Organ Restoration, Education, Outreach & Innovation
Help us restore the voice of the National Musicians ’ Church organ
An extraordinary historic instrument. A remarkable musical legacy. A new generation waiting to hear it.
For centuries, music has been at the heart of Holy Sepulchre, the National Musicians ’ church, with the Musicians ’ Memorial chapel and Royal Fusiliers Chapel. Our historic pipe organ has accompanied worship, inspired musicians and helped shape the musical life of London.
Considered to be an organ of the finest quality, constructed by some of the finest organ builders, played by some of the finest organists at some of the major national musical services and listened to by generations of music lovers.
Today, this remarkable instrument is sadly silent. We are raising funds to restore the organ, conserve its historic case and establish an education fund so that its voice can inspire musicians for generations to come.
Restore | Conserve | Inspire
[download the organ restoration booklet pdf here]
“One of the most effective small pipe organs.” William Lloyd Webber
“I now realise that my father ’ s association with St. Sepulchre ’ s … bred in me the love I retain to this day for the organ, for organists and organ music. ” Sir Henry Wood
“A delight … justly renowned.. aristocratic pedigree… an instrument of the highest quality. ” Ian Bell, Organ Expert
A remarkable organ with a remarkable story
The organs at Holy Sepulchre have had a long and fascinating history. Their story reaches back to 1670 and the work of Thomas Harris and Renatus Harris. Over the centuries it has been enlarged, rebuilt and adapted by some of the most distinguished names in British organ building, including Gray & Davison, J.W. Walker & Sons and Harrison & Harrison.
The present instrument was created by Harrison & Harrison in 1932, incorporating significant earlier material including four stops from c1676. Among its remarkable features is its 32-foot Double Open Wood stop, retained at the personal expense of Sir Sydney Nicholson. It is an instrument of unusual character, compact in size, but capable of producing an extraordinary range of colour and power.
“The finest instrument upon which I have ever played. ” William Russell, Composer and Organist
The organs at Holy Sepulchre’s have been associated with some of the great names in musical history including Handel and Mendelssohn. Samuel Wesley regularly attended Evensong at Holy Sepulchre’s as he considered the organ at that time the finest in London. His more famous son, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, used to play it on Sunday evenings after the service, and his playing drew great crowds to the church. Huge queues also used to form outside the church to hear the organ recitals by George Cooper and later by Dr. Lott, famous recitalists in their day and both organists of Holy Sepulchre’s.
Sir Henry Wood, founder of the Proms, learned his craft here as a young man and the organ was played at the End of Proms Thanksgiving services. John Ireland, William Walton and Sir Sydney Nicholson (founder of the Royal School of Church Music) were among other distinguished musicians associated with Holy Sepulchre and its organ.
The organ case is also incredibly special, with the original Charles II coat of arms still be to seen carved beneath the pipework.
This organ is part of London ’ s and the Nation ’ s musical history and heritage.
Bring the voice back
For around fifteen years, the historic organ has been silent. Yet Holy Sepulchre remains the National Musicians’ Church, with music at the heart of its life through worship, performance, education and community engagement
Restoring the Organ will Allow us to:
1 Restore Music
Return a magnificent historic instrument to regular worship, choral services, concerts, educational events and recitals at the National Musicians ’ Church. “Is it fit for modern purpose? .., Unexpected, arresting brilliance in the choruswork… Genuine drama… tender tonal pallet..yes it is” William Mcvicker, Organ Restoration Expert
2 Support Musicians
Provide an instrument worthy of the National Musicians ’ Church, a place where outstanding musicians can perform, learn, experiment and record. “We want to be a place where musicians of the highest calibre can feel at home ” Peter Asprey, Director of Music
3 Extend our Education
Create opportunities for children, young people and adults to learn the organ and experience music-making on a real historic instrument. Alongside the restored organ, the current Makin electronic organ will be moved to one of the meeting rooms and be made available as a teaching instrument. Organ education has traditionally been difficult to access. High quality organs are relatively few, and tuition can be expensive. “We want Holy Sepulchre to be different. We want to create a place where people of all backgrounds can encounter the organ, learn to play it and discover the possibilities of music” Ben Hordon, Organist
4 Build a Bold Creative Future
Use the organ as the foundation for a wider programme of not just organ but broader music education, outreach and creative development. Alongwith our rescued and restored Model D Steinway, Harpsichord, and our collaborative approach working with musicians, oral historians and creative practitioners, we will further develop our role as place of wellbeing, creative health and belonging. “One of the most versatile examples of English romantic organ building and of real historic interest” Owen Woods Harrison & Harrsion ltd.
From an Historic Instrument to a living legacy
The restoration is about more than putting an organ back into working order. It is about restoring its voice and giving that voice to the next generation.
Help us restore the organ and its legacy
We are seeking to raise
£675,000 across three connected areas.
Restore the Historic Instrument
Support the specialist conservation and restoration of the organ, retaining its historic character and the remarkable pipework, console and craftsmanship that have survived from earlier instruments.
Conserve the Historic Organ Case
The organ ’ s case is itself part of the story. Surviving elements of the historic Renatus Harris casework form part of the instrument we see today.
Give the Gist of Music
Help establish an organ and broader music education, outreach and innovation fund, enabling children, young people and adults to develop their musical skills as well as learn more about the history and heritage of the National Musicians ’ church. We will also celebrate and champion the conservation skills needed to restore the organ.
Become part of the Nation’s past and future
4Contracts have been signed with Harrison & Harrison, the organ has been professionally removed, and restoration has started with the organ expected to be returned by July 2027. Sponsor boards and engravings can be explored.
Sponsor a Pipe or Stop restoration - £2,000 - £10,000
Sponsor the console restoration - TBC
Sponsor the organ case restoration - Up to £30,000
Sponsor the Organ and broader music education, outreach and innovation strategy - All amounts welcomed
Broad range of Patron and giving schemes - From £50 to £50,000
"Every gift makes a difference. Help us bring the organ back to life, and be part of building a Resounding Future for our Nation” - Fr Nick Mottershead, Rector.
Preserve a remarkable national asset and be part of a Resounding Future for our Nation.
Our immediate priority is to restore the organ, which the experts consider one of the best small pipe organs in the world. This means that it is a “pure” restoration. It was a wonderful sounding instrument before and the restoration will ensure it is again.
However, the organ restoration provides an opportunity to be even more bold and ambitious and to meet a need expressed by many individuals and organisations in respect of organ education and outreach. Specifically, and based on various discussion with organists and individuals associated with many organisations, this provides an opportunity for Holy Sepulchre to develop into a national centre for organ education, outreach, and innovation.
This co-developed strategy sets out:
a dynamic and inclusive approach to engaging a broad demographic with the organ’s heritage, music, and future. Through digital storytelling, practical workshops, educational partnerships, and inclusive programming, the church will act as both a steward of heritage and a catalyst of renewal, including moving our current Makin organ to the Henry Wood meeting room to be an accessible instrument for teaching and practice; and
Development of Holy Sepulchre as a national gathering space for organ-related research, training, and advocacy. Partnering and collaborating with key organisations such as the Royal College of Organists (RCO), British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS), Institute of British Organ Building (IBO), Incorporated Association of Organists (IAO), and ABRSM to:
o Co-host conferences, symposia, and workshops on topics including pedagogy, digital innovation, heritage skills, and inclusive programming.
o Develop shared curricula and toolkits to support schools, churches, and community groups in starting or growing their own organ engagement initiatives.
o Pilot cross-sector initiatives that link music education with vocational pathways, creative technologies, and heritage preservation.
This long-term vision will position Holy Sepulchre not only as the National Musicians' Church but also as a forward-facing engine for the next chapter in British organ culture.
Status of the project
Stage 1
Appointment of an organ expert and agree the scope of the restoration and then seek expert submission to undertake the restoration.
Our expert is William McVicker and our selected restoration partner is Harrison & Harrison Ltd
Stage 2
Due to the urgent ceiling works and need to protect the organ, we have had the organ removed in advance of the restoration contract being signed, which we can’t do yet as we have a lot of funds to raise. As you’ll see from the Timelapse, the case of few of the pipes remain but also you’ll see a Service of Choral Evensong continuing alongside the removal work. We are committed to do all we can to continue to push forward and maintain the worship and other church activities. Get in touch if you’d like to know more.
This was also the stage when we explore, discussed and exchanged ideas with a range of individuals, organists as well as musicians in general, institutions, educational specialist etc, to develop a vision for the National Musicians’ Church to accompany the restoration of the organ, which through these discussions dev eloped into a bold vision as a national centre for organ education, outreach, and innovation which is part of a broader music education strategy.
Stage 3
The next stage is the signing contracts for the restoration works, to ensure a slot for the organ can be confirmed. A part of this is the continued fund raising towards the £630,000 required that will enable the restoration and the implementation of the strategy to be a national centre for organ education, outreach and innovation.
The fund raising and negotiations continue with the potential restoration starting in late 2026 with installation of the restored organ in 2027 by Harrison & Harrison, who we hope will be able to commence their works as soon as they have a slot and we have sufficient funds raised to sign the contract. Do get in touch if you can help fund the restoration of this amazing organ or if you just want to find out more.
A little bit of history and background to this wonderful organ
The organ at Holy Sepulchre, the National Musicians’ Church, has a long and complicated history. It was built by Thomas Harris in the late 17th century (at the time of the restoration after the Great Fire) and was one of the most famous in London. Handel and Mendelssohn are said to have played on it. Samuel Wesley regularly attended Evensong at St. Sepulchre's as he considered the organ at that time the finest in London. His more famous son, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, who was renowned for his great skill in extemporisation, used to play on Sunday evenings after the service, and his playing drew great crowds to the church. There are some who still remember the queues which used to form outside the church to hear the organ recitals by George Cooper and later by Dr. Lott - both organists of St. Sepulchre's, and both famous recitalists in their day. Much of the casing and pipework that can be seen today is by Renatus Harris (prob. 1701-2), the famous organ builder responsible for many of the country’s finest instruments from the period. After a series of additions and restorations, the most recent was by Harrison & Harrison in 1932 (and then again in 1966), giving us the instrument that we have today. When that work was completed in 1932, the organ was again considered one of the very finest of its kind in the country, both unique in its compactness but with an ability within in that to produce an extraordinary range of colour.
An unusual feature is the Pedal 32ft Double Open Wood, which must surely be unique on an organ of this size. It formed part of the previous instrument, and its incorporation was paid for by Nicholson personally. Much of the pipework was similarly reused from the old organ, with only the Great 8ft Salicional and Swell 8ft Cornopean being wholly new. Most of the other pipework was rescaled or revoiced to suit its new role. Of particular interest is Harrison's belief that portions of four stops (Great 16ft Lieblich Bourdon, Great 8ft Octave, Swell 8ft Open Diapason, and Swell 8ft Lieblich Gedeckt) were originally part of the c1676 Harris instrument. Detailed investigations are needed to confirm this. The organ is largely unchanged and represents an important survival. The British Institute of Organ Studies awarded it a Grade II* listing in 2008. Arthur Harrison was evidently proud of it; his memorial service took place there four days after his death. The choir was led by Nicholson, with the organists of Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral playing the Harrison & Harrison instrument."
This was also the organ on which Sir Henry Wood, founder of the Proms concerts, learned his craft as a young man. Various other church musicians of great renown have had close association with it, such as John Ireland, William Walton and Sir Sydney Nicholson. The original coat of arms of Charles II can be seen in wooden carving at the base of the pipework. It is therefore an instrument of immense musical and historical significance, an important part of the heritage of the Church, the City of London and for the musicians’ community as a whole.
Today, Holy Sepulchre undertakes its role as the National Musicians’ Church across five key areas: Education, Wellbeing, Spirituality, Worship and Performance. A high quality pipe organ in the building plays an essential role in each of these areas: it provides the foundation for the choral worship at the church; it is needed for many concerts that take place, either directly with organ or in pieces that require organ. It therefore increases what we and others can do at the church. Furthermore, the choir is in itself an important part of the profile of Holy Sepulchre. So far, it is limited in its ability to record and broadcast effectively with an electronic instrument, which does not sound authentic and lacks the variation in colour and tone that only a pipe organ can provide.
Another area is education: learning the organ has been often the domain of the educated elite. This is understandable. Organs are few and far between and the cost of tuition is expensive. We want to change that by being a place where all have access to organ tuition at the highest possible level, either with our own organist or an esteemed professional. Many children in the city have no access to musical education. Our pipe organ will be a key pillar in that edifice. Unfortunately, the craft of organ playing cannot be learned effectively on an electronic instrument, where much of the skills needed can be ‘manufactured’ through the pressing of a button, but the results are not the same, nor is the sound convincing. We will intend to move our Makin organ to the Henry Wood room to provide an accessible organ for regular practice for many in the City.
Ultimately, at Holy Sepulchre, we want to be a place where we are nurturing the best of the best. For that to happen, we need high quality instruments that are worthy of the title National Musicians’ Church. We want to be a place where musicians of the highest calibre can feel at home. The strength of feeling about the closure of the Musicians’ Church demonstrated how important that is to the musical community. We wish to have an organ that musicians can be proud of, one that musicians queue up to play and to hear as has been its history. “
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