NESTLING on a hill in the village of Wickwar sits the parish's picturesque church, Holy Trinity. And now, thanks to a massive fundraising campaign by parishioners, the building resounds once more to the majestic sound of the 100-year-old church organ.

Gazette feature writer Kirsty Ramsden met the church organist to find out about the instrument and its restoration.

WICKWAR parish church organist Charles Hiscock says that playing the newly restored instrument is a real thrill.

Before its renovation, playing the organ could be quite awkward, he explained. "A lot of things didn't happen when they should have done and things happened when they shouldn't."

Holy Trinity's original organ was installed in 1889, then, in 1929, Graham Arnold, a member of the village's brewing family, drew up new specifications for extending the organ.

Mr Arnold, who was organist at the church for 54 years, funded the extension to the instrument, its pipework and the wooden case.

Since 1929, the only other major works have been to its action, which was electrified in 1966.

The campaign to raise £42,500 to restore the organ begin in 2000. The work needed included an overhaul of the organ's entire electrical system and the whole instrument was cleaned, including the pipes, which were also regulated.

"Leaks which had developed over 40 years were repaired," said Mr Hiscock.

The display pipes of the case were also painted, which made a huge difference to the look of the instrument, and a computer system to drive the mechanics of the instrument was installed.

Indeed, explained Mr Hiscock, playing the revamped organ has been like learning to play a completely new instrument.

About £25,000 of the £42,000 needed for the 21st century renovation was raised by parishioners.

Fundraising events such as coffee evenings were held and donations were encouraged.

An adopt-a-pipe scheme was launched and parishioners gave donations in memory of loved ones.

Meanwhile the organ fund also raised money through grants from various bodies, including

Wickwar company Alderley Holdings, Renishaw of Charfield, South Gloucestershire Environmental Body, Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust, Friends of Holy Trinity, and the Cecil Adams Trust, which gives grants for the restoration of church organs in the Diocese of Gloucester.

The restoration work began at the end of April and was completed on the first day of December last year.

Mr Hiscock said he managed to play the organ until the end of May after which the works made continuing impossible.

He then used a keyboard to ensure the church continued to have music. Now restoration is complete he is thrilled that the congregation notice the change in sound.

"It was a great concern that, having spent all that money, people would say they didn't notice any difference," he explained.

His fears, however, were unfounded. "People say doesn't it sound wonderful and doesn't it look wonderful," he said.

"People can see and can hear that their money has been well spent."

Mr Hiscock, who has been organist at Holy Trinity for more than seven years, began playing the church organ in his schooldays and says it is the best he has regularly played.

And now David Briggs, the celebrated international organist and improviser, is about to test out the instrument.

Mr Briggs, who was organist at Gloucester Cathedral, is to give an inaugural recital on the newly restored organ on Saturday, April 2, at 7.30pm.