The magnificent pipe organ at Llandysul Church has been fixed.

The instrument has been silent for over 10 years, as the mechanism inside the organ had deteriorated to such a stage that it was unusable.

In 2006, an organ restoration fund was started with the aim of completely restoring the organ. Several events were organised to raise funds to repair the organ, and people were very generous in their donations to the project.

At the time, a firm was commissioned to provide an estimate to fully restore the organ. A sum of around £80,000 was required, which was very challenging sum.

A significant amount was raised, but as time passed by, concerns grew that the organ may be deteriorating further.

Back in 2016, a very enthusiastic member of the church decided to re-assess the project. It was found that the organ did not need a complete overhaul and restoration, as the organ was of a very high standard and well built.

The mechanism inside the organ which linked the keyboards (manuals) to the pipes to make them sound was the main fault. The remainder of the organ was in a reasonably good condition.

A Malvern-based company was commissioned to reassess the organ. It was agreed that it was not necessary to fully restore the organ at this stage.

The repair of the mechanism inside the organ would be sufficient to enable the instrument to be functional again, and the work of fully restoring the organ could take place over smaller phases in the future if needed.

There were sufficient funds in the organ restoration fund to allow the organ to be repaired, meaning that future generations would be able to enjoy music from this unique instrument.

The task of repairing the organ started during the summer of 2018, and it was fully functional again for the Christmas period. It was a privilege to hear the instrument being played again for the festive services.

And 2019 also marks 120 years since the organ was first installed in the church. The organ was built by a company called Bedwells & Sons, Cambridge, and was installed in 1899.

A spokesperson said: “In 1914, the church decided to enlarge the instrument and to move it to its present location.

“At the time, the air supply was manually pumped by hand.

“In 1927 the organ was fully overhauled, and was enlarged again.

“During the disastrous winter of 1946/47, a section of the church roof failed and snow was driven in onto the organ.

"One section of the pipe organ was damaged, but it was soon fixed by the well known company ‘Messrs, William Hill and Son, Norman & Beard’ to a very high standard, and the organ was being well looked after by them until 2007.

“They were maintaining the organ to a very high standard; however, the costs of its repairs were increasing dramatically.

“As far as we are aware, this organ is the largest and the best quality instrument in Ceredigion."

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