THE RETURN OF THE ORGAN

After another period of silence during the final stage of the roof repair, our pipe organ will be making a return to worship on Palm Sunday. Have you ever wondered about the organ? About what makes its music happen—the wind supply, the thousands of pipes, the endless electrical and mechanical components, the fascinating and complicated console with its multiple keyboards, stop controls, pedal keyboard, and a myriad of foot controls? Did you know that St. Gregory’s organ is the single most expensive item the church owns? Its replacement cost would be over $1m today.

In the early 1990s, when the congregation of St. Gregory’s embarked upon the mission to build an instrument that could proclaim the wonder, majesty, and serenity of God, they decided to build a pipe organ and the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, CT, was the company they chose to build their instrument which was dedicated in 1993. Just as we might ask how the organ works and makes all of its glorious sounds, we might ask how it actually came to be.

Well, it came about because people just like you had the vision, wisdom, and will to make it happen. They knew that their gifts were an investment not only in the present but in the future. Our incredible organ and the music it provides are a testament to all those whose vision for the future is being realized today. Without their desire to invest in the time-honored Anglican tradition of excellence in music, without their wisdom of knowing that without this instrument the church’s music would never become all it could be, the dream of this organ would have never been realized.

Realizing how fortunate we are today because of the foresight and faith of those who came before, not so long ago, is the message we must carry with us now as we enter Phase II of our Capital Campaign’s Call to Love. We must rise to the challenge just like those who came before us.

Our beautiful organ makes a difference every time it is played. Those who gave so generously towards making it a reality made it a lasting difference. May the Austin Pipe Organ of St. Gregory’s continue to provide inspiration to all those who hear its music, bringing us all closer to the Divine.

Tim Brumfield

Director of Music Ministry, Organist, and Choirmaster