Bournemouth Oratory Sponsor-a-Pipe Appeal

Our current organ is not the original, is poor quality, damaged, has missing parts and, now beyond economic repair, is at the end of its useful life.  We are greatly blessed by being gifted an extremely rare unaltered 1936 3 manual Compton organ with illuminated touch button console, from Aberdeen which is very similar to the prestigious organ at Downside Abbey.

The defunct instrument is therefore being replaced by this wonderful original Compton, which is being restored to “as new” condition prior to installation.  We need to raise £200,000 to cover transport, and the organ-builder’s professional skills, labour and expenses.  This intricate work will take approximately 15 months to complete, during which time we are being lent a temporay instrument.

One half of these costs can be raised through grant-funding, (applications are already underway), and the other half through this Sponsor A Pipe Appeal, giving Parishioners the opportunity to be part of our exciting project by sponsoring a pipe, or other part, of the new organ.  Your donation will thereby enhance the Sacred Liturgy, and contribute to extending musical excellence at the Bournemouth Oratory for current and future generations.  This world-class instrument is already attracting international recitalists, and will help to bring music back to the heart of Bournemouth.  You are invited to be part of all this!

To hear what our historic Compton will sound like once it has been restored, please CLICK HERE to hear our organist, Peter Murdock-Saint, playing the Downside Abbey organ, which had been temporarily adjusted by our organ builder to achieve the same sound and tone as our gifted organ.

If you are a parishioner, musician, or just love historic organs, your interest and involvement are key to this project.  Please help us reach our fundraising target by contributing to this appeal.  You can donate by clicking on the red DONATE button below.  If you want to sponsor a specific pipe or other key part of the historic Compton, please visit Peter in our Parish Office on Monday, Wednesday or Friday mornings, or email organfund@bournemouthoratory.org.uk to find out more and register your interest.  Please pick up some of the flyers at the back of the Church, and pass them to friends and colleagues who could also participate in this exciting appeal.

Your contribution will help maintain the musical heritage of Bournemouth Oratory / Sacred Heart Church for many years to come.  It will also enable us to preserve an extremely rare historic pipe organ for future generations of parishioners and visitors to enjoy.

CLICK HERE to view an interesting short film featuring the workers who built our 1936 Compton organ.

The pictures below were taken during a recent visit to our Organ Builder’s workshop.

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