Union Congregational
Church Organ
Our organ was installed as
part of a bequest to the church in 1932 from the estate of John H.Robbins, in memory of his
father Andrew Robbins. The Estey Organ Company of Brattleboro,Vermont, at a cost of $10,575,
constructed the organ. It has 42 stops, 2052 pipes (all pipes are concealed) and five divisions.
The divisions are: The Great, Pedal and Choir Organs, located behind the front right side
wall of the sanctuary, the Swell Organ located on the left side, and
the Echo Organ
which includes the Chimes, found in the back of the sanctuary.
Woodbury and Stuart, Architects
of Boston remodeled the church to accommodate the organ. The total concealment of organ
pipes was the latest in design in church architecture during this
time.
The organ was dedicated at a
service led by the pastor Rev. Edwin R. Gordon, on Sunday, June 4, 1933. Mr.
Kenneth Shaw Usher,organist and choirmaster, from the Mount Vernon Congregational Church in
Boston was the guest organist.
Union Congregational Church
highly values its historic Estey Organ. After 77 years of service, it became necessary to undertake a major restoration
project. This restoration was performed in 2009 by the Andover Organ Company. A description of the restoration can be found in the Andover Organ Company's 2009 Newsletter, at http://www.andoverorgan.com/PDF/AOCNewsletter2009.pdf.
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