A school in West London is launching a fundraising campaign to raise over £257,000 for the restoration of a pipe organ believed to be one of the rarest in Europe. Sacred Heart High School, located in Hammersmith, aims to repair the instrument, which holds significant historical value and a unique story.
The organ, crafted by Belgian artisan Hippolyte Loret, was smuggled out of France in the early 1900s to prevent its confiscation by the French government. Initially thought to be original to the school’s Grade II*-listed chapel, a recent assessment revealed it is the only known Loret organ in the United Kingdom.
In May 2024, Dr William McVicker, curator of organs at the Royal Festival Hall, visited the school to evaluate the condition of the instrument. Expecting to find a disused Victorian organ, he was “surprised and delighted” to discover the organ featured French nomenclature and believed it could be a Loret. The school’s subsequent research confirmed that the Society of the Sacred Heart in France commissioned Loret to create the organ for one of its chapels over 160 years ago.
The organ’s journey to London began during a turbulent period in France. In the early 1900s, religious institutions faced hostility from the government, leading to the closure of convents across the country. As authorities announced their intentions to seize the society’s headquarters in Paris, Mother Mabel Digby, then superior general of the Society of the Sacred Heart, took decisive action. In 1904, she arranged for the organ to be covertly dismantled and shipped to London, where it was reassembled at Sacred Heart High School later that same year.
Alex Dijkhuis, a representative from the school, highlighted Dr McVicker’s remark about the organ being “the rarest organ he has ever seen.” She noted that he considers it not only the only Loret organ in the UK but also one of the rarest in Europe. If the fundraising efforts succeed, the school hopes to utilize the organ for public recitals, allowing students to learn to play it.
Dijkhuis emphasized the importance of preserving the organ, stating, “To me, Mother Mabel Digby is the heroine of this story. She faced the greatest crisis ever to confront the society with a level of confidence, calm, strength, and perseverance that women can still take inspiration from today.” She added, “We have a responsibility to the Sacred Heart sisters from Paris and to Mother Digby to save this precious pipe organ, which serves as a symbol of the enduring nature of Sacred Heart education.”
The school is working with Mander Organ Builders, a specialist firm, to carry out the restoration. This process will involve dismantling the instrument and removing it before reinstalling it in the chapel. The campaign has been launched to gather the necessary funds for what has been described as “significant restoration.”
Additionally, the story of the organ’s remarkable history is being developed into a radio program and podcast by a production company that creates features for the BBC. Those interested in contributing to the fundraising efforts can find more information on the school’s official website.
The restoration of this rare pipe organ not only aims to preserve a significant piece of history but also to enrich the educational experience for future generations at Sacred Heart High School.
