Holy Trinity Organ Appeal

Why does Holy Trinity need a new organ?

The offering of uplifting and inspiring choral music has served the people of this city for many years. Music is a vital part of the full life of the Coventry City Centre church; it moves and inspires many. Much of this relies totally on accompaniment by an organ with a wide range of tonal colours. The 19th century Forster & Andrews pipe organ which was buried deep in a chamber on the south side of the church was in a terminally poor state. Organists struggled weekly to maintain the quality we desire in our worship. Many of its functions were unreliable, many stops unusable. We were advised by several leading organ experts that it had come to the end of its useful life. It was therefore dismantled and replaced with a temporary digital instrument.

8th issue of ‘Pipeline’, our blog about our magnificent Harrison & Harrison pipe organ

 
Welcome to the 8th issue of ‘Pipeline’, our blog about our magnificent Harrison & Harrison pipe organ, saved from the now closed church of St Thomas Bedford, Leigh, in Greater Manchester. The monitoring of humidity and temperature is ongoing both at Spinners Mill, Leigh, where the organ is stored, and here at Holy Trinity, the organ’s eventual new home. A view of just a few of the now vertically stored soft metal pipes can be seen on the left. On the right is a view of the original console.
 

Progress

There has been quite a delay in proceeding to a faculty application to install the organ here as there has been extensive, prolonged discussion as to where in Holy Trinity to site the organ. Seeking to find a solution which enabled organ sound to travel freely into our nave, the Diocesan Organ Advisor, Nigel Allcoat, has recently cleverly suggested moving the organ pipework northwards from the old organ chamber (currently the Servers’ Vestry) by means of a mezzanine above the South choir aisle. This will enable the sound to travel westwards, unimpeded by walls and pillars. Here is a photoshopped image showing how this might appear. This gives an exciting opportunity for a beautiful organ case of our own design.

Fundraising

To date (April 2023) the Pipe Organ Fund has raised an amazing £140,000. However, purchase of our iconic Harrison & Harrison organ, its dismantling, storage and consultancy costs have been £50,000. So currently (April 2023) we have £90,000 in the fund.

Setbacks

• Our target was previously £450,000 but this will increase substantially as it will now include the price of the mezzanine. 
• A further setback is that Clevedon Organs, who tendered to undertake the installations, have had to withdraw from the project. We are therefore currently seeking another reputable organ builder to produce a design for the organ on the mezzanine.

How can you help to move our project forward?

 

Donations

• Many of you already donate by Standing Order. Please consider joining these loyal supporters.
• Single donations. Those of more than £100 receive a certificate.
• Make a bequest in your will.
• The Organ Appeal bank details are Sort Code 40-18-17 and the Account Number is 11405845. The account is Holy Trinity Development Trust . Cheques should be made payable to this account, please.

Volunteering your time

• Support our lunchtime fund-raising recitals by attending and inviting your friends and colleagues.
• Please consider joining the team that manages the recitals. This includes welcoming, handing out programmes, serving refreshments and manning the PA.
• Helping with bid writing to grant awarding charities and organisations.
• Help with publicity.

Prayer

Please pray for

• A suitable organ builder, with a heart for the project.
• Volunteers for recitals.
• Volunteers to help with bid writing.
• Volunteers to collate publicity.

 

Let’s have a real push to have our organ installed, helping us to glorify God in the beauty of our worship, and playing its part in the cultural and civic life of our City Centre.