A historic organ which is the "last of its kind in the world" is in need of repair after 109 years of service.
St. Anne Church in Aigburth is looking to raise an eyewatering £300,000 to restore the historic instrument. Built in 1913 by the leading organ builders of the time, Messrs Henry Willis & Sons at 30ft at its highest point cast an imposing figure over the congregation of the church.
According to organist Joe Wakefield despite surviving through an arson attack by suffragettes and two world wars the faithful instrument only has "five years left" if it is not repaired soon.
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Joe has a long relationship with the organ and after watching it being played during a school assembly he said it "blew his mind". Now 26 he is fighting to preserve this important piece of history.
Speaking to the ECHO he said: "It is the last of its kind in the world we have experts come in and look at it. One of them told me there was a similar organ in Buckingham Palace but it is far interior.
"You just can't make instruments like that today and the sound is beautiful. It needs to be preserved for the next generation it is not like if this one goes there are more of them left."
The original blowing apparatus that generates the wind for the pipes is incredibly unique being the only surviving example left in the world. The organ has started to fail due to "wear and tear" and Joe says he can "just about pull a concert off".
Joe who is from Garston said: "Music is so important and it sets the scene for everything not just for a church service. I don't want parts of the organ to be shipped off and taken away.
"It deserves to be heard in the place it was designed for and not to be seen in a museum or listened to through a speaker and I want to make sure that happens."
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