A RENFREWSHIRE church is to bid goodbye to its magnificent organ after more than a century of music. 

Following the merger of Kilbarchan West and East churches in 2015, the instrument fell silent for the final time.

Now, after several years of hunting for a new home for the ‘one of a kind’ organ, it will soon reach out to the pews of a church in the German town of Prenzlau, near the Polish boarder, which was badly damaged during the Second World War. 

For 36 years the impressive piece, installed in 1908, was played with distinction by Tom Ferguson, who believes it is ‘one of the best’ in Scotland. 

Tom, who since the closure of West Church has moved to a congregation in Kirkintilloch, told The Gazette: “I was quite sad when the church closed but that is happening all over. I am delighted the organ is getting a new home and it is just fantastic to see.

“It would have been tragic if it was destroyed. I always say, anything that works in theory, works on that organ. Anything that doesn’t, also works.”

Heavily destroyed by American bombing during the war, the organ will be the final piece in the restoration of the building. 

A team of builders from the town are currently dismantling it before transporting it to its new home.