Although the full amount of the organ restoration has not yet been raised by St Mary & St Margaret’s church, the project is close to achieving its target, now reckoned at some £50,000.

The work began on Monday 13 January 2020 led by John & Isaac from W & A Boggis, organ builders of Diss in Norfolk.

Every piece of the organ will be dismantled and taken to Norfolk for a thorough overhaul. The worn-out parts, including the leatherwork, will be replaced while the 200 year old pipes and now unique pneumatic action will be restored and retained. 

It is a major job to restore this historic organ, one of only a few of its kind to still operate pneumatically. Many similar have now been converted to electronic systems. Our organ dates back to the early years of the 19th century and the restoration committee feels it is right for the heritage of this ancient church to restore it in the traditional way.

Over one thousand pipes of all shapes and sizes inside the organ are connected to the keyboard via a network of thin lead tubes. It will take 3 months to refurbish the complex triple keyboard, the leaky wind box and the pipes. Then all will be brought back for the organ to be rebuilt leaving the 200-year-old instrument sounding as good as new. It is hoped that the organ will be back in place by the end of April, ready for the wedding season. 

The many parts of the organ have now been restored at organ builders Roydonian Works at Diss in Norfolk. Church organist Martin Bates went to see for himself in February. Sound boards have been refelted, the manual is renovated, the bellows now have new leather and damaged pipes have been repaired by the team at W & A Boggis & Co. 

We were hoping the organ would be back in action by April, but due to the restrictions imposed as a result of corona virus, we just have to be patient.