Wells Cathedral Grand Organ Appeal hits £1m

Wells Cathedral has announced it has reached a significant milestone in its Grand Organ appeal, with more than £1 million raised in donations and pledges towards its £2 million target.

Wells Cathedral Grand Organ Appeal hits £1m

The ambitious project, led by the Friends of Wells Cathedral, aims to refurbish and renovate the cathedral’s iconic Grand Organ, which will be dismantled, rebuilt, and enhanced.

The current organ, originally refurbished in 1974, is in urgent need of restoration due to its rapidly deteriorating condition.

The Dean of Wells Cathedral, Toby Wright, said:

“The Cathedral organ is in a rapidly deteriorating state, and it is becoming increasingly urgent that we restore this once magnificent instrument to its full glory. Until now, our wonderful organists have masked the decline of the organ’s performance, concealing its flaws from the ears of the thousands of people who come each year to attend Cathedral services, recitals, and concerts.”

With the halfway point reached, the appeal committee is now focusing its efforts on raising the remaining £1 million to bring the project to completion.

Appeal committee chairman, David Morgan Hewitt said:

“Progress being made on the fundraising side of the appeal has allowed us to begin more detailed planning, and we now have a proposed timetable of works for the organ’s refurbishment.”

Under the proposed timeline, the organ pipes are expected to be removed in early 2026 and sent away for repair and refurbishment and is anticipated to be reinstalled by late 2027 or early 2028 with a temporary instrument used for services and events in between times.

The restoration project will ensure Wells Cathedral can maintain its renowned musical standards, providing a fully refurbished organ that will continue to play a central role in cathedral life.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the Grand Organ Appeal can contact the Friends of Wells Cathedral at organappeal@wellsfriends.org for more information.

With no regular funding from the Government, and limited funding from the Church Commissioners, our cathedrals survive or fall by their ability to find creative ways and partnerships to generate the income needed to fund, not just operational costs, but also the huge costs of repair and maintenance.

Only ten of our cathedrals, plus the two Royal Peculiars of Westminster Abbey and St George’s Chapel, Windsor, charge an entrance fee.

Despite that, all our cathedrals are free to enter for worship, for prayer and to light a candle, and no-one would ever be turned away.