Bid to raise £1m to restore organ

AN APPEAL has been launched to raise £1m to restore a Yorkshire abbey’s organ which has been dubbed “one of Europe’s top sonic treasures”.

Selby Abbey’s internationally-renowned organ which dates from the Edwardian era needs extensive renovations and there are fears that it will be unplayable within the next five years unless the work is carried out. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has agreed to become the patron of the appeal, which is aiming to hit the £1m target by 2016.

The instrument was designed and built for the abbey in 1909 by William Hill and Son, the leading manufacturer of organs at the time.

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The British Academy of Music’s patron, Carlo Curley, recently called it “an international treasure of commendable renown and one of Europe’s top sonic treasures”.

But some notes cannot be played in certain atmospheric conditions and there is a real risk that it will become unplayable altogether within five years. Some repairs undertaken in the last 30 years have also impaired the organ’s sound.

Donations can be made at www.selbyabbeyorganappeal.org.uk