Could an organ be returning to St Keverne Parish Church, courtesy of the village Methodist church?

The idea has struck a chord with the parish council, which has begun a campaign to make it happen - although the vicar has tried to put a stop to it.

An unholy row now threatens to break out after the Rev Peter Sharpe dismissed the suggestion that the organ from the closed St Keverne Methodist Church building – with the congregation now worshipping as the United Methodist Church in the adjacent hall – could be transferred to the parish church, which got rid of its organ in 2013.

The parish council has remained upset about the PCC’s decision to sell the parish church organ for scrap, after the church argued that the organ, which no longer worked and had not been used for three years, since the arrival of an electronic keyboard, would have been too costly to repair and the space was needed for a dressing area.

Councillors now want to hear from anyone in the parish who would like to see the Methodist organ relocated there, despite the opposition from the church itself.

In a letter to the council, Rev Sharpe wrote: “It seems very likely that the costs of moving the organ from the old Methodist church building to the parish church would be prohibitive. In addition, there is no obvious space at the parish church.

“Whilst we are aware that there was some disappointment at the removal of the previous wind organ from the parish church, it had not been working for some time and specialist advice was that it was not worth repairing.

“The church continues to have the facility of an electronic organ that is more than adequate. In fact, at least one person who spoke about the wonderful sound of the old organ at a wedding was mistakenly referring to the electronic organ which had been used.

“The PCC appreciates that, if the United Methodist Church were to seek an alternative use for their old church building, they might wish to explore whether it would be possible to find an alternative location and use for the organ. However, there is no realistic prospect of that alternative location being in the parish church.”

He added that the item on the parish council agenda was the first he had heard of the idea.

Undeterred, council chairman David Lambrick said: “How can they dictate to use as a parish what we would like in our parish church?

“It’s part of the fabric of the church. I’ve spoken to a lot of people in the parish and there’s a lot in favour.”

Councillor Anthony Richards was of a similar mind, saying: “It’s not just the music it provides, it’s the aesthetics of it.”

Councillor Russell Peters agreed: “I propose we carry on with intentions of [finding out] what this would cost. Say we’re interested in doing this, because it’s the right thing to put an organ back in the church, we would then be in a position of having the costs before us.

“In the meantime, we could let the parish know that this is a possibility – would they be willing to support us? At least we get a feeling of the parish.”

Would you like to see an organ refitted into St Keverne Parish Church? Have your say online at thepacket.co.uk or on the Packet Newspapers Facebook page.