Useful general background guidance is provided in various publications: the recently issued Council for the Care of Churches'[CCC] booklet "Sounds good" ( Church House Publishing, 2002), its earlier pamphlet "Repair or Replace?"(1990, content now online), Dominic Gwynn's booklet "Historic Organ Conservation: a practical introduction to process and planning" (Church House Publishing, 2001),  and The British Institute of Organ Studies' leaflet "Sound Advice: The Care of your Pipe Organ". Nevertheless, the local circumstances are important;  organs and their particular attributes are infinitely diverse. The Diocesan Advisory Committee therefore includes a specialist on organ matters, able to assess the worth, utility and condition of an instrument, and the appropriateness and value for money of proposals. 

As a first step in considering any work or changes involving an organ (other than limited work or tuning - see next paragraph), churches are encouraged to contact and discuss matters with the Diocesan Organs Adviser. The Adviser will normally arrange to inspect the instrument and advise on a possible course of action (or options) and procedures. Early informal consideration and understanding is mutually valuable, helping the client in preparing suitable proposals, and the Diocesan Advisory Committee consider them favourably when those proposals are progressed. That way, hopefully, the procedural pitfalls can be avoided as well. It is in everyone's interest - not least because there are "teeth" which could be brought to bear - to be certain before commencing work that the church has obtained the necessary Faculty, to be clear as to what if any conditions apply, and then to abide by them (see below). Organ builders as contractors are party to these requirements. 

The Chancellor has indicated that the following limitations apply if work to a musical instrument is not to require a Faculty:
" Routine tuning, adjustments and small scale in situ repairs, using like for like methods and materials, by a qualified person, up to a value of £500.00 excluding VAT, for organs, harmoniums and pianos.  This to preclude change or alteration of any kind, removal of items from the building for repair.  All work must be completed within one working day."

It is not always appreciated that organ blowing equipment and the electrical supply to the organ also require regular inspection and maintenance, which may indeed be a condition of fire insurance. 

For questions concerning an harmonium or reed/American organ, you might find it useful to consult the Cambridge Reed Organs website, or Phil Fluke at the Saltaire Reed Organ Museum [e-mail]. 

Recent information pamphlets 

* "Acoustics and Church Music" - a guide for churches and organ builders. Acoustics vitally affect the way in which a congregation experiences both worship and musical performance. Too often decisions made on aesthetic grounds have unexpected acoustic consequences. In particular alterations to a church or its furnishings can have a significant effect on both speech and music, including the sound of the organ. 
* "Church Heating and the Organ" - advice for those who have the care of the organ, and want to secure its continued well-being; 
* "Dealing with Asbestos" - advice for organ-building professionals; 
* "Writing Organ Reports" - advice for organ-builders on the basic information expected when  preparing reports, is also helpful to those commissioning or considering work to organs; 
* "Guidelines for VAT on Church Organs" - aim to provide a broad outline of the general principles, based on HM Customs' & Excise interpretation of the law, to help churches and organ-builders decide the VAT liability of organ work. However, since the 2006 Budget, the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme allows VAT that has had to be paid on pipe organ repairs in listed buildings to be reclaimed in particular circumstances. Details are available on the scheme's website <www.lpwscheme.org.uk>, by telephoning 0845 6015945 or writing to PO Box 609, Newport, S.Wales, NP10 8QD

Each leaflet is available online on the Institute of British Organ Building's website, or free by post [E-mail] (for full address see "other sources" below)

The British Institute of Organ Studies has prepared a useful leaflet: A Guide [to] Grants for funding work on historic pipe organs, which is available price £2 (post free) from the Hon.Secretary BIOS, 39 Church Street, Haslingfield, Cambridge CB3 7JE [Tel/fax: 01223 872190], or E-mail]. 

The Institute of British Organ Building's leaflet: "Writing Organ Reports", produced in association with the Council for the Care of Churches) gives advice on best practice in the preparation and presentation of Organ Reports, which is particularly useful if it is intended to seek grant assistance for an organ scheme. This advice is available online, or free by post from the Institute of British Organ Building [E-mail] (for full address see "other sources" below). 

The Diocesan Organs Adviser can provide preliminary advice as to the likely best grant source(s) and course of action. Please note however that the DOA is not in a position to provide a complete consultancy service, for which separate arrangements would need to be made. A consultant familiar with the requirements could plan and supervise the scheme from start to finish, obtaining and assessing estimates for the work, negotiating, justifying the right scheme to the grant source, and finally overseeing and controlling the quality of work in progress. The Association of Independent Organ Advisors maintains a list of accredited independent organ advisers able to assist those wishing to commission new organs or restore existing ones (contact details below).

Churches need to show that they can exercise proper care and control over the fabric and contents of their buildings and churchyards. In the Church of England, the Measure is applied through the authority of the Diocesan Chancellor and Registry  ie. its legal officers, with sanctions through church courts. A published "Code of Practice" to the Measure, useful but not particularly light reading, is available from the Cathedral Bookshop. 

In a nutshell, in the Durham Diocese, the Chancellor has decreed that only tuning, routine adjustment and maintenance of organs which can be undertaken on a "tuning visit" (what is known as Schedule A work) is not subject to some kind of Faculty and DAC/DOA involvement. There is an Archdeacon's Faculty procedure for "repairs to organs...using matching materials", which might in some limited circumstances cover straightforward overhauls, but generally full Faculty procedures are involved. It is the Diocesan Registry which will decide at the end of the day on interpretation of the Rules and which procedure has to be followed in each case. 

A Diocesan Organs Adviser does not make the rules about the procedural requirements in relation to organs. He, with the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches to whom he is responsible, must try to apply them locally! 

The DAC Secretary, Bill Heslop, can be contacted at: 
The Diocesan Office, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, Co.Durham DL14 7QJ 
Tel: 01388 450577, Fax: 01388 603695. 

The Institute of British Organbuilding is committed to promoting, achieving and sustaining the highest standards in the building and care of pipe organs, has introduced a system of accreditation for organ-builders, has published a series of useful leaflets, and maintains a register of pipe organs surplus to their present requirements and seeking a new home. 
Details of the IBO may be obtained from: 
The Administrator: IBO, 
13 Ryefield, Thurston, Bury St.Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 3TD. 
Tel.& Fax  01359 23343; E-mail

The Council for the Care of Churches[CCC] is a permanent commission of the General Synod of the CofE which seeks to educate, promote best practice and provide guidance on all aspects of the care of churches and their contents, overseeing and co-ordinating the work of Diocesan Advisory Committees. Its Organs Advisory Committee considers and publishes policy and advice on organs, particularly historic instruments, for which grants may be offered from funds provided by the Pilgrim Trust and other charitable sources. 
Contacts: David Knight on organ matters, Andrew Argyrakis for wider conservation issues, or e-mail with general enquiries.  The CCC's address is: 
Fifth Floor, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3NZ. 
Tel.020 7898 1874; Fax 020 7898 1881.

The Cathedral Website (including forthcoming service music, and diary of events) 

Other organs in the Diocese: (pages and links being developed)