There were three major stages to the Restoration Programme of 2000 – 2004.  First off was the external work on the church, and because of the timing of the Heritage Lottery Grant, this fell in the wild, wet winter of 2000/1, running into late spring.  So as a result we have pictures of the roofers, who worked almost constantly throughout this period, padded up with more skins than an onion, and later stripped to the waist.  The second stage concentrated on the internal church work (through a particularly pleasant summer), and lasted into the early spring of 2002.  Finally came the Schulze Organ – the inspiration behind the entire project – from stripping out in May, 2002 to gently re-opening in part for Christmas, 2003, with completion in May, 2004.
There were three major stages to the Restoration Programme of 2000 – 2004.  First off was the external work on the church, and because of the timing of the Heritage Lottery Grant, this fell in the wild, wet winter of 2000/1, running into late spring.  So as a result we have pictures of the roofers, who worked almost constantly throughout this period, padded up with more skins than an onion, and later stripped to the waist. 
The second stage concentrated on the internal church work

(through a particularly pleasant summer), and lasted into the early spring of 2002.  Finally came the Schulze Organ – the inspiration behind the entire project – from stripping out in May, 2002 to gently re-opening in part for Christmas, 2003, with completion in May, 2004.
Quite a few years of discussion and steady argument over rulings took place before the Heritage Lottery Grant was awarded.  The situation was that in order to acquire the £1.4 million necessary for all the work, the church had to find 25%.  This amount was almost available from the resources of the organ restoration funds.  Make up was achieved from local business sources and other grants.  However, the organ money was ring fenced and only became available when work on the organ actually started – hence big loans from the Diocese in order to get work on the church started.
It goes without saying that a major part of the organ restoration programme has been the complete cleaning of its pipes, structure and immediate environment. Along with this went the routine replacement of materials damaged by corrosion and exposure to elements both within the building and from the acknowledged air pollution that has been particularly bad in Leeds through the 20th Century.

Improvement work on the church included the removal of the unsightly and threatening gas radiation strips down both sides  of  the  building. These have been replaced by a return to traditional floor level convection installations. The old system had been seen to contribute to the condensation within the organ, leading to material damage, and adding to that dramatic damp on the manuals was in evidence following severe changes in winter weather. This was due to large fluctuations in the internal temperature as heating occurred just briefly at weekends.  Now a minimum temperature is achieved through a constantly monitored thermostatic control.  Along with the removal of the gas heating came the replacement of the fluorescent tube lighting in a return to the 1900 look of chandeliers. These have been hung in a far more effective manner, away from the arches and over the congregation or audience. As a result, the aesthetic appeal of the bare arches is apparent for the first time in the building's life. Regarding the organ, both terms 'restoration' and 'improvement' lead to proposals which fuel debate amongst various experts, and a sensitive balance has to be maintained between the contemporary technology for which the pipes were designed,

and more radically, that of today.
There was a line of argument to try and return to the type of subtle attack which Schulze achieved with his action. This was amended by Binns, and changed considerably in later years with the introduction of an electro-pneumatic system of sharp attack. Uncertainty about the precise nature of the original delivery led our consultants to tread warily on this one.   They appeared happier when considering the actual pipe-work. Though generally excellent, there was evidence of certain pipes being on the verge of over-blowing, due to irregularities created over the many years of work on the instrument. This most likely occurred during cleaning operations, rather than at the time of the Binns major overhaul.Of great interest was the question of overall layout. To our best knowledge the various organs were arranged in a similar fashion to their original set up at Meanwood, and later in St. Peter's in Harrogate .  Judging by the somewhat cramped layout before 2002, the arrangement of the various departments must have been retained as at St. Peter’s, perfectly fitting the south transept there.  It appears that no opportunity was taken to house the organ differently within the extra space afforded by the gargantuan proportions of St.Bartholomew's.

The new lighting, designed by a Bishop Aukland consultancy, is the improvement most commented on by the all-year round visitor (though most people turning up in Winter remark on the warmth of the church).  This lighting hangs above the congregation and shines upwards as well as down.  This causes glass angels and disco-type glass bowls to sparkle, and it brings out the beauty of the roof-work.  It has since one a prize for excellence.  Comments about the heating are forthcoming since the extravagant design has produced a system in which the church is comfortable within 30 minutes of switching on, added to the fact that a minimum of 10°C is maintained at all times.

At last, in May, 2002, work began on the organ. Harrison and Harrison of Durham were on site over a period of five weeks, taking out the whole of the interior. Most of it was transported to their shops, leaving only the lower end of the 32-foot Pedal rank in situ, along with a variety of pipes which will require little more than cleaning.

From June, 2003 several contractors were used to provide electric points and lighting, a water supply and humidifier. Now the interior of the chamber is illuminated to provide excellent facilities for tuning and maintenance, and power points are strategically placed (except for the later discovered omission of one to fit a small heater in to warm up the organist!).  Harrison & Harrison’s contractors again erected scaffolding, this time to the full height of the organ. This enabled them to clean and gently polish the whole case, and the uppermost angels were part gilded by local labour. From July onwards the organ frame was reconstructed and the organ returned to the new layout.