When the new church building for the Germantown UMC was proposed, a core group of people in the congregation took it upon themselves to work toward combining the pipe organs from the former Wesley UMC and the former Good Shepherd UMC. The Wesley UMC organ was a 15 rank, two manual (keyboards) Aeolian instrument that had been installed in the late 1940’s after the church had obtained it from the Van Sweringen mansion in Shaker Heights, OH. The Good Shepherd UNC organ was a 9 rank, two manual Reuter instrument that was installed in 1951. The Reuter organ was a rebuild of the original organ (make unknown) that had been installed in 1904.

In October 2005, requests for proposals to merge the two organs were sent to a number of organ builders. After a few meetings and interviews with the finalists, Peebles-Herzog, Inc. in Columbus, OH was chosen to design and build the new organ.

Since the beginning of 2006, the organ committee has evaluated several designs for the new organ and worked with the organ builder to reach a final arrangement that will create a 26 rank, two manual organ using most of the components of the Aeolian organ, the pipes and chimes from the Reuter organ, a rank of new pipes, and new wind chests and reservoirs for the great organ sign of the instrument. Also a new console will be installed to accommodate the many ranks of pipes and incorporate newer technology.

The goal for the organ committee is to have the first phase of the project completed in 2012. Phase I is to install the swell organ portion, the new console, and components needed for bothe the swell and great organ units. Phase II will be the installation of the great organ when the funds are adequate to begin the work.

The return of beautiful organ music to enhance our traditional worship services will be a blessing we can all enjoy.

According to reports from the organ rebuilder, excellent progress is being made as the organs from Cherry and Market St. are brought together. Components—old and new—are coming together.

This coming Friday (March 2), technicians will be here to take measurements and make some calculations. Then next week, the installation process begins in earnest: parts, pipes, electrical and voicing will take several weeks to complete. And we pray there are no unforeseen holdups (literally pray—we are good at that!)

And could it be that before the Spring is out, our new organ will be installed? All the planning and work finally coming to completions? It’s looking like it will happen!

Currently the wind chests and reservoirs are being inspected and repaired and/or cleaned as needed by the organ builder in his Columbus, OH shop. The condition of the leather in the reservoirs was found to be very fragile and necessitated the releathering of the reservoirs.

As a result of needing to releather the reservoirs, the cost for Phase I increased by $6,500. Fortunately we have the funds to cover this cost but this puts us further behind in raising the needed $50,000 to complete the organ project with the installation of the great organ unit.

Along with everyone’s donations designated for the organ fund, the organ committee continues to have various fundraisers with the hope of securing the necessary funds to complete the project as soon as possible.