10 Good Reasons for Restoring the Organ in St Botolph’s

(>>>PDF file on the history of the 1808 Trunch Organ>>>)

  1. Even the most occasional church-goers love to hear the sound of a pipe organ at key services they attend throughout their lives.
  2. The organ was last renovated over 50 years ago, in 1957, and now the action is becoming noisy and increasingly erratic.
  3. The organ is a historical monument to industry in Trunch: the nationally renowned company Williamson & Hyatt (Trunch Organ Builders) had their workshop opposite the Church in Front Street on a site now occupied by Trunch Builders. They built very fine instruments, most notably that at St Mary’s in Walsingham, a much sought after instrument for recitalists.
  4. The organ is a fine example of Williamson & Hyatt’s skills in restoring old organs. They wrote to Rev Braham of Trunch in 1958: We were naturally anxious that our own parish church should have the best instrument that could be provided (it would hardly be good for our reputation otherwise)….
  5. Built in 1808, the original organ is over two hundred years old and is almost certainly the oldest mechanical devise still regularly used in the village, if not the area.
  6. The original maker, Thomas Gray of London, was a key figure in the development of the English pipe organ of the 19th Century.
  7. The Leche Trust, responsible for the preservation of Georgian artefacts in the UK, have considered it a sufficiently significant enough ‘piece of furniture’ to make a substantial commitment towards restoring the casework.
  8. Situated in the darkest corner of the Church, restoration of the casework would greatly enhance the prospect of the dark north aisle.
  9. The relatively simple instrument is an excellent instrument for young people and the less experienced to get a feel for organ playing. It is a superb instrument on which to learn: one such local organ student is now about to graduate in music at the University of East Anglia.
  10. Non-devotional events at the Church, such as the annual concert series, would greatly benefit from the enhanced organ.

    11. The refurbishment is almost complete (Jan 2012), but, due to recent changes on VAT regulations for Churches, the fund requires some topping up. If you would like to make a contribution to the organ fund or would like further details, please contact Kath Clarke, churchwarden, on 01263-720700 or John Mason on 01263-721015. Thank you for your support!