A CHURCH will be filled with music when it celebrates an anniversary on Monday.

It was 125 years ago that world-renowned organ making company Harrison and Harrison installed one of its instruments in St Saviour's Church, in Shotton Colliery.

Built in 1854, the Anglican church had to wait nearly 30 years before it could afford the £300 organ.

And records from the day show that the Durham-based instrument-makers had to struggle to construct an organ in what was the very limited space between the choir and vicar's vestries.

On its completion, a letter from the company confirmed: "We have constructed the organ to the shallowest possible limit.''

Over the ensuing years, however, a stove, which heated the church, also succeeded in filling the organ pipes with soot and smoke. As a result, in 1903, as part of general renovation work, a new organ chamber was constructed and the instrument was upgraded by another Durham company, Nelson and Co.

The magnificent organ, which has been meticulously maintained over the years, is now to be the focal point of a celebratory evening on Monday to mark its 125 birthday.

Church verger Andrew Crawford said yesterday that the organ retains pride of place in St Saviour's.

The cost of its purchase and installation a century-and-a-quarter ago had been very high at the time.

But, he said: "We have learned that a similar 18-stop organ would today cost well in excess of £200,000.''

For the past 35 years, the organist at St Saviour's has been local school teacher Karen Walker, who will be playing a selection of hymns at the concert, which will begin at 7pm.

Assistant organist Neil Harris will change the tempo when he plays a selection of music from the shows. Also giving recitals will be guest musicians Dr Terry Mason and the Reverend Father Paul Greenwell. Refreshments will be served after the concert. Admission is free.