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Church in Wales
Eglwys Yng
Nghymru |
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The Dean and Chapter of Llandaff Cathedral has launched a £1.5 million appeal for a new organ. This gives an opportunity to leave a lasting mark for the future and to enhance greatly this historic cathedral, its work and worship in the present.
"It is unthinkable for
a Cathedral with the history and tradition of Llandaff not to have a suitably
prestigious instrument to help fulfil its role in religious and civic life". Llandaff Cathedral stands on one of the oldest Christian sites in Britain with the present building dating back to 1107. The organ, which originates from about 1900, was modified in 1914 and 1924 and in 1937 there was a complete rebuild, costing £1,600. The benefits were short-lived when a German landmine devastated the building - and the organ - in January 1941. The cost of rebuilding was massive and when it came to the organ, the War Damage Commission and the Board of Trade refused to finance a new instrument. The result was a 'make do and mend' restoration. Latterly, there has been general consensus that the organ was something of a 'hotchpotch' and that one day it would cease working altogether. A lightning strike in February 2007 caused extensive damage and assessors agree that further repair is not cost-effective. For the time being the Cathedral will continue to hire a computer digital electrical organ. Llandaff, a premier choral foundation, is the only Anglican Cathedral in Wales with its own Choir School. It is unthinkable for a Cathedral with the history and tradition of Llandaff not to have a suitably prestigious instrument to help fulfil its role in religious and civic life". After extensive research, the contract for a new organ was awarded to Nicholson & Co., the world-renowned Malvern firm of organ builders. Founded by John Nicholson in 1841, they have a long history of building organs and have an unequalled reputation for quality. Examples of their work are to be found in Worcester, Gloucester, Portsmouth and Birmingham Cathedrals, more recently at Great Malvern and Bridlington Priories and as far afield as Madrid, Hong Kong and Long Island, USA. The new Llandaff organ, consisting of 4,870 pipes, will be the largest entirely new organ to have been commissioned in a British Cathedral since that of Coventry in the early 1960's. It will take almost three years to build and install this 'King of Instruments', which will be a huge feat of artistry, craftsmanship and engineering. The new organ will be ready for use in time for Easter 2010. You - whether an individual or organisation - can play your part in this unique and exciting project. Will you help?
Please click here for details of how you might make your donation Our efforts are being co-ordinated by an Appeal Committee made up of the following:-
Four working
parties have been formed to target the following groups:
Last Updated: 31/05/2008 19:01 |
Fund Raising Progress Report Eastertide 2008
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