Gloucester Cathedral receives £1 million donation towards refurbishment of organ

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Gloucester Cathedral receives £1 million donation towards refurbishment of historic organ

Launched today in memory of the late philanthropist Julia Rausing, The Julia Rausing Trust has donated £1 million to Gloucester Cathedral to fund the refurbishment of its historic organ.

This generous donation from The Julia Rausing Trust will provide significant momentum to the Cathedral’s In Tune campaign, which includes the refurbishment and renewal of Gloucester Cathedral’s organ. The restored organ will be central to the Cathedral’s new musical outreach programme, which will aim to bring the joy of singing and music to school children throughout Gloucestershire, providing them with access to workshops and performances at the Cathedral. The substantial grant will help the Cathedral in achieving these ambitions, inspiring the next generation of musicians and opening the doors to the Cathedral’s musical tradition. It will also help fund an organ scholarship, to facilitate an emerging organist to learn from the best.

Originally constructed in 1666 by Thomas Harris, the organ has a significant history and represents the only complete 17th Century cathedral organ case in the country. It has been associated with many illustrious musicians over the centuries, including the likes of Sir Herbert Brewer, John Stafford Smith and Ivor Novello. It is recognised as one of the most prestigious instruments of its kind in the world.

The donation comes after The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust provided support for the conservation of Gloucester Cathedral’s famous Cloister in 2022. Julia Rausing was one of Britain’s leading philanthropists, driving her philanthropy through the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust for ten years. The Julia Rausing Trust will be funding organisations and projects in three areas: Arts & Heritage; Health & Welfare; and Education.

The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester said, “We are incredibly grateful for this generous donation in memory of Julia Rausing, whose legacy will echo through the magnificent sound of the new Cathedral organ. Music has long been a central part of Gloucester Cathedral’s mission and the restored organ will bring joy to our communities as we expand our musical outreach.

This gift will be a strong reminder for us all of Julia’s passion and generosity. She will be fondly remembered as a significant philanthropic leader, whose legacy will be cherished for generations to come.”

Hans Rausing said: “The Julia Rausing Trust is a fitting legacy to Julia’s philanthropic vision and has been established to support causes that were close to her heart. Julia’s love for the arts was self-evident. She enjoyed a highly successful career in the arts and subsequently brought her expertise to supporting Galleries and Museums that benefit millions every year.

“I hope that the Julia Rausing Trust will bring awareness to her generosity, demonstrate the important work philanthropy does, and support causes and organisations which are the backbone of our society.”

ENDS    

Notes to editors:  

About Gloucester Cathedral’s organ and In Tune project:

Gloucester Cathedral is a glorious sacred space in the heart of Gloucester, with a history that can be traced back to 679AD.

The Cathedral organ was originally constructed in 1666 by Thomas Harris and represents the only complete 17th Century cathedral organ case in this country. It has been associated with many illustrious musicians over the centuries, including the likes of Sir Herbert Brewer and John Stafford Smith.

The In Tune organ and music campaign aims to raise £3 million by 2026 and will revitalise the musical education that is offered to hundreds of musicians of all ages. To donate to the campaign, please visit: https://gloucestercathedral.org.uk/support/in-tune-organ-and-music-campaign

For media enquiries, please contact: Elspeth.Keep@gloucestercathedral.org.uk

About The Julia Rausing Trust:

The Julia Rausing Trust has been established in memory of the late British philanthropist Julia Rausing, who died in 2024.

The Julia Rausing Trust will see £100million donated to charities and organisations in its first year making it one of the largest charitable funds in the UK.

Julia Rausing co-founded The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust in 2014. She was widely known for her unwavering commitment to philanthropy and her impactful contributions to a wide range of UK charitable causes. She was instrumental in building the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust into one of the largest philanthropic funds in the country, donating £400 million to causes across Health, Welfare, and the Arts, primarily within the UK.