Good News
We are very grateful to the Edward Cadbury Trust who have awarded a grant of £5,000 towards further work, including the re-leathering of the bellows.
Our local fundraising is ongoing.
Organ Open Weekend
Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September 2026
Exhibition – Demonstrations – Talks
Organ Recital by JOHN CHALLENGER (Salisbury Cathedral)
Play the organ! Contact [email protected] to book a slot.
April 2026
THE “NEW” BLOWER – what next?
Thanks to the generosity of many donors the new blower was fitted last March and the organ is sounding very good. However behind the scenes the huge wind reservoirs are still the original 150 year old bellows and the leather is unsurprisingly beginning to show signs of wear. Our plan is to re-leather the reservoirs when we can raise the funds. As part of this stage we intend to restore the original hand pump which was in use until 1948 and still functions. It is a fascinating historical artefact and could probably even be used in case of a power cut!
In addition, removal of the bellows would reveal the pedal trackers and it would make sense to restore them while they are accessible. The total cost will be in excess of £30,000.
December 2025
The organ is about to be tuned. This is a highly skilled operation which takes two organ builders for a whole day.
There are also some small running repairs which need attention to ensure that the organ is at its best for the Christmas season.
The next large project will be to re-leather the reservoirs. While this is being done it would also be expedient to restore the pedal mechanical action which lies below the reservoirs and is therefore normally inaccessible.
The cost of this project is around £31,000 so we will be fund raising again in the New Year.
We are always very grateful for any donations that can help us to restore this remarkable instrument.
Organ Open Day 2025
We had a splendid Organ Open Day on Sunday September 7th when we welcomed visitors from all over the Diocese and beyond. People were able to have a go on our unique and historic organ.
Roger Allen gave an interesting talk about its capabilities.
We were very pleased to hear a recital by Andrew Caskie, Managing Director of Nicholson Organ builders, who look after the instrument for us.
The exhibition about the history of the organ is still on display in the church and contains many interesting details.
Thank you to the refreshment team, as always!
The day ended with a Choral Evensong sung by Refugium Chamber Choir, directed by Simon Harper and accompanied by Roger Allen.
Donations on the day to the Organ Restoration Fund totalled £500.
THANK YOU to The Bell, Bosbury, for their very generous donation of £150 from their last Quiz Night for the Organ Fund. This is very much appreciated!
September 2025
While researching the history of the organ for our Organ Open Day, we came across these photos from a previous restoration in 1961!
August 2025
Nicholsons organ builders have replaced the broken support for the Great manual with a sturdier brace and all is now back in action. We have a humidity monitor and thermometer in the organ chamber so we can keep an eye on the conditions in the hot weather.
13th August 2025
A wooden panel has been fitted to protect the organ from direct sunlight coming through the window on the east side of the organ chamber.
There is still time to book a slot to play the organ at our open day. Email [email protected] to book.
November 2024
The new blower has now been ordered. Thank you to all who have donated towards this project so far, and particularly to John Parsons and Roger Allen for their violin and piano recital and to Roger Judd, Diocesan Organ Adviser, for his recent organ recital on our remarkable instrument, both events in aid of our Organ Appeal.
We still have a way to go. Watch this space for more fundraising news.
August 2024
Roger Judd organ recital – Saturday 24th August @ 3:00pm
July 2024
A NEW TARGET
We have been able to effect some modest but very important repairs to the organ which have rendered it more reliable and suitable for recitals. The next recital, to be given by Roger Judd, is on Saturday August 24th at 3pm.
Thanks to generous donations and fundraising the organ fund currently stands at £8500. Our next target is to fit a new blower. This will supply enough air to enable the organist literally to “pull out all the stops” without danger of the instrument wheezing and sounding out of tune. The cost of a new blower, which has to be ordered from continental makers, is £12000 plus (recoverable)VAT.
The terms are 50% deposit on order, 50% on completion 6 months later.
Any donations or pledges of whatever size which can help us achieve this target will be gratefully received by our Treasurer Rob Prestidge 01531 640995.
If you want to know more about Bosbury’s historic church organ please visit the church where there are leaflets on display.
November 2022
We enjoyed a wonderful evening of English Song presented by Matthew Thomson (Tenor) and Roger Allen (Piano) including moving settings of Housman’s poetry by Butterworth, and Hardy’s poems set by Finzi. The legendary Bosbury nibbles rounded off the evening, and £350 was raised for the Organ Restoration Fund.
Nicholsons organ builders of Malvern have very recently repaired the defective swell mechanism, and this is very good news as it means we can begin to plan organ recitals on our unique historic instrument. We are grateful to the Edward Cadbury Trust for their support.
Donations to the Fund of whatever size will always be gratefully received.
For more information, please contact Esther Kay 01531 670634.