Delivering a once‑in‑a‑generation project to restore the Grand Organ at the Heart of Wells Cathedral.
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About the Project
The Grand Organ Project is a once‑in‑a‑generation restoration initiative designed to safeguard one of England’s most important cathedral instruments.
For more than 1100 years, music has shaped the life of Wells Cathedral, and the Grand Organ has long been central to worship, celebration, and community events. Preserving its sound ensures that future generations can continue to experience the profound musical tradition that defines the Cathedral’s spiritual and cultural identity.
Begun in 2022, the project aims to raise £3 million to deliver the full dismantling, refurbishment, and enhancement of Wells Cathedral’s historic Grand Organ—a complex instrument of more than 4,000 pipes whose ageing mechanisms and worsening faults have placed it at risk of catastrophic failure. For years, organists have masked issues such as sticking notes, hissing sounds, delayed action, and failing air systems, but the scale of deterioration has now made comprehensive restoration essential.
The refurbishment, now underway, will see every pipe removed, cleaned, repaired or replaced, and the console, pedals, and stops carefully rebuilt to restore the instrument’s musical excellence in time for the Cathedral’s 850th anniversary.
Inside the Organ
In this video, Andrew Scott of Harrison & Harrison Organ Builders takes us on a tour of Wells Cathedral’s Grand Organ, highlighting its history, construction, and the various causes for concern.
How You Can Help
The extremely generous support of The Friends of Wells Cathedral, The Vinehill Trust and other donors has enabled us to begin this critical project to save something at the very heart of Wells Cathedral. However, we still need to raise a significant sum to see this major project through to completion.
Alongside one-off donations, there are a number of ways you can support the appeal, from adopting an organ pipe or stop, regular giving and legacies, having a go on the instrument with The Grand Organ Experience, or enjoying a private organ recital for you and your friends. Find out more at wellsfriends.org.
Donate Today Sign up to our E-NewsletterThank you to our funders
This project would not have been possible without the following funders:
The Friends of Wells Cathedral was founded in 1933, and there are now Friends across the globe. The Friends support the Chapter of Wells in the of maintenance of the fabric, life and work of the Cathedral. The Friends have contributed to projects big and small, relating to the building and to departments within the Cathedral Foundation.
We are greateful to Vinehill Trust for their generous support of the Grand Organ project.