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Christ Church Beechworth Eucharist is held at 10.00am every Sunday.

Beechworth Organ Restoration

The beautiful pipe organ at Christ Church Beechworth is 124 years old and urgently in need of total restoration! We need your help to rejuvenate this unique instrument which is a precious working piece of Australian Cultural History still giving pleasure and inspiration to all who hear its brilliant tones. William Anderson built this organ in Melbourne and it was first installed in St.George’s Catholic Church in Carlton, before being shipped by train to Beechworth in 1887.

The story goes that the local community were so excited by its arrival that they immediately set it up on the railway platform and “tried it out” to the acclamation of a large crowd. (In those days the bellows were pumped by hand and you can still see the place for the hand-lever at the side of the case).

Today this William Anderson Organ still has depth and brilliance of tone second to none. It retains all its original “tracker” action which gives the organist complete control over the start and finish of each note. Its traditional construction means that its sound is very close to that of the old European organs played by J.S.Bach.

Recently we saw world-famous organist Sergio di Pieri perform a concert here to a spell-bound audience. A high point was Bach’s Toccatta and Fugue in D minor: a difficult piece usually played on larger instruments with at least two manuals. Sergio had the audience in raptures by the way he made our “old lady” fill the church with glorious music, albeit on one manual and with the mechanical action all but worn out! He is keen to return but calls for a total restoration of this unique instrument.

So this is where YOU come in.
The Christ Church Beechworth Organ Restoration Trust Fund has already $3000 towards our goal of $40,000. The instrument has been assessed by the best organ builders in Australia, and they are ready to commence work as soon as funds are available.

Please make cheques Not Negotiable and payable to:
Christ Church Beechworth Organ Restoration Trust Fund.
P.O.Box 233
BEECHWORTH AUSTRALIA 3747.