Organ Project

Latest News:

Over £200,000 has so far been raised from corporate and personal donors on four continents to renew our worn out organ and endow an exciting expansion of our music programme covering all ages from primary school students to the most promising young postgraduate musicians. Our donors reflect the diversity of our links in the City of London and beyond. 

Among the most recent donors:

The Most Revd & Rt Hon. the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Grocers' Company, The Worshipful Company of Firefighters, Stanhope PLC,

Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw LLP, The Carlyle Group, Morley, Aberdeen Asset Management, ING Direct, Bow Bells House Partnership Ltd,

Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation, Trinity Church / St Paul's Chapel, New York, The Mercers' Company, The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators, Pearly King and Queen of Bow Bells, Clifford Chance LLP,

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales, St Martin-in-the-Fields, The Worshipful Company of Masons, The ON Organ Fund,

The Friends of City Churches, Hunting Charitable Trust, The Really Useful Group, The Wates Foundation, The Friends of St Paul's Cathedral

Our existing organ was built, after World War II from a mixture of poor quality new parts and second hand parts taken from other bombed churches. It was never designed to sound in St Mary-le-Bow’s unique and beautiful acoustic.

We hope that our new organ – like all else we do – will combine the best of the old and new: a new two-manual and pedal design by Kenneth Tickell & Co. in the existing fine case, thought by many to be the best in the City, will incorporate the latest MIDI technology.

The Most Revd & Rt Hon. Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

The Grocers’ Company, Co-Patrons of St Mary-le-Bow

The Honourable Richard Alston, Australian High Commisioner

His Excellency Mr Bjarne Lindstrom, Norwegian Ambassador

The Revd Dr James H. Cooper, Rector, Trinity Church Wall Street, New York City

Malcolm Archer, formerly Director of Music, St Paul's Cathedral

James O’Donnell, Director of Music, Westminster Abbey

Dr Christopher Robinson CVO, formerly Organist, St John’s College, Cambridge

Sir Michael Snyder, Cordwainer Ward Deputy, Senior Partner of accountancy firm Kingston Smith LLP

To discuss how you might help us to make faith heard in new ways on Cheapside, please contact:

Nick Cressey, Administrator, St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, London EC2V 6AU

+44 (0)20 7248 5139 | nickcressey@stmarylebow.org.uk

Our current Organ is:

+ Unreliable and unpredictable

+ Liable to break down at any time

+ Unpleasant and inconsistent in tone – too poor to be played in recitals

+ Afflicted by problems of humidity to which there is no technical solution

+ Not as versatile as we would like

+ The unanimous advice of distinguished organists from the UK and America

  is to replace it

How Much?

In total, the design and installation of the new organ will cost £350,000.

How Can I Help?

There are three ways to help straight away:

+ Make a donation (cheques can be made payable to 'St Mary-le-Bow Organ Appeal'

  and sent to the Parish Office)

+ Become a Commoner of St Mary-le-Bow (the Commoners are a diverse group of

  people who choose to support our work, and especially the Organ Appeal, by giving

  regularly to St Mary-le-Bow)

+ Turn Again - music from St Mary-le-Bow This CD of organ pieces, choral music

  and the sound of the bells, recorded in the church, is a journey through our musical

  history in all its vibrant diversity. Copies cost £15 including free postage and packing.

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