Organ Project Summary

Project Description by Stuart Ashton

Photo Record of Organ Removal by Mike Shippee

Photos of Organ Chamber Renovation updated by Mike Shippee

Renovated Organ Nears Completion by Patrick Murphy

Final Assembly of the Upgraded Organ by Anne Knowlton

Collected Photos of Renovation Work are available here.

Final Pix of Renovated Organ Spaces by Mike Shippee

May 2010

Vestry requested a press release describing the Organ Project. A version of this press release was kindly published by The Journal on April 28.

Our Treasurer has provided an upgraded and updated  financial report for the Organ Project.

April 2010

St. Paul’s organ has been disassembled and transported to our chosen builder where it will be renovated and enhanced, then returned to St. Paul’s.

While the organ is gone, Mike Shippee will guide clean-up and refurbishment of our pipe chambers. This work will be performed by volunteers from St. Paul’s and by a commercial firm. When the organ returns to St. Paul’s it will be reassembled, tested, and tuned. When ready, a concert to demonstrate the capabilities of the renovated organ is planned.

March 2010

St. Paul’s organ is scheduled to be taken out of operation after Easter and dismantled. Services will be accompanied on the piano until the organ is returned to operation.

Portions of the organ, including the console, will be removed by our builder and taken to his shop in Pennsylvania for renovation and upgrading. Arrangements will be made to dispose of the remainder of the organ.

While the organ is being rebuilt, the pipe chambers in the church will be rebuilt and enhanced for improved wiring, lighting, and acoustic performance. The renewed organ will be reinstalled in the church and tuned in situ by the builder, nominally during June.  A concert to demonstrate the performance of the renovated organ is planned for late summer.

Fund raising continues to pay for this vital project. Members are encouraged to donate early in order to minimize interest charges. Please access Stuart’s presentation for complete information on our fund raising effort.

December, 2009

Patrick J. Murphy and Associates Inc. of Stowe, Pennsylvania have been selected to renovate St. Paul’s organ.  At a kickoff dinner on December 3, Stuart Ashton provided an excellent presentation detailing the objectives of the project and describing the investigations and decisions which have led to this choice. Fund raising is active now, and all are encouraged to contribute to this worthy and substantial project.

Work will begin shortly after Easter 2010 with the removal of St. Paul’s organ to the Murphy’s premises so that shop work can begin. The best parts of our present organ will be retained, and new components will be added to provide improved performance and reliability. Changes planned include a complete new control system installed in the Gros console,  new chests to provide durability and extended reliability, and new pipes combined with the best of our existing pipes to provide tonal harmony and new voices.

The renovated organ will be reinstalled in St. Paul’s church in summer followed by in situ regulation and voicing by Murphy to provide harmony and polish. A concert to demonstrate the capabilities of the renovated organ is planned when Murphy has finished his work, perhaps in middle or late summer.

September, 2009

Pictures taken during visit to Murphy Plant are posted here.

June, 2009

Committee attention has swung temporarily to this example of fancy organ footwork.

April, 2009

Committee attention has focused on three builders who appear to offer the best balance of features and cost for St. Paul’s.

January, 2009

The organ committee has asked for proposals from selected organ builders and has received several proposals. Evaluation of builder proposals is our next task.  In our most recent meeting, Stuart led us as we developed a bid evaluation process linked to St. Paul’s mission. Thanks, Stuart.

Organ Builders Sought

The committee is starting to contact organ builders to obtain bids for the upgrade we desire.  To inform builders about our present organ, Mike Shippee took a set of photos of our organ and related equipment.  The organ photos, and other information, can be viewed here.

Committee Created

Services at St. Paul’s are accompanied by music from a superior pipe organ.  This instrument was extensively upgraded in the 1970s by the late Dick Gros. With the passage of time, the organ is slowly becoming more difficult to play and maintain. St. Paul’s vestry has created an Organ Committee which will guide the vestry through a process of repairing and upgrading the organ.  Committee members are

• Jeannie Richardson
• Anne Knowleton
• Bob Griswold
• Patty Shippee
• Mike Shippee
• Chuck Gleason
• Stuart Ashton
• Steve Malyevac

The committee’s first action was to elect Mike Shippee to the post of committee chairman.  Stuart Ashton will serve as our vestry representative. Bob Griswold will serve as committee secretary.

The Organ Committee invites members of St. Paul’s to contact any committee member to express preferences and concerns related to the organ rehabilitation project.