A plea for Organs, for Music, Love and Life in our hearts

[goodchappy]

Do these demolition men not know how much a new pipe organ costs?

Some churches or organ builders would surely be glad of the pipes at least.

I don't get it! it seems like a complete breakdown in communication.

[rosaspon2007]

¡¡¡¡¡ My God my God my God!!!!!.....noooooo...

[advisorC101]

Disgusting. I can't believe they destroyed it.

[kb7dqh]

Moreover, for environmental reasons (air pollution) buildings either standing or demolished are seldom burned.

Even reinforced concrete is crushed to salvage the rebar steel, the rest used for roadbed or fill. material.

[kb7dqh]

When I heard that the organ was destroyed, I actually cried:-(........... Regardless of the condition at the time those photographs were taken, much of the instrument could have been saved and either used to repair or expand an existing instrument or used to construct a new one from the recycled parts if not removed in its entirety and restored! Here in the US used wood often fetches a much higher price than new. I actually know someone who salvages wood barns for the wood and resells it.

[moshchops]

Find this very moving and very sad at the same time. I learnt music because at the age of 7 I stood in front of a magnificent 4 manual organ in St Mary Abbots parish chruch in Kensington, London and was blown away by the magnificent sound it made. I subsequently learnt to play on that organ...now it stands in ruin after the roof leaked all over it. The organ I played in my secondary school (at the time one of the few state schools in England to have it's own organ) has been removed (destroyed)

[organist12345]

Sad isnt it. Now in st Mary they have a 2 manual digital instead because they didnt restore it. My school has carol concerts there every year, and I've heard praises about that old 4 manual before they stopped using it. what a shame.

[moshchops]

Worst part is there are some multimillionaire parishoners in Kensington but nobody can find the cash to get it fixed (and that through the credit boom). They managed to raise £100,000 for it in the 80's, now nothing...very, very sad and a sign of the times....

[stormkingfan]

This is my 2nd attempt to comment on the little 3-manual shown above ~

That looked like a Willis. Is there info on it (builder, stoplist, etc.)?

[latribe]

Sadly I only had a few minutes to look but it didn't have an obvious maker's plate on it. It was at Staplehurst convent in Kent. The NPOR register D07966 notes that the case is similar to a Hunter in Essex and gives the stoplist.

[CindyBradyTooh]

WELL SPOKEN, David! It is TRAGIC to loose pipe organs, and convents, and old buildings, to modern builders. :"(

~Cindy! :)

..

[latribe]

Please see the "more info" section for links to details of the 4 manual instrument that is mentioned in this video which will be melted down in January 2009 if a new home is not found for it.

The last concert on that instrument in London is on the evening of 18th December. Details are in the "more info" section on the right.