The historic 100-year-old pipe organ in St Patrick’s Church, Wellington, has been dismantled and taken away, piece by piece, to be given a new lease of life – thanks to “people power”.

By the middle of last year the instrument was showing signs of age and had become difficult to play properly without strange noises or ominous silences. Parish priest, Father Alban Greenwood, issued a questionnaire to all the parishioners to determine the will of the people

They had a choice between restoring the organ, the more expensive option at a cost of over £8,000, or replacing it with an electronic one.

The overwhelming consensus was to save the organ and an appeal was launched which has so far raised more than £3,000 through donations, a pie and punch evening, coffee mornings, eBay sales of donated goods, and a draw.

The organ is being restored at the workshop of Hawkins Organ Builders of Lichfield and it will take two to three months.

Concerns about its future came to a head when world renowned concert organist, Chris Hainsworth, visited the church while staying with friends in Wellington.

On being offered the chance to try the Casson organ, he agreed it was well past its best. But he thought it was a fine example of its type of instrument and well worth restoring.

Built by Thomas Casson of Denbigh, the instrument was originally installed in Dore Abbey in Herefordshire, where it was used up until 30 years ago when it was decided to replace it with a similar, but larger, model.

The organ was bought for St Patrick’s by the parishioners led by Canon Brendan Hoban, the then parish priest, who had it installed after some refurbishment.

Since then it has been used regularly at weekly services and an untold number of weddings and funerals.

Meanwhile Mr Hainsworth is back in Britain in June, and has offered to perform on the restored instrument free for parishioners to celebrate the organ’s return to musical health.

By Toby Neal