Belmont Abbey Organ is the second largest organ in the County of Herefordshire. It has 3 manuals (keyboards) and 54 stops and is second only to the organ of Hereford Cathedral (4 Manuals and 67 stops) - Belmont has the largest organ in this Catholic Diocese.

There are two areas of improvement which would consolidate the restoration and rebuilds to date (2006, 1982, 1973 and 1889).

1. Firstly, the tonal cohesion - mostly helping the reeds and mixtures to blend to enhance the versatility of the instrument, and its subtlety.
2. Secondly, repairing the general action and replacing the keyboards - both of which are works that will eventually be needed in the future given their state - and which will transform the playing and accompanying experience in addition to ensuring the longevity of the instrument for years to come. 

Keyboards 

The present keyboards and thumb piston units are worn and will only continue to deteriorate. They are suffering from a significant yellow discolouration and have also begun to chip. 

The keyboards date from 1973 and the underlying action from 1982. Both are out of date, poor quality and not original to the organ with no historical importance and are nearing the end of their serviceable lives.

New keyboards would transform the playing interface for the organist, making everything feel a lot 'tighter'. 

The action is unreliable, meaning the speaking point or ‘touch’ of each key is different. It is overly sensitive and difficult to regulate a controlled performance. Furthermore, the action is very noisy, which can be distracting when accompanying solo voices or quiet singing.

Tonal Changes

The two tonal changes would transform the Swell division into a more useful division for accompaniment of soloists, choirs and congregational singing.

The organ quickly gets too loud when one ventures away from 8' flutes. This limits the accompanimental variety available.

Having an 8' Oboe and a usable Mixture would really enhance the versatility of the instrument, and its subtlety.

At present, both the Contra Fagotto and the Scharff III mixture are too loud and big to be useful, except on rare occasions. 

1. We are asking for donations to cover the costs of additional work, not rainwater damage.
2. To improve the instrument for the purpose of accompanying Abbey Services
3. To improve the organ to encourage its use in concerts and recitals
4. To provide a better instrument for tuition and students
5. To maintain a piece of Belmont Abbey's heritage

Fundraising target to cover quoted additional work:

£39,500

The flood damage was unfortunate but has now given us an exciting opportunity to round off all the subsequent works over the past 60+ years, finally bringing the instrument to completion and ensuring Belmont Abbey has a versatile quality instrument for years to come. 

Nicholsons Organ Builders are able to offer the work at a lower cost as they will already be on site rectifying the water damage (under insurance).

The overall playing experience is currently challenging for organists and it does not encourage musicians to perform here or help students hone their skills. There is a strong appetite for organ recitals in Herefordshire, and the popular Diocese of Hereford Organists’ Training Scheme is constantly ameliorating the skills of organists in the area.

Belmont Abbey should have an instrument suitable for both these purposes and we hope to see more recitals and teaching taking place on the organ over the coming years.

It has been remarked time and time again by professional organists that the action is tricky and the organ is too loud for the building.

Our organ has the potential to be one of the best, most versatile, and largest organs in Herefordshire, in a church that has fantastic acoustics and availability for practice or concerts - but it has one of the most challenging keyboards to navigate. 

The organ wasn’t built in one go and is a combination of different parts and organs from different organ builders over the years. Previous builds have given us the functional, reliable and powerful instrument we hear today but the proposed changes will take it from essentially a combination of mechanical parts into a refined musical instrument.

Photos of repair work updated regularly accesible here:

Belmont Abbey Organ Repair Progress Pics

• 3rd Feb - Organ builders have begun dismantling organ
• 5th Feb - Evidence of water ingress found and visible in organ blower room and light fittings above pipe worker