Our journey to rebuild

Capel Engedi: Our Journey to Rebuild

We’ve been through some tough days at Engedi 2.0. The building was heavily vandalized in 2022, with all the electrical systems destroyed, making cleanup and security even more challenging. It was a difficult time, but seeing the beautiful and historic Conacher organ gutted for scrap, with pipes strewn across the floor,

was a visceral pain. The organ wasn’t just an instrument; it was the chapel’s centerpiece — a symbol of our history and community. But here’s the thing: we’re not giving up.

Over many months, with the help of incredible volunteers, including Sebastian Perez Parry, who traveled from Patagonia to lend his expertise, we’ve managed to complete an astounding amount of restoration and cleanup. One of the most poignant moments was seeing the organ’s facade reassembled. The robbers had ripped out the inner pipes — dull-colored, tin, and lead components filled with history.

Apart from a few crumpled pieces left behind, they’re all gone now. But the beautifully painted facade pipes — what you see when you look at the organ — were mostly still there, scattered about. All but one, which is still missing…

Yes, the organ will never play again unless we somehow find the estimated £750,000 needed for repairs, and that’s deeply sad. But at the same time, there’s a stirring of hope. We've been through the worst and can see significant progress as the beauty of the chapel space starts to re-emerge. We’re determined to fill this chapel with music, life, and community once more.

Rebuilding, Bit by Bit

It’s been slow, sometimes dirty work. Every weekend, we’ve cleared trash, painted over extensive graffiti, fixed broken windows, and tackled whatever else needed doing. We’ve patched the roof, cut back the jungle of plants overtaking the courtyard, and are reclaiming the site one piece at a time. Each repair and every bit of progress feels like a step closer to bringing Capel Engedi back to life.

A New Era for Capel Engedi

Even though the old organ won’t play, it’s physical appearance coming back together coincides with the early launch of our music space project, click GYG-ON. We want Engedi to be a place where music and language come together, where people can create, rehearse, and share their work. GYG-ON is a step towards that dream — creating a space for people to bring their voices together, with respect for our past but looking firmly towards the future.

We’re also working to start HAC_DR3, our very own hackerspace. Imagine the possibilities of blending tech with the history of this place. We’re aiming to bring in the tools and space for local innovators, giving Capel Engedi a new digital heartbeat. Who knows? Maybe one day, with the right equipment, we’ll find a way to bring sound back to the organ in a way that fits this new chapter.

Keeping the Spirit Alive

Despite the setbacks, the spirit of Capel Engedi is still strong. Every hand that’s helped, every friend of the project who’s cheered us on, has reminded us that we’re in this together. We’re getting back up, dusting ourselves off, and moving forward. Our goal remains clear: make this space a hub for community, culture, and creativity.

So, thank you. To everyone who’s stood by us, pitched in, or simply shared a kind word — we couldn’t do this without you. Capel Engedi is on its way back, bit by bit, and we’re excited for what lies ahead.

If you want to get involved or just see the progress, reach out. We’ve been knocked down, it hurt, but we’re getting back up and together, we can make Capel Engedi rise again.