace the organ in partial working order would cost an additional £45,000.
She said: “The reason we are aiming for £45,000 and not the full working order is that to have it fully restored, you are looking at £123,000, and the £45,000 is more achievable.”
Further restoration would be possible once the organ was back in place: “A lot more work needs to be done. We can do that as we go.”
If the target had not quite been reached in time, the