AN urgent appeal has been launched to raise £350,000 to help carry out repairs to a cathedral’s 131-year-old organ.

Ripon Cathedral is running a year-long campaign to help to raise the funds needed to do the work to the organ.

The instrument dates from 1878 and contains 3,193 pipes many of which are now worn out and dirt damaged.

Other parts of the organ, like the inner workings, are also in urgent need of repair due to the passing of time.

It is hoped people will sponsor the pipes, with prices ranging from £25 up to £5,000, to help to raise the £350,000 needed.

Margaret Hammond, campaign manager for the Ripon Cathedral development scheme, said: "We hope as many people as possible will sponsor a pipe.

"Several people have already sponsored pipes and we raised £5,000 towards the appeal at a concert last weekend.

"The organ will be dismantled and cleaned and then put back together and we’ll have to hire an organ while that is done."

An organ is first mentioned in Ripon Cathedral in 1399 when money for repairs was granted but the present instrument dates from 1878.

The Victorian organ-maker TC Lewis built the instrument and it has been enlarged several times.

The modern organ has over 3,000 pipes several of which are original pipes dating from 1878 while others date from a 1695 organ.

They range in length from six inches to 32 feet but the long-time usage of the organ has led to wear and tear and dirt accumulation.

To repair the organ will require the careful cleaning of the pipes and inner workings to ensure the organ can continue to be played.

Experts have estimated a complete clean and repair project on the organ, which is still in use, will take nine months to do.

The organ pipe appeal was launched by the very reverend Keith Jukes, Dean of the cathedral, at a Leeds Festival Chorus concert at Ripon Cathedral on June 6.

To sponsor a pipe pick up a leaflet in the cathedral or donate on-line at www.riponcathedral.org.uk or contact Margaret Hammond on 01765-603583.