The latest chapter in the saga of Sunderland's historic Holy Trinity organ

In 2018, the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) lodged plans to remove the instrument from the Holy Trinity Church in the East End.

This aimed to support a Heritage Lottery funded scheme to transform the site into community venue ‘Canny Space’.

At the time, the CCT had arrangements in place with a firm to transport and reinstall the organ in a church in Germany.

However, the plans sparked concerns from campaigners ‘Sunderland Save Our Heritage” with more than 650 objections lodged against the proposal.

Sunderland City Council were due to rule on the plans in December 2018 before church bosses withdrew the proposals.

The organ is currently in storage after being temporarily removed to allow the trust to carry out the necessary repair works to the church.

This week, a fresh bid was launched for listed building consent to permanently remove the local treasure.

A heritage statement submitted with the application notes rising costs and the coronavirus pandemic as reasons for the move.

It reads: “Given the cost constraints of the overall regeneration project, especially in light of the impact of the delays to capital works due to Covid‐19 and the priority to deliver the main repair scheme successfully, CCT cannot accommodate the additional expenses associated with reinstalling the organ, even without the costs of overhauling.

“Furthermore, the area freed up by the removal of the organ benefits the overall regeneration scheme by enhancing the flexibility and utility of the space within the site.”

The organ was previously Grade II-listed, but was ‘de-listed’ in 2017 following a review by the British Institute of Organ Studies which considered it to be of “low significance”.

The decision to dismantle the instrument for storage was made following a consultation with the local community in 2019.

According to planning papers, campaigners attempted to raise cash for the organ’s reinstallation but stopped their fundraising drive in November.

An option to keep the organ’s casing and console at the church was also discounted, as it was not considered to conserve its contribution “primarily as a musical instrument not decoration”, the report states.

Prior to being dismantled, the CCT recorded every note on the organ which can be replicated by a sound engineer to be played electronically through a keyboard.

A heritage statement adds this will form part of the learning and engagement activities at the venue while ensuring “future generations have access to the sounds of the organ.”

A decision on plans to permanently remove the instrument is expected by the end of August.

If plans are approved, CCT would approach specialist company Instrumente Ladach with a view of relocating the organ to a church in Germany.

Comments on the plans can be made by writing to the council’s planning department or commenting on its online ‘planning portal’.

For more information, visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/online-applications and search planning reference 20/01030/LBC

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