Meet Mark Steiner!
Mark Steiner, from Steiner-Murphy Pipe Organ Co., was at St. John’s earlier this week, to do some final measurements and preparations for the ‘big move.’ He graciously agreed to participate in our video documentation of this project.
I invite you to take 25 minutes to watch this video, as Mark goes into detail on the work that will be done to our beloved organ. It is informative and fascinating to see how many pipes are in the chamber, their function, what mechanisms work to make sound, and of course to see the original blower that is tucked below the organ chamber!
If you, or anyone you know, is interested in seeing the work being done to dismantle the organ, you are invited to come to St. John’s on June 2 and June 3, between the hours of 11:00am and 4:00pm. If you are unable to come during these hours, feel free to contact me at elizabethanne.sipos@yahoo.com, and I can let you in the church in the evening
An Introduction to our Organ Restoration
As you know, St. John’s has begun the process to restore it’s historic organ.
I would invite you to watch our introductory video for this project, in which you will meet the Organ Restoration Committee, learn a little history about our organ, take a mini tour of our organ chamber, learn how we will finance such a project, and finally hear a piece played on our organ.
We will be documenting this project throughout the various phases, from interviewing Mark Steiner, seeing what a dismantled the organ looks like, visiting Mark’s workshop to see the work being done, the work that needs to be done to re-assemble the organ at St. John’s, and finally, hearing our restored organ in all it’s glory.
This is an exciting time for us. Our music ministry at St. John’s is important, and we look forward to having a restored organ that will further enhance our worship and ministry.
In Christ,
Rev. Elizabeth Sipos+
The Historic Moller organ at St. John’s is in dire need of restoration. As we venture into 2021, groundwork will be laid to proceed with this project. An organ restoration of this magnitude includes, but is not limited to: dismantling and transporting the organ to a workshop, purchasing a new blower; removing all pipes (metal and wood) for cleaning/major repair work/along with re-leathering the stoppers, re-leathering all existing chests, reservoirs, and mechanisms and to add new chest magnets, removal of existing Pneumatic Actions in present Console and install Peterson Diode Matrix relay and Peterson Duo-Set Multiple Level Combination Action and to re-felt and repaint existing swell shades.
The projected cost of this Restoration ranges between $55,000 – $60,000.
If you would like to find out more or make a financial contribution, you can contact the church office.
A Brief History of the Organ at St. John’s
St. John’s commissioned the M.P. Moller Organ Company in Hagerstown, circa 1920, to build a new pipe organ for the stone church. Prior to the electric blower, it was pumped by hand. By the mid 1930’s and electric blower and motor was added. It was rebuilt in the 1950’s. The M.P Moller Organ Co., founded in 1875, went out of business in the early 90’s.
