A tiny pipe organ which had become homeless after the closure and sale of Croit e Caley methodist chapel may have been saved at the 11th hour.
Last month an appeal was made for a new home for the instrument which has been in the chapel for more than 100 years.
Since the appeal was made, St Patrick’s Catholic church in Peel has expressed an interest but no decision will be made without the blessing of the congregation.
‘The church’s two organists have visited and tried it out,’ Mr Jones said.
‘They liked it but the real decision still rests with the congregation before any final decision is made.
Organ builder Peter Jones said the instrument was built by organ builder Henry William Hewitt from Leicester, who was active in the 1880s, but the instrument itself could be even older as parts were often salvaged from earlier intruments.
An anonymous benefactor has already agreed to fund the £4,000 cost of dismantling and rebuilding the instrument and Mr Jones was optimistic it could benefit another church, chapel or organisation.
Meanwhile, 88-year-old former church secretary Elizabeth Corrin of Port St Mary told the Isle of Man Examiner the Croit e Caley organ was originally installed in Mount Tabor (now Port St Mary) Methodist church.
The organ was there from its construction in 1903 until 1913 when a new one was bought thanks to a donation from Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
Mrs Corrin said the new organ cost £360 and the old one was given to Croit e Caley.