Organ Case
In 2017, at around the same time as the organ reports were commissioned the Moccas Parochial Church Council (PCC) commissioned a report on the condition of the decorative paintwork to the polychrome organ panelling, carried out by Thomas Earner Kempe in circa 1870. International Fine Art Conservation Studios (IFACS) were asked to visit the church and undertake an appraisal of the condition of the paintwork. This appraisal showed that significant restoration works were required to the decorative paintwork which over the years had accumulated layers of dirt, residual spider web deposits, paint losses and the loss or damage to many of the gilded stars that decorated the centre of organ screen. In addition, the lower part of the organ had suffered from extensive wear and tear with burn damage and wax spillages from candles, finger and hand marks and several drip and stain marks. The report also showed that some painted sections of the organ had been varnished in the past and this coating had discoloured over time. A copy of the appraisal carried out by IFACS outlining the work that was required can be viewed by clicking on the link below.
Moccas Church Information Sheet VI – Polychrome Organ Case – Appraisal Report (author IFACS)
Following the recommendations outlined in this appraisal the PCC decided to add the cost of these works to the funding raising campaign for the organ. Due to the invaluable support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generosity of many private donors and charities (mentioned below) the additional £20,000 required to undertake the work was raised and work on the restoration was completed over 4 weeks in July 2020.
The programme of restoration and cleaning work to the decorative paintwork involved the meticulous cleaning of the paintwork, the re-varnishing of the surface of the case using a conservation grade varnish that was stable and re-soluble and the retouching of the paint losses and damage using synthetic dry pigments in a synthetic varnish.
A copy of the restoration report produced by IFACS outlining the delicate work that they carried out to the decoration on the organ casing can be viewed by clicking on the link below.
We believe that this is the first time that the decorative paintwork of the organ case has been cleaned and restored and we thank the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Prince of Wales Charitable Trust, Church Care, the All Churches Trust, Lasletts Trust and all our other extremely generous private donors for making this work possible.