Foley-Baker, Inc., Tolland, Connecticut; Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church, Harwich, Massachusetts
Moving a pipe organ to a new home
Moving organs to a different location is becoming more than an occasional happening. There are some nice instruments out there looking for homes, and like other firms, we too are getting calls about moving an instrument. Over our nearly sixty years in business, we have tackled a number of pipe organ moves. There have been Skinners, Aeolians, Austins, and some Wurlitzers.
It often starts with a dream—a dream by an organist or music aficionado who realizes the tonal and musical values of having a pipe organ. Those who follow through sometimes come up with some great instruments and deals. Just such a church was Saint Peter’s Lutheran of Harwich, Massachusetts. Lynn Archambault was the chair of the search committee. She writes well, and I’ll let her offer the story in her own words.
From the chair of the search committee
In 2021 a group of Saint Peter’s members, led by their minister of music, assembled an organ task force to study the problem of their aging church organ, which was increasingly experiencing performance issues. It was evident that the thirty-year-old electronic instrument could not be maintained because the manufacturer had gone out of business and parts were scarce. It would be a matter of time before the congregation would be without an organ. Martin Luther himself regarded music as integral to worship as the Word, leaving no doubt that a working organ was essential. The group also discerned the mission of a new and beautiful instrument would be to provide a resource to the community through recitals and concerts, an invitation to visitors and new worshippers, and an attraction for highly skilled musicians.
The group began the task of researching and seeking the best affordable replacement organ to complement Saint Peter’s sanctuary space and fulfill its mission. Choosing the right instrument was a complex decision: new vs. used; electronic vs. hybrid vs. pipe organ. For the next twelve months the group visited and heard fourteen organs of all types, from Maine to Massachusetts to Connecticut. They also consulted and visited with organ builders, restorers, consultants, and the Organ Clearing House. Several Cape Cod churches opened their doors and offered advice throughout the process.
In the spring of 2022 the task force was working toward an organ replacement recommendation—but it is said that God can work in unexpected ways. At the same time, they were contacted by a member of Saint Paul Lutheran Church of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, who was also an associate member of Saint Peter’s Lutheran, Cape Cod. The member informed the group of Saint Paul’s recent difficult decision to close their doors. The buyer of the church building did not want their spectacular Southfield Organ Company (SOC) instrument. The member knew of the task force’s efforts and suggested they meet with the Saint Paul transition team and church council president.
The group traveled to Saint Paul Church, where they viewed and heard the beautiful organ. They also learned that the members of Saint Paul wanted to leave their instrument as a legacy that would continue to provide worship through music for another Lutheran congregation. To fulfill their hopes, they generously offered their valuable thirty-year-old organ to Saint Peter’s as a gift.
The task force gratefully agreed to present this offer to Saint Peter’s council, knowing first they needed to understand the cost to redesign, relocate, rebuild, and install the organ as well as remodel the church sanctuary space to accommodate the instrument. In October 2022 Saint Peter’s congregation held a special meeting and voted to accept the SOC gift from Saint Paul and raise the necessary funds (through “Pipes for Praise”) to complete the project.
In January 2023 the pipe organ was dismantled and moved to safe storage. Over the next twenty-two months the instrument was totally transformed by the master craftsmen and skilled technicians of Foley-Baker, Inc., in Tolland, Connecticut. The organ task force then disbanded, and a newly formed planning and construction team initiated a lengthy design and bidding process guided by the generous efforts of Chuck Bomely, Plan B Design. As a result, the sanctuary renovations were completed in March 2024 under the diligent management of Philbrook Construction along with dedicated local contractors. Foley-Baker’s installation took place from October through November of that year. To the delight of all, the organ was first played for Saint Peter’s congregation on November 24 by Craig Tocher, the minister of music. The final voicing was completed by Foley-Baker in January 2025. Thanks to all, we have a pipe organ that is an aesthetically striking and musically enriching addition to worship at Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church.
Conclusion from the builder
We were quite confident we could make the organ fit at Saint Peter’s; however, we also realized that Southfield’s original case enclosure could not be retained, as Saint Peter’s ceiling height was lower than that of Saint Paul’s. Also, the congregation at Saint Peter’s wanted nothing to block the rose window located high on the wall on which the organ would be located. Jim Bennett is our head drafter. His long hours with the redesign paid off as he came up with the necessary two new cases that reused most all the materials from Southfield’s original case, including the polished tin façade pipes. The savings were significant. Jim’s wave patterns in the new grille fronts were in keeping with the sea theme in the rose window. He also made the organ beautifully fit within the now two enclosures.
There were no specification or tonal changes. Thanks to Milovan Popovic, our tonal director, the organ is as handsome tonally as it is visually. The console was in excellent condition. Happily, the Southfield Organ firm included modern-day features such as multi-level combination action. The organ was dedicated on June 28 of this year.
There are a number of organs being saved and moved throughout America. The ones with which we have been involved have all been successful and usually beyond expectations. There remain organs looking for homes. Perhaps there’s a future story such as this waiting for your house of worship?
—Mike Foley
Builder’s website: foleybaker.com
Church website: stpeterslutherancapecod.org
Cover photo, top, by Paul Muratore
Cover photo, bottom: left, Seamus McColly; middle, Richy Mee; right, Tom Vaughn
GREAT (manual I)
8′ Principal 61 pipes
8′ Rohrflöte 61 pipes
4′ Octave 61 pipes
4′ Nachthorn 61 pipes
2′ Fifteenth 61 pipes
1 1⁄3′ Mixture III 183 pipes
Sesquialtera II 122 pipes
8′ Trompete 61 pipes
Chimes 25 bells
SWELL (manual II, enclosed)
8′ Gedeckt 61 pipes
8′ Viola 61 pipes
8′ Viola Celeste (TC) 49 pipes
4′ Spitzprincipal 61 pipes
2′ Octave 61 pipes
1 1⁄3′ Quinte 61 pipes
16′ Fagott (ext 8′ Schalmei) 12 pipes
8′ Schalmei 61 pipes
Tremolo
PEDAL
32′ Resultant
16′ Subbass 32 pipes
8′ Pincipal (1–12 fr Gt 8′) 20 pipes
8′ Gedeckt 12 pipes
4′ Choralbass 12 pipes
4′ Flöte 12 pipes
16′ Fagott (Sw)
Zimbelstern
18 stops, 20 ranks, 1,186 pipes
