Our Church Organ
You probably all know there is an organ in the church and have probably heard it played. But how much do you know about it, how it works, what is involved in keeping it working, what it takes to play it?
It is possible to take the organ (and maybe the organists?) for granted, rather hidden away in the chancel. In Fletching we have a fine instrument which does a lot more than accompany hymns. We need to value it as an asset for the whole community and preserve it for future generations.
Thanks to the skill of our organists, you may not realise that parts of it are not performing as they should. In fairness, it is nearly 150 years old and it is almost 30 years since it had any significant overhaul. Some parts may not have been restored since they were installed in 1880!
The Diocesan Organ Adviser has recommended a full workshop restoration and so we have engaged Andrew Cooper & Co to carry out the work next year after Easter. It means the organ will be out of use for about 6 months and there will be some disruption at times.
There is a project team in place. They have been working for some months now on a programme that sets out to raise interest in the organ at the in the organ at the same time as raising the funds necessary for its refurbishment.
The work is estimated to cost £80,000 and has been approved by the PCC and the Diocese. Already we have half that total, thanks to the Friends of Fletching Church and the grants awarded by a number of charitable foundations. We are hugely grateful to them all.
On Saturday May 25th, we had the public launch of the project and its website. We are now turning to our local community to get involved by taking an interest in the organ project as a whole, its programme of events and getting to appreciate the instrument we have here.
In June the school will be taking part in Orgelkids workshops; in September there is a special concert planned; next spring will see the last in the series of ‘A Very English Organ’ concerts, before the organ goes out of service.
Once it is back, we can look forward to a special recital by a leading concert organist and a service of rededication by the bishop. Meanwhile there will be opportunities to see the work in progress. You can keep up to date via the website fletchingorgan.org.
You can get personally connected by sponsoring a part of the organ – pipes, keys, or some of the vital mechanisms that make it perform. For every amount given in sponsorship there is an equal amount of matched funding, up to £20,000. So, if we raise £20,000 in sponsorship, we get a further £20,000 in matched funding and we reach our target.
You can also just donate a sum as a gift. Donors will be recognised in a commemorative book – or your contribution can be in memory of someone.
Full details are in the brochures at the west end of the church or can be found at the project website (fletchingorgan.org).
Yes, it’s about preserving heritage of course, but not just as a museum piece. Our organ plays an active role in the community, with schools’ workshops, choral groups, special moments in the lives of families etc. It may have its roots in Victorian England but branches out into all sorts of activities relevant today.
This project will ensure it continues to do that well into the future.
David Knight, Vicar of Fletching