St Mary’s Church, Lydiard Tregoze, will formally launch its organ restoration appeal next month with a special recital celebrating the rich musical heritage of its much‑loved 1902 William Sweetland organ.
The event marks the beginning of a major fundraising campaign over the next five years to restore the instrument, which has served the parish faithfully for more than 120 years. A recent specialist report describes the organ as “a significant and increasingly uncommon survival” of Sweetland’s work and confirms that, while still playable, key components require conservation to secure the organ’s long‑term future.
St Mary’s is delighted to announce that Sir Robert Buckland, former MP of Swindon South and the Church of England’s Third Estate Commissioner, has agreed to be the patron of the Organ Restoration Appeal.
A Once‑in‑a‑Generation Restoration
The proposed restoration is set to involve the complete dismantling and workshop conservation of the instrument. The work will preserve the organ’s historic character while ensuring its reliability for decades to come.
As part of the appeal, St Mary’s will be raising money through various fundraising activities, including an Adopt‑a‑Pipe scheme, inviting individuals, families, schools, and local businesses to sponsor one of the organ’s pipes.
Outreach and Engagement
It is hoped that the restoration project will also include a programme of education and outreach with local schools with pupils invited in to watch the restoration in action, and explore topics such as the physics of sound, engineering and mechanical design, heritage craft skills and how a pipe organ works.
Recital Details
The appeal’s opening recital will be given by Toby Wright, a young organist from Hungerford in Berkshire, who is building a following on Social Media. He has played at many prestigious locations across the United Kingdom including cathedrals, Westminster Abbey and many parish churches.
The programme of music will offer something for everyone, ranging from classic organ pieces to film pieces. St Mary’s hope to have a screen at the front of the church for people to be able to see the console during the recital. The programme will also showcase the tonal beauty of the Sweetland organ and highlight why its preservation is so important.
Light refreshments will be served during the interval, and there will be a chance to talk to Toby after the recital.
Date: Saturday 25th July 2026
Time: 6.30 pm
Venue: St Mary’s Church, Lydiard Tregoze
Admission: Tickets are £10 available from Eventbrite (plus booking fee) or at the door