The Festival Organ, built in 1927 for the Hereford Three Choirs Festival, is not to be confused with the cathedral’s main ‘Father Willis’ organ but is a smaller instrument located at the rear of the Cathedral nave.  Since its construction, the organ has been in continual use for subsequent festivals and other occasions.  The special design of the organ places the console and pipes on a large wheeled platform, enabling it to be rolled along the aisle into position for an orchestra and staging.

After 85 years’ service the organ is getting a new lease of life in time for this year’s Three Choirs Festival at the Cathedral in July.

Restoration is being undertaken by Nicholson’s, the Malvern-based organ building firm and has been funded by generous individual donations, the Friends of the Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust. Further individual donations are still being sought and anyone interested in assisting with the costs of the restoration should contact Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust on 01432 374261.

Cathedral Assistant Organist Peter Dyke said “This is a very exciting project! All the visible pipes will be returned to the gleaming condition that concert-goers would have seen when Nicholson’s originally built the organ. In fact they will look even better, as the pipe mouths will be beautifully gilded.” One of the most important features of the organ is its life as a teaching instrument for the many trainee organists that pass through the cathedral’s doors.  “The internal workings and action of the organ are being completely restored which will greatly benefit its use by students.” added Peter.

The project will take approximately three months to complete.

Please click on the links below to view  photograph albums of the work iin progress:

 Restoration of the Festival Organ

More images of the Festival Organ restoration