We are looking to raise £1,000,000 to ensure that the Minster can still make music. Minster Makes Music
MINSTER MAKES MUSIC·FRIDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2019·
Wimborne Minster dates from an 8th Century Saxon monastic foundation, which by the 11th Century had developed into a Norman minster church. It became the home of a musical tradition that predates that of many English cathedrals and ranks high on the
scale of national historical importance. The Minster organ needs a major overhaul and repairs to enable it to continue to support and enhance the Anglican choral and musical traditions of the Minster. This is a particularly exciting development for the Minster in its 900th year. The Minster’s organ is at the very centre of our music-making tradition and has played a pivotal role for centuries. It is in weekly use for services, evensong, concerts, recitals, recordings, teaching and practice. It was originally built by Robert Hayward of Bath and many of the original pipes, dating back to 1664, are still functioning in the present instrument today. However, due the age of the instrument, many problems are now emerging, resulting in the organ becoming increasingly unreliable. The current instrument is adequate to lead the congregation but no longer suited to choir accompaniment. We have sought independent advice, engaged with a leading organ builder in the country and now have the full picture of what we need to bring our organ back into a full flourishing instrument. The organists and tuners work hard to ensure the instrument works well on a daily basis, but the time has now come for a major restoration to ensure its continued operation for the long term. We are looking for donations and support to help repair our organ and ensure that the core of our town’s namesake is properly maintained.
