Sponsor-A-Pipe

Sponsor-A-Pipe

The Harrison & Harrison Organ

Built in 1962 to a design by Peter Hurford the then Master of the Music at the Cathedral, and Ralph Downes the designer of the organ in the Royal Festival Hall, ours was the first twentieth century organ in an English cathedral to be built on classical principles.

Since then it has been heard in rehearsal and at services and concerts on almost every day of the year. The organ is at the heart of every aspect of the Cathedral's musical life and, as the “king of instruments”, plays a pivotal role in the St Albans International Organ Festival – which enjoys a world-wide reputation.

Now, however, the organ has fallen silent. A major programme of restoration was initiated in August 2007 when it could be delayed no longer, and the instrument has just undergone extensive repair and restoration by the original builders, Harrison & Harrison in Durham. Our objective has been to restore our organ to its original condition while enhancing its versatility in support of the Cathedral as a place of worship and a centre of musical excellence.

The restoration of the organ includes tonal enhancements, adjustments to the console, finishing of the cases and new façade pipes, new soundboards, and full releathering of the wind system plus a new Nave division.

The total cost of the work is £830,000. Through donations to the organ restoration fund and other gifts, the St Albans Cathedral Music Trust has been able to allocate £540,000 enabling the contract to be signed and work completed. However the need to close the gap on the total cost is urgent. You can help by sponsoring a pipe.

Sponsor-A-Pipe

Our restored organ contains over 4,500 pipes. They vary in length from half an inch to a massive 32 feet. The smallest are just as important as the largest. Each plays its own part in producing the glorious mixture of sounds which the organ offers.

Sponsor-A-Pipe operates in the same way. Individual donations combine to cover the cost of the restoration. Single pipe sponsorship ranges from £25 for a small pipe to £300 for the largest pipes. There is also scope to sponsor an entire 'stop' each containing 58 pipes.

You can sponsor a pipe in memory of a departed friend or relative, in thanksgiving for a special event, as an unusual gift, or simply for yourself. Families, schools and groups can help too by sponsoring a pipe jointly. Donors will:

• receive a certificate of sponsorship
• have the name of their choice recorded next to your pipe in our book of donors
• for donations of £100 or more, be enrolled as a patron of the Music Trust and receive the monthly music list, regular newsletters, an invitation to the annual Advent Carol Service followed by supper, and advance notice of Cathedral sponsored concerts
• and for donations of £5,000 or more, have their name included on a plaque to be sited near the organ

To sponsor a pipe, please download and print out the form, complete it and send it to:

St Albans Cathedral Music Trust
Sumpter Yard
St Albans
Hertfordshire, AL1 1BY

Tel: +44 (0) 1727 890228

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