This ambitious scheme was initiated by the British Institute of Organ Studies in 1995. There are estimated to be some 40,000 pipe organs in the UK.  BIOS's objective is that organs considered to be of significant historic interest should be awarded a Historic Organs Certificate (HOC), and has established procedures with a view to achieving this. 

In times when churchgoing is not considered to be a high priority for the majority of the population, and when comparatively small numbers in parishes are left to steward the contents of our splendid  heritage of mediaeval churches, the pipe organ is often neglected and, misunderstood, having a relatively low priority in terms of restoration and conservation for hard pressed PCCs and congregations. Nevertheless we have inherited in this country a rich store of instruments, large and small, often dating from the nineteenth century, but in some cases from the eighteenth and even earlier. BIOS has as one of its Aims the preservation and conservation of these organs, together with the sources and materials for their history.

To this end, BIOS has established and maintains the The British Organ Archive (the national collection of organbuilders' records and other research material, currently housed in Birmingham Central Library) and the National Pipe Organ Register, an online national database of pipe organs in the United Kingdom, which is constantly updated and added to as more information is forthcoming. 
 

Whenever a particular organ is nominated for a Certificate for a HOC (whether by the church, by organists or other individuals), provided that adequate supporting information is available, the merits of the organ are considered by a committee, and if agreed the award of a Certificate is recommended to the BIOS Council for approval. In due course the custodians of the church (or other building) housing the organ duly receives a handsome Certificate as a mark of the importance of that organ in the nation's heritage. This helps to raise the profile of the instrument in the eyes of its guardians and 'flags' it up as one deserving respect by future generations.   In many cases the award of a Certificate may be of help with grant applications for restoration.

Certificates are awarded under 3 categories: 

- Grade I for an organ of outstanding historic and musical importance in essentially original condition 

- Grade II* for organs which are good representatives of the work of their builder, in substantially  original condition 

- Grade II for organs which, whilst not unaltered, nevertheless contain important historic material.

The voluntary efforts of members of BIOS and its supporters strive but find it impractical to assess the entire stock of organs in the United Kingdom immediately, so HOC coverage is at present patchy and somewhat random.   Nevertheless, until such time as a national listing scheme, funded by Government (like that for buildings of architectural and historic interest) is in place, the British Institute of Organ Studies will try its best by all means to safeguard important and historic organs wherever they may be.    For further information about the scheme, and to nominate an organ,  please contact:  Paul Joslin 109 Hanover Road, Willesden Green, LONDON NW10 3DN  Tel: 020-8459-5547         E-mail Nomination Form