Pipe Up for Pipe Organs

21/04/2026

The wonderful Isaac Abbott organ at St Mary’s, silent for two years due to a blower fault, is now back in voice thanks to support from Pipe Up and the work of M. C. Thompson.

Completed in just two days, the repairs meant the organ was ready again in time for Christmas carols.

This is why Sleeping Beauties matters: small interventions, big impact, and another historic pipe organ brought back to life.

You can read more on the success story here: https://www.pipe-up.org.uk/success-stories/st-marys-chaddesden

20/04/2026

Britain’s pipe organs are falling silent, and there is only until the end of April to make your donation go twice as far.

Pipe Up’s Sleeping Beauty Grant helps bring small unplayable organs back to life by funding up to two days’ work by a local organ builder.

If you’ve been thinking of supporting this work, now is the moment.

Please donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/sleepingbeautyscheme

Every gift will help more of these “sleeping beauties” be heard again.

With your support we aim to make 26 small unplayable organs playable again in 2026. We pay 100% of the cost of up to two days' work by a local builder. Your donation will be matched by the Dalgleish Trust up to £13,000 until the end of April 2026.

09/04/2026

The Daily Telegraph has recently featured Pipe Up’s latest report: “Silencing the King? The future of Britain’s pipe organs.”

Britain now has fewer than 7,500 playable pipe organs, and only half are used regularly.
Every week five are scrapped and four more fall silent through lack of repair.

The future of Britain’s pipe organs depends on what we do now.

Every week about five instruments are dumped in landfill and a further four stop working, warns charity

19/03/2026

From this weeks Private Eye!

Read more about our report here: https://www.pipe-up.org.uk/silencing-the-king

17/03/2026

The BBC Today Programme and Breakfast show have featured Pipe Up’s latest report: “Silencing the King? The future of Britain’s pipe organs.”

Read the report:
https://www.pipe-up.org.uk/silencing-the-king

The findings are shocking.

Britain now has fewer than 7,500 playable pipe organs, and only half are used regularly.
Every week five are scrapped and four more fall silent through lack of repair.

If this continues, by 2070 pipe organs may survive only in cathedrals, Oxbridge colleges, a few concert halls, and the largest churches.

What can you do?
• Donate to our matched crowdfunding grant scheme
• Join Pipe Up as a member
• Support your local instrument using the 12-point toolkit on our website

The future of Britain’s pipe organs depends on what we do now.

16/03/2026

03/03/2026

Join the Society of Women Organists at Henry, our publicly installed pipe organ at London Bridge Station, on Saturday 7th March as we celebrate International Women’s Day.

From 12:00 to 18:00, the Organ Marathon will bring six hours of live performances to the historic Henry Jones organ, filling the station with music. 🎶

Whether you pause for a few minutes between trains or settle in for the full marathon, do come and experience the sound of a true Victorian instrument brought back to life in the heart of London.

Find out more about Henry and his story here:
https://www.pipe-up.org.uk/henry

12/02/2026

Pipe organs across the UK are falling silent.

Through Pipe Up’s mini-grant scheme, we’re bringing unplayable instruments back to life - one organ at a time.

In 2026, we want to reawaken 26 sleeping organs by raising £26,000 through our JustGiving page.

Every donation made before 31st March will be doubled by the Dalgleish Trust, up to £13,000.

Help us turn silence back into sound.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/sleepingbeautyscheme

19/10/2025

Some of the wonderful impromptu performances on Henry during our ‘Play the Organ Sessions’, presented in partnership with the RCO’s Play the Organ Year.

These sessions aim to break down barriers around the instrument and invite people of all ages and abilities to experience the thrill of playing a real pipe organ for themselves. By opening up consoles to the public, we hope to spark new curiosity, nurture future players, and celebrate the organ’s extraordinary place in our musical and cultural heritage.