St Nicholas, Ashchurch (NPOR N05657)

[DaveHarries]

Evening all,

 

Thought some members here may be interested to learn that the days of the pipe organ at St. Nicholas, Ashchurch (Gloucestershire) could well be numbered in its present home. I passed the church today (25th August) and the noticeboard on the main road advises that, due to the organ having cost a considerable sum in maintenance in recent years, a fundraising campaign (for £17,500 IIRC) is now underway to replace it with a Viscount electronic.

 

I wonder if someone will save the pipe instrument.

 

Dave

[Contrabombarde]

It's listed on NPOR with photos at http://npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=N05657 as being a late Sweetland two manual organ, transplanted to this church around half a century ago. I can't decide which is more ugly, the detached electric action console or the facade of bright green (yes, bright green!) painted diapason pipes. I hope it sounds better than it looks!

[sotto]

I accompanied a choral concert in this church a few years ago and have to say it was a very poor instrument with no redeeming features. I'm not a fan of Viscount organs but would find it hard to criticise the church for persuing the digital option in this instance.