The Lincoln Organ

Around 1915 Gustav Holst wrote a famous melody for ‘Jupiter’ in The Planets, which he later used as the hymn ‘I Vow To Thee My Country’. He was then actively involved in choral music in Thaxted, so this tune might well have been heard first on the Thaxted Lincoln Organ.

However, the real significance of this instrument is a unique little altered Georgian Organ awarded a certificate Grade 1 as a rare instrument of its period by the British Institute of Organ Studies. Built in 1821 by Henry Cephas Lincoln it was initially in St John’s Chapel Bedford Row, London. Around 1858 it was moved to Thaxted where it was in regular use until the 1960s.

After this the organ gradually fell into a state of disrepair. In 2006 a group of local volunteers, lead by Sybil King BEM over 8 years raised over £320,000 for the restoration which was successfully completed by organ restorers Goetze and Gwynn. On 25th September 2014 the Bishop of Chelmsford lead a service of blessing for the newly restored organ.

The Organ is now regularly used for worship and recitals.

You can find out more about this beautiful instument and the project to restore it at: www.thaxtedlincolnorgan.uk