A school in west London is undertaking a campaign to raise over £250,000 to restore a rare pipe organ that was covertly transported from Paris to London more than a century ago.
Initially thought to be original to its Grade II*-listed chapel, a recent assessment revealed that the instrument at Sacred Heart High School in Hammersmith is the UK’s only known pipe organ created by Belgian craftsman Hippolyte Loret.
Historical Significance of the Organ
In the early 1900s, the organ was smuggled out of Paris to prevent it from being seized by the French government amid rising anti-religious sentiment. Experts from the school sought the insight of organ specialist Dr. William McVicker, who referred to the organ as „one of the rarest in Europe.“ McVicker, who serves as the curator of organs at the Royal Festival Hall, expressed his delight at discovering the French nomenclature on the organ’s stops during his visit in May 2024.
Dr. McVicker’s investigation confirmed that the Society of the Sacred Heart in France had originally commissioned Loret to build the organ for one of its chapels in Paris over 160 years ago.
The Role of Mother Mabel Digby
Due to governmental hostility toward religious institutions, the French authorities closed many convents and announced plans to confiscate the society’s headquarters in Paris. During this critical time, Mother Mabel Digby, the superior general of the Society of the Sacred Heart, took decisive action to protect the organ. In 1904, she orchestrated the instrument’s dismantlement and subsequent shipment to London, where it was reassembled in the chapel of Sacred Heart.
Head of communications at Sacred Heart High School, Alex Dijkhuis, noted that McVicker believes it is the only Loret organ in the UK, highlighting the historical significance of the instrument. Dijkhuis remarked, „To me, Mother Mabel Digby is the heroine of this story,“ praising her resolve and courage in the face of adversity.
Current Campaign and Restoration Plans
Dijkhuis emphasized the school’s commitment to restore the organ, stating, „We have a responsibility to the Sacred Heart sisters from Paris and to Mother Digby to save this precious pipe organ.“ The restoration will be managed by a specialized firm, which will require dismantling the organ for repairs before reinstalling it in the chapel.
The school’s fundraising campaign aims to reach a target of £257,000, with plans to revitalize the organ so it can once again be used for concerts and recitals.
Bildquelle: RF._.studio _ auf Pexels
