A “cherished” church organ will be transferred to Malta for it to be restored and installed at the Basilica of Christ the King in Paola. 

The church organ belonged to an Anglican church; Holy Trinity church in Sunderland, however this is being turned into a cultural venue through a restoration of around €3.6 million. 

For this reason, the organ will be given a new home in Malta and once in place, it will be used for daily worship services. 

According to BBC News, the organ was built in the late 1800s and it initially belonged to a church in the South of England. In 1938, it underwent a major refurbishment by a Durham-based company and later moved to Holy Trinity. 

The plans to remove the organ were submitted in 2018 but were put on hold after 650 objections were lodged. 

The Churches Conversation Trust (CCT) based in the UK, which aims to protect historic churches at risk, said that “cherished, but needing a complete overhaul, it was kept in storage while the organisation looked to find it a new home and it is now on its way to Malta.” 

The restoration of the organ is said to cost quite a significant sum, however, the CCT is pleased to know that the instrument will have a new home, where it will be heard by thousands of people every year. 

Parish priest at Basilica of Christ the King in Paola, Canon Marc Andre Camilleri described the organ as “a grand instrument.” 

"As the basilica dwarfs even the cathedrals of the islands, the organ will be centre stage for national and diocesan commemorations, and we are sure it will draw many intrigued organists," he said.