The Monastery Of St. Francis & Gorton Trust

The Monastery Organ Appeal

Help us return a historic Wadsworth organ to the architectural masterpiece known as Gorton Monastery. Every pound we raise will help to restore this important piece of Victorian musical heritage to its rightful place in the Manchester community.
£91,099
raised of £100,000 target
RCN 1061457

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Story

Gorton Monastery, dubbed Manchester's Taj Mahal, has been lovingly restored after 25 years of fundraising and conservation, a feat many thought impossible. However...

There's still a missing part at its heart

And that's its original Wadsworth organ, dismantled when the church and friary were sold in 1989. Its pipes were probably sold for scrap and the organ loft has remained empty ever since.

Will you help us to fill that empty space?

Patricroft Methodist Church in Eccles, Salford has gifted us a strikingly similar Wadsworth organ, almost the same age and specs as the one that was lost.

The Challenge

We need to raise £100,000 to transfer and reconfigure that Wadsworth organ and its 1000+ individual, handmade pipes and return its richly historic music to the Monastery. We have already raised around £35,000 thanks to some generous donors.

You can either donate to the appeal or sponsor a unique pipe. Both will help us to raise the money we need to preserve an important part of Victorian Manchester's musical heritage.

Sponsor a unique pipe

Would you like to sponsor a unique pipe, or row of pipes, with your name & generosity forever inscribed on a plaque in the Monastery? It's easy!

You can sponsor a small (£10) OR a medium (£50) pipe by hitting the GIVE NOW button at the top of this page and writing 'sponsor a pipe' in the optional comment field when you donate, along with the name you'd like forever inscribing on the wall plaque.

To sponsor a large pipe (from £100) or complete row, or if your company would like to make a corporate donation, please contact us directly by clicking here & filling in our quick contact form. Simply write 'organ sponsorship' in the enquiry field and we'll be in touch promptly to discuss your wishes.

Or donate to our organ appeal now

Click on the GIVE NOW button at the top of this page to make a fast donation. We appreciate any donation, large or small. Together, let's keep this incredible music legacy in Manchester, complete the restoration of Gorton Monastery and provide the sacred soundtrack for another century of joyful celebrations.

We offer huge, heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated so far. We're halfway there and it's all thanks to YOU!

Read the full, historical story by clicking here.

Read about it in the press by clicking here or here.

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About the charity

A magnificent, Grade II listed heritage site & E.W. Pugin designed masterpiece, Manchester's modern-day, multi-faith Monastery is an extraordinary venue. We offer a safe space, free counselling, meditation, community events, workshops, tours & wellness activities for the people of Manchester.

Donation summary

Total raised
£91,098.65
+ £791.07 Gift Aid
Online donations
£3,302.65
Offline donations
£87,796.00
Direct donations
£3,267.65
Donations via fundraisers
£35.00

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