The steel work for the new gallery which will hold the organ was delivered to the church last week.

To move it into place, a skilled team led by Houseman and Falshaw negotiated the unmovable pews and narrow aisle with the heavy steel.

Once in position, it had to be raised to form the base of the organ gallery, which will be three metres above the floor of the south transept. It should be completed before Christmas, but the organ itself is not expected to be returned to the church until the new year.

After dismantling the Forster and Andrews organ in August, Principal Pipe Organs is working on the restoration at its factory in York.

Meanwhile, the church’s musical needs are being met by a small pipe organ on loan from the organ builders, which is proving well up to the task.

The costly project has been made possible thanks to generous donations from the community and various charitable trusts, topped off by a £50,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A record of the process will be kept for the church archives and a display in the church thanks to a team of photographers who are capturing each stage of the restoration.

Further information about the organ and the project is available from organist John Townend at St Mary’s Church.