After 120 years King Lynn’s Minister’s pipe-dream becomes a reality

When the organ at the King's Lynn Minster is played tomorrow night, it will be its debut performance as the instrument it was originally intended to be back in the 19th century.

The Organ in King's Lynn Minster, ready for the celebration concert at the weekend. Picture: Matthew Usher. - Credit: Matthew Usher

The concert with organist Paul Hale celebrates the completion of an ambitious £250,000 project to restore the instrument to its full splendour.

The vicar, Canon Christopher Ivory, said: 'This celebration is going to be a big step forward for us. It's a wonderful achievement after many years of fundraising and restoration.'

The original organ was installed by John Snetzler in 1754 whose work set the benchmark for English organ building for many years afterwards. In 1895, it was decided to bring a more modern organ to the building during a major restoration project – but the task proved too ambitious for the budget and the new organ never achieved its full glory – until now.

Major repairs in 2001 to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the church and priory were carried out and then fundraising efforts were stepped up in 2005 to complete the restoration properly, with the work including the addition of 1,113 pipes.

Canon Ivory added: 'The project has now been achieved after 120 years and is in memory of the late John Jordan, who was the director of music here for 16 years. His generous legacy met 80pc of the cost of the work which is now completed.'

Organist Paul Hale will be performing tomorrow from 7pm. Tickets £5 from the King's Lynn Minster office, or on the door. Free lunchtime recitals also take place every Tuesday from 12.30pm until the end of September.

Is your church undergoing major restoration work? Email louise.hepburn@archant.co.uk