Original hymns celebrate organ rebuild (From Wiltshire Times)

Original hymns celebrate organ rebuild

5:00pm Saturday 20th October 2012 in Wiltshire

The newly rebuilt organ at St Mary the Virgin Church in Steeple Ashton is due to be re-dedicated by the Bishop of Ramsbury on Sunday.

The service starts at 10.30am and will include some hymns sung at the original dedication service in January 1877.

The organ was built by Bryceson Bros and Ellis in 1876 and cost £1,000; a huge sum at the time. The re-build cost more than £60,000, raised by the preservation trust and a £10,000 Parochial Church Council grant.

The task of rebuilding the organ began in October 2009. It involved Westbury firm Cooke Organs taking every piece of the instrument apart; all 1,740 pipes, the action parts, sound boards and bellows, right down to the last screw.

The Bishop, the Rt Rev Dr Edward Condry, took up his appointment last month from Canterbury, where he was responsible for teaching courses for Anglican bishops and priests.