Cathedral raises £1m to fix deteriorating organ

About 25% of the organ is not playable, the cathedral said

An appeal to save a historic organ has raised half of its £2m target.

Fundraisers said they hoped work to restore the deteriorating Wells Cathedral grand organ would begin in 2026, ensuring its future for decades to come.

The Friends of the Wells Cathedral, who started the fundraiser, said 25% of the instrument was not playable and would not be so until it is rebuilt.

Group chairman David Morgan-Hewitt: "It's not a small ask, £2m - the top donor has given £250,000, for which we are extremely grateful."

The cathedral's organ is "rapidly deteriorating"

Mr Morgan-Hewitt added: "There are lots of people who have given all sorts of amounts, down to £25 to sponsor a single pipe."

The Dean of Wells Cathedral, the Very Reverend Toby Wright, added that the organ was in a "rapidly deteriorating state" and it needed to "urgently" be restored.

He said: "Until now, our wonderful organists have masked the decline of the organ's performance, concealing its flaws from the ears of the thousands of people who come each year to attend cathedral services, recitals and concerts."

Having achieved its first £1m, members of the appeal committee said they would now be focusing efforts on raising the second £1m.