About

The history of St Edmundsbury Cathedral stretches back over a thousand years, beginning as part of the great Benedictine Abbey of St Edmund, one of medieval England’s wealthiest and most influential monastic centres. Although the original abbey church was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, the surviving 16th-century nave of St James’ Church continued to serve the town and was elevated to cathedral status in 1914 with the creation of the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. Throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, the building underwent remarkable expansion, most notably the Millennium Project, which added the striking central tower, completed in 2005 and built using traditional methods to harmonise with the Gothic fabric. Today, the cathedral stands as a blend of historic and modern craftsmanship, forming the heart of the ancient Abbey precinct and symbolising the continuity of worship in Bury St Edmunds.

When the eastern extension of the Cathedral was completed in 1970, a substantial elevated chamber was constructed in the angle between the quire and north transept to house a future organ. The extension was designed by architect Stephen Dykes Bower, whose plans also included the soaring central tower later realised as part of the Millennium Project. The present instrument, rebuilt and completed in 2010 by Harrison & Harrison, incorporates pipework from earlier Norman & Beard and Nicholson organs while being reconfigured to suit the expanded building. It projects primarily westward into the nave but is also positioned to serve liturgical use in the quire. Two new organ cases, based closely on Dykes Bower’s original designs, were constructed: a principal case in the transept facing the nave, and a second case overlooking the quire that houses the Choir Organ and the unenclosed Solo reeds, with the console situated nearby.

The organ today is a fantastic example of Harrison & Harrison's Modern work, showcasing an extremely versatile instrument with a large variety of sounds to accompany the liturgical life of the cathedral, as well as to serve as a thrilling recital instrument.