Wells Cathedral has initiated a fundraising campaign to refurbish its historic organ, a vital project aimed at preserving and enhancing the instrument's renowned musical capabilities.

The Friends of Wells; Cathedral Grand Organ Appeal seeks to gather essential funds to repair or potentially replace all 5,000 pipes of the iconic organ.

The extensive refurbishment plan includes rebalancing the organ's sound and expanding its range, with the introduction of a new 32-foot stop designed to enrich its musical performance.

This significant upgrade is crucial for maintaining the organ's intricate mechanics and ensuring its continued use during cathedral services and concerts.

A spokesperson from Wells Cathedral explained, "The Friends of Wells Cathedral Grand Organ Appeal is dedicated to the comprehensive refurbishment of this majestic instrument, including the complete overhaul of all its pipes."

"The skills of our organists really do help to cover up so many of the shortcomings which now exist on our organ," a cathedral spokesperson said.

"Sticking notes, hissing sounds, mechanical malfunctions on particular stops and delays in the reaction to the keyboards are all regular occurrences which they try their best to disguise. However, even the skills of our amazing musicians are no longer enough to keep standards up. In recent months there have been some heart stopping moments when it seemed possible that the organ would fail altogether."

Although a major overhaul in 2021—funded by The Friends of Wells Cathedral—addressed some issues, the organ builders from Harrison & Harrison have had to conduct frequent maintenance due to ongoing mechanical failures.

"The success of previous repairs was a temporary fix; now, the growing number of mechanical issues makes it imperative to start a full refurbishment to prevent a catastrophic failure," the cathedral's statement added.

For those interested in supporting the restoration of Wells Cathedral's grand organ, donations can be made through the appeal's official website.