Bradford Cathedral launches £250,000 organ appeal (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Cathedral launches £250,000 organ appeal

7:00am Monday 28th January 2013 in News By Sally Clifford, T&A Reporter

A £250,000 appeal is being created to spruce up Bradford Cathedral’s organ in time for its centenary celebrations.

Alex Woodrow, the cathedral’s director of music, says the organ was previously refurbished in 1977, but the last major work on it was in 1961.

The cathedral is 100 years old in 2019 and it is hoped all work is finished by then. Built for the former Parish Church by William Hill and Son, of Islington, at a cost of £1,600, the organ was dedicated on Wednesday, February 10, 1904. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Cathedral East end was enlarged and the organ rebuilt.

“In the last 35 years we are starting to spot little problems with the winding, air escaping, and one or two pipes need regulating,” Mr Woodrow said.

Mr Woodrow, who has been at the cathedral for a year, said the organ had an important place in the building.

He said: “It’s a proper working instrument. It’s loved dearly. It’s used to accompany the congregation and cathedral choir five times a week and we have a really flourishing Wednesday organ recital during term.

“It’s a very fine cathedral organ. The pipe work is Edwardian and it has a very thrilling, full sound. There’s many wonderful colours on it.”

The appeal will be announced at the lunchtime organ recital on Wednesday, February 6, and aims to attract fundraisers to adopt one of the 3,000 pipes which are priced from £5 to £150. In return they will receive a certificate.

Repairs will include cleaning and regulating the pipes so they have an even tone, fixing electrical contacts, re-levering work and upgrading the console of the organ which will mean the instrument will have more sounds.

Mr Woodrow has compiled a 70-minute CD of organ performances with proceeds going to the appeal. The cathedral also hopes to raise cash during the lunchtime recital series which run every Wednesday from this week until July. “The cathedral is 100 years old in 2019 so the hope is to have what is already a fine instrument in perfect working order for the centenary celebrations,” said Mr Woodrow.

For information call (01274) 777720.