A CLAINES church will hold a festival to raise money to repair their organ.

St John Baptist Church needs to raise £14,000 before January when work will begin.

A five day festival between Monday September 12 and Friday September 16, showcasing music of a variety of genres will take place in the church.

A number of well-known local performers will appear at the festival, including violinist Shulah Oliver, who has a brother who plays the organ at the church.

Ms Oliver said about the organ appeal: "I think it is good to keep music in the church going.

"Many churches cannot afford to do that which is a massive shame.

She added about her performance: "With cellist Katie Sheldon we will play some light classics and popular songs.

"I will also be performing with the Astaria String Quartet on the Friday."

Folk trio Granny's Attic, from Claines, will release their second album on the Wednesday of the festival and the Great Witley Operatic Society will perform on Monday evening.

The event will be free to attend, with the church hoping that attendees will provide a donation.

Rachel Cramp, a church warden said: "We are making our festival inclusive in these hard times by not charging for every event that you attend.

"A lot of our visitors, particularly for the lunchtime shows maybe elderly so may not be able to afford £5 for every event, which could add up to £50 over the week and people can't afford that."

The organ will be repaired by local firm Nicholson & Co, who originally built it for the church in the early 1900s.

Speaking about the organ appeal, Ms Cramp said: "All of the organ pipes have to be removed and cleaned.

"Fifteen years of dirt, dust, cobwebs and more has built up so the pipes are in a dreadful state.

"They all need to be removed and individually cleaned and it needs expert work.

"There is a fear that one day it will just be unplayable.

"We hope that our visitors will come together and help us.

"We would like to think that we can raise enough money, we cannot get grants from organisations for this amount of money, so we must raise it ourselves.

"It's a real community church, we have guides and scouts in here regularly, as well as local schools."

Church officials are also hoping people will sponsor one of the 738 organ pipes, for £10, or pay £100 to sponsor a stop.