Grant funding helps renovation of 127-year-old organ at All Saints Church in North Runcton which was damaged in 2022 heatwave
A grant will help a village church move a step closer towards renovating a 127-year-old pipe organ which was damaged in a heatwave two years ago.
The Norwich-built organ at All Saints’ in North Runcton became physically altered by the hot weather in 2022.
Officials said that the extreme heat distorted the wooden pedalboard, while the pipe valves and joints dried out - making the instrument unplayable.
After £2,300 was raised by the Benefact Trust to help repair the organ, churchwarden Ken Matthews is now hopeful it will be ready for the Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols Service.
Usman Saeed, grants officer for the Benefact Trust, said: “We are delighted to support the renovation of the Norman and Beard pipe organ at All Saints’ Church. Music is an incredibly important part of worship at the church, and we are pleased that we can bring help the much-loved organ back to life”.
It comes as other major changes are also being made to the church.
Parishioner and master fundraiser Lilian Fisher, together with local photographer Steve Palmer, produced a 2023 village calendar which contained photographs showing seasonal scenes and activities in North Runcton.
The calendar, which was sold around the world, was raised £2,000 for church funds.
A year earlier, it was had been necessary to remove two rows of pews at the west end of the nave to provide space for the community and a kitchenette.
To replace the pews, 12 wooden stacking chairs were purchased with the funds from the village calendar to resolve the issue and ensure that All Saints was restored back to its full capacity.
Lilian and Steve officially handed the chairs over to the Parochial Church Council on Saturday, July 6 at the monthly coffee morning.
Reporting by Olivia Lawson