The Parish Church of St. Michael Cornhill

Emergency Organ Appeal: August 2007

The Appeal for the restoration of perhaps the most famous of all the City Church organs, that of St Michael’s Cornhill, was launched in March 2006. Significant parts of the instrument are more than three hundred years old: there are nine ranks of pipes dating from the Renatus Harris organ on which Henry Purcell gave the opening recital in 1684. There is also distinguished pipework from Green, Robson and Hill. The organ today is largely the instrument consolidated by Rushworth & Dreaper in 1925 (the firm’s ‘golden’ period): the instrument heard nationally every Monday in live wireless broadcasts by Harold Darke (first on 2LO, then on its successor the BBC). It is a versatile organ, suited to the performance of a wide variety of solo music, and ideal in accompanying the English choral repertory.

The musical tradition of St Michael’s Cornhill can be traced back to the fourteenth century when the church’s choir sang daily services. By the early 1500s services were regularly adorned with five-part polyphony. Directors of Music have included the composers William Boyce, Theodore Ayleward and Harold Darke. St Michael’s Singers have given World Premieres of works by Vaughan Williams, Herbert Howells, Benjamin Britten and others. The Royal College of Organists began life here in the nineteenth century, and the Monday-lunchtime recitals series is thought to be the longest-running such series in the world (it celebrated its ninetieth birthday in 2006). The organ is widely known through recordings, but its prime function is to accompany the choir and provide voluntaries for Sunday and weekday services.

Eighty years since its last major rebuild, and thirty years since a ‘patching-up’ in 1975, the organ has become mechanically extremely unreliable. It has been unusable for several services and recitals during the past three years, and it is only through the ingenuity of regular and visiting players that it continues to be available at all. One of the most serious problems concerns the winding system: loss of sufficient wind can lead to unsteadiness of pitch, and there is constant hissing whenever the blower is turned on. Musically, however, it is still a magnificent instrument which needs only small tonal adjustments to ensure its artistic integrity.

Expert advice has been sought and received, and tenders from three British organ builders are in the hands of our Organ Committee. We now know that a sum in excess of £450,000 will be needed. The Committee has begun the application process to certain large fund-giving organizations, but it is clear that, because of matching funding requirements, St Michael’s will need to raise a significant sum before applications can be considered. At present we have (in the bank or in definite promises) £110,000. We shall need to raise at least another £40,000 ourselves.

Patrons of the Appeal include Sir David Brewer, Sir David Howard (Alderman of Cornhill Ward), The Rev’d Dr Peter Mullen (Rector, St Michael’s Cornhill), Dame Gillian Weir (international virtuoso organist), Dr Francis Jackson CBE and Sir Nicholas Jackson. Dr William McVicker has been appointed Advisor to the project. The Organ Committee (a sub-committee of the PCC) is chaired by Alex Saward.

Dame Gillian Weir has written about the St Michael’s organ: ‘We have here an important piece of this country’s musical heritage, whose need of urgent major restoration deserves to be met by our practical support.’ Dr Francis Jackson, Organist Emeritus of York Minster, describes our organ as ‘an organ of distinction, one of London’s finest, most famous and much cherished’, and he continues: ‘Its complete restoration is now due and is essential to save the instrument from falling silent….I heartily support the efforts that are being made to bring about its restoration.’

Donations (made payable to ‘St Michael’s Cornhill Organ Restoration Fund’) should please be sent, preferably in a gift-aid envelope or with a gift-aid declaration, to: Jonathan Rennert, 46 Doods Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0NL. Your help will be of enormous assistance in saving this historic organ.

Home Welcome NEW BOOK: A History of St. Michael's Events - July 08 Sermons 2004 Sermons 2005 Sermons 2006 Sermons 2007 Sermons 2008 Music Restoration of the Organ Foundation Music Trust Books Recordings Contact us	Emergency Organ Appeal: August 2007 The Appeal for the restoration of perhaps the most famous of all the City Church organs, that of St Michael’s Cornhill, was launched in March 2006. Significant parts of the instrument are more than three hundred years old: there are nine ranks of pipes dating from the Renatus Harris organ on which Henry Purcell gave the opening recital in 1684. There is also distinguished pipework from Green, Robson and Hill. The organ today is largely the instrument consolidated by Rushworth & Dreaper in 1925 (the firm’s ‘golden’ period): the instrument heard nationally every Monday in live wireless broadcasts by Harold Darke (first on 2LO, then on its successor the BBC). It is a versatile organ, suited to the performance of a wide variety of solo music, and ideal in accompanying the English choral repertory. The musical tradition of St Michael’s Cornhill can be traced back to the fourteenth century when the church’s choir sang daily services. By the early 1500s services were regularly adorned with five-part polyphony. Directors of Music have included the composers William Boyce, Theodore Ayleward and Harold Darke. St Michael’s Singers have given World Premieres of works by Vaughan Williams, Herbert Howells, Benjamin Britten and others. The Royal College of Organists began life here in the nineteenth century, and the Monday-lunchtime recitals series is thought to be the longest-running such series in the world (it celebrated its ninetieth birthday in 2006). The organ is widely known through recordings, but its prime function is to accompany the choir and provide voluntaries for Sunday and weekday services. Eighty years since its last major rebuild, and thirty years since a ‘patching-up’ in 1975, the organ has become mechanically extremely unreliable. It has been unusable for several services and recitals during the past three years, and it is only through the ingenuity of regular and visiting players that it continues to be available at all. One of the most serious problems concerns the winding system: loss of sufficient wind can lead to unsteadiness of pitch, and there is constant hissing whenever the blower is turned on. Musically, however, it is still a magnificent instrument which needs only small tonal adjustments to ensure its artistic integrity. Expert advice has been sought and received, and tenders from three British organ builders are in the hands of our Organ Committee. We now know that a sum in excess of £450,000 will be needed. The Committee has begun the application process to certain large fund-giving organizations, but it is clear that, because of matching funding requirements, St Michael’s will need to raise a significant sum before applications can be considered. At present we have (in the bank or in definite promises) £110,000. We shall need to raise at least another £40,000 ourselves. Patrons of the Appeal include Sir David Brewer, Sir David Howard (Alderman of Cornhill Ward), The Rev’d Dr Peter Mullen (Rector, St Michael’s Cornhill), Dame Gillian Weir (international virtuoso organist), Dr Francis Jackson CBE and Sir Nicholas Jackson. Dr William McVicker has been appointed Advisor to the project. The Organ Committee (a sub-committee of the PCC) is chaired by Alex Saward. Dame Gillian Weir has written about the St Michael’s organ: ‘We have here an important piece of this country’s musical heritage, whose need of urgent major restoration deserves to be met by our practical support.’ Dr Francis Jackson, Organist Emeritus of York Minster, describes our organ as ‘an organ of distinction, one of London’s finest, most famous and much cherished’, and he continues: ‘Its complete restoration is now due and is essential to save the instrument from falling silent….I heartily support the efforts that are being made to bring about its restoration.’ Donations (made payable to ‘St Michael’s Cornhill Organ Restoration Fund’) should please be sent, preferably in a gift-aid envelope or with a gift-aid declaration, to: Jonathan Rennert, 46 Doods Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0NL. Your help will be of enormous assistance in saving this historic organ.