THIS church organ will be restored to its former glory, thanks to a grant of more than £25,000.

St Mary’s Church, Thixendale, has received a grant of £25,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which will be used to restore the ancient organ and also to produce a CD of guest organists and create a display about the restoration project.

Pauline Foster, church warden, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has enabled us to go ahead with the restoration of the organ.

“It has been unplayable for some time so we are really looking forward to hearing it again and we have lots of exciting plans to encourage organists from outside the local community to come to play too.”

The organ was made by Forster and Andrews of Hull and was presented to the Grade II* listed church by Sir Tatton Sykes in 1877.

It features gilding on the pipes and has never been altered or modernised.

The York diocesan buildings officer, Phil Thomas, said: “Having this organ in the church is like having a Rembrandt in your house.”

Fiona Spiers of the Heritage Lottery Fund said: “The restoration of St Mary’s pipe organ will ensure that future generations can appreciate, learn about and enjoy it as part of their local history.”

The project is expected to be finished within the next three months.