As an iconic music venue, it's played host to everyone from U2 and Elton John to Patti Smith and Adele.

But Islington's Union Chapel also houses one of the finest organs in the world, an 1877 instrument by Henry Willis, whose work also graces St Paul's Cathedral and the Royal Albert Hall.

People have travelled from afar to visit the ‘Rolls Royce’ of organs, which was specially designed for the Grade 1 listed Victorian gem and has retained its original water hydraulics.Ham & High: Steve Garrington plays the Willis organ during the Union Chapel's Organ Reframed festivalSteve Garrington plays the Willis organ during the Union Chapel's Organ Reframed festival (Image: Daniela Sbrisny)

But sadly after 146 years of use, a crack has appeared and this rare instrument is now in need of £130,000 in urgent repairs. Funding applications have been submitted, and a provisional January date has been booked to dismantle the damaged area and send it for repair at Harrison & Harrison’s specialist workshop in Durham.

And Union Chapel, which functions as both an award-winning music venue, a progressive church, and a base for homeless charity The Margins Project, has launched an appeal  asking members of the public to help save it.

Although it was completely restored in 2012-2013, the ageing instrument is vulnerable to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. It's thought the combination of dry hot summers, and the building temperature dramatically dropping during the pandemic closure, produced the crack, which makes part of the instrument unplayable.

Ham & High: As well as being a working chapel and the base for a homeless charity, the chapel is famous as a music venue where everyone from U2 to Adele, Elton John, Bjork and Amy Winehouse have playedAs well as being a working chapel and the base for a homeless charity, the chapel is famous as a music venue where everyone from U2 to Adele, Elton John, Bjork and Amy Winehouse have played (Image: Daniela Sbrisny)

Ever since it appeared in winter 2022, the chapel has been unable to hold its world famous organ festival or use it for their regular services, concerts, and educational programme of workshops, free lessons, and masterclasses.

Music director Claire M Singer said once repaired, a humidifier will be installed to combat future climate fluctuations: “After meticulous care of the organ since the restoration in 2012-13, it is heart breaking to see our historic gem suffer damage from the period when I was unable to monitor conditions so closely.

"After pausing the organ programme this year to concentrate on submitting urgent funding applications, we now desperately need help from the public to make sure we can proceed with the repair in January so the organ can continue to play its central role in the Chapel for generations to come.”