THE CHAPEL Pipe Organ

The chapel has undergone an exiting new project of installing a pipe organ, under the cooperation of the Chapel Committee, Fr. Mike, and our organist Bob Hull.

As a sacred space for bereavement, weddings, choir rehearsal and other special services, the new pipe organ will serve this parish for decades to come, while keeping with the aesthetic nature of the space. 

The pipe organ is now completely installed, fully functional, and used on a regular basis.  The Tonawanda News wrote a wonderful article about the instrument being the first pipe organ for the parish in 70 years. 

Click HERE to view the article in a new window.

This 6-Rank, M.P. Moller Organ, Opus 9497  (1960) was originally housed in St. Thomas Catholic Hospital Chapel in Nashville, TN.  The resources of the instrument are:

 

• 1. Principal, 80 pipes
• 2. Flute, 92 pipes
• 3. Nazard, 61 pipes
• 4. Salicional, 80 pipes
• 5. Voix Celeste, 49 pipes
• 6. Trumpet, 85  pipes
• Mayland Chimes, 21 solid bars
• 3 divisions,  great, pedal and swell all under expression, 447 pipes
  total.

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THE NEW SANCTUARY ORGAN

In January of 2013, our organist, Bob Hull (with the support and blessing of Father Mike) proposed to the three major committees of the church a proposal to install a pipe organ in the sanctuary.  All the committee members were in favor of the project, and in turn a suitable instrument was found for our space.  A pipe organ became available from High Street Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ denomination in Akron, Ohio.  They were in the process of downsizing their assets and moved out of their 150,000 SF facility.  The entire complex, including the organ, was built in 1978.  The organ consists of a 3-manual console and 44 ranks of pipes, which translates to 2,512 pipes and 25 solid-bar chimes for a total of 2,537 speaking pipes.  This organ is well built, very clean, and in immaculate condition.  The "leathers", or the pockets that create the air chambers to provide air to the pipes, is in like-new condition.  It should serve the church without any major repairs for decades to come.  Even when repairs are needed, they usually are not major issues; releathering of controls, cleaning contacts, etc...  

We have made several trips to Akron to dismantle the instrument.  So far, the console, blower, and all electronics have been removed, including about 20% of the pipes packed away ready for transport.  Within the next few months, you will start to see changes in the balcony.  This is to accommodate the new instrument and properly voice it for our sanctuary.  For more information, please don't hesitate to ask Bob Hull about the project and its progress.  The Rodgers electronic instrument in the church that has served the church well for 13 years has been sold to help raise money for this project.  It would have needed several repairs in the near future, and outdated electronics eventually would have caused a problem.  A special thanks to Union Presbyterian Church in Blasdell, NY for donating another electronic instrument for us to use while we work on our new organ.  Here are some pictures of the organ at the Akron, Ohio site.

Here is a summary of the original disposition and scale from the Schantz Organ Company
for those who have the organ bug!