About

St Mellitus Church, in London’s Stroud Green, has at last fulfilled a long-held ambition to restore its historic First World War memorial organ.

In 2019 the church received a generous grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to repair the organ and implement an ambitious plan of community activities and events. Additional contributions have been generously donated by the St Mellitus congregation.

A Catholic church since 1959, the organ was commissioned in 1920 by the New Court Congregational parish, who also built the church in 1871. 

The organ dates from the golden era of respected organ makers Alfred Hunter & Son of Clapham. It was built as a memorial to 221 men from the parish who went to fight in the First World War.  Of these men, 46 died and 175 returned.  

It’s only recently that current parishioners learned of the historical and musical importance of the church’s organ, which had fallen into disrepair.

The St Mellitus Organ Restoration Project, with the revitalised ‘king of instruments’ at its heart, will restore the organ back to its former glory in time for the centenary of its original dedication in December 2020. In accordance with the wishes of the parish’s forefathers 100 years ago, the organ will once again be a permanent memorial:  “a constant reminder of those we would honour”.

The ambitious activity plan that accompanies the restoration of this piece of living history will revitalise the community and leave an important legacy – musical and historical – to its future custodians.

Follow the links below to find out more about our activities, how to get involved, and more about the organ.

Tubes Connecting Organ Console To Pipes
Tubes Connecting Organ Console To Pipes
Organ Restorer At Work
Organ Keyboards
Loose Organ Stops
Organ Restorers At Work
Organ Restorer With Pipes
Organ Console
Adjusting Console Key Action
Names Of Soldiers On Commemorative Plaque
Metal Organ Pipes
Metal Organ Pipes
Organ Pipes In Soundboard
Loose Pipes In Wooden Box
Organ Pipes
Organ Restorer At Work With Large Pipe
Organ Restorer At Console
Organ Restorer With Large Metal Pipes
Organ Restorer With Wooden Pipes
Organ Keyboards
Organ Restorer With Pipe
Organ Restorer At Work
Restorers' Hands On Organ Keyboard
Hands At Work On Organ Restoration
Organ Restorer At Work
Organ Restorer At Work
Organ Restorer
Organ Restorers Behind Screen At St Mellitus Church
Hands Of Organ Restorer Adjusting Key
Organ Pipe
Tubes Connecting Organ Console To PipesOrgan Restorer At WorkOrgan KeyboardsLoose Organ StopsOrgan Restorers At WorkOrgan Restorer With PipesOrgan ConsoleAdjusting Console Key ActionNames Of Soldiers On Commemorative PlaqueMetal Organ PipesMetal Organ PipesOrgan Pipes In SoundboardLoose Pipes In Wooden BoxOrgan PipesOrgan Restorer At Work With Large PipeOrgan Restorer At ConsoleOrgan Restorer With Large Metal PipesOrgan Restorer With Wooden PipesOrgan KeyboardsOrgan Restorer With PipeOrgan Restorer At WorkRestorers' Hands On Organ KeyboardHands At Work On Organ RestorationOrgan Restorer At WorkOrgan Restorer At WorkOrgan RestorerOrgan Restorers Behind Screen At St Mellitus ChurchHands Of Organ Restorer Adjusting KeyOrgan Pipe

Charlotte Wilson

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