Sunday, May 13, 2012

Pipe Organ Restoration Project at St. Paul Church Philadelphia

A very generous benefactor has donated a Skinner pipe organ built in 1927 to St Paul Church in South Philadelphia.   While the organ is need of major restoration, the anonymous donor has put up most of the funds needed to accomplish this.  In the meantime, St. Paul parishioners and benefactors  will need to raise the balance of the money to pay for the cost of the restoration.

Sometime in the 1960's, a well-meaning but regrettable decision was made to replace the existing pipe organ with an electronic version.  The casing of the former pipe organ creates the facade that there is still a pipe organ in the choir loft.  However, that is not the case.  While pipe organs can last centuries with proper maintenance, electronic instruments do not and eventually need to be replaced.  Hence, it would be most beneficial to have a traditional pipe organ, and the fact that this one is a Skinner speaks volumes about the quality of sound anticipated.

St. Paul will accept donations of any size.  Major donors who contribute $250 or more may memorialize or honor a loved one with a special plaque.  Donors who contribute less than $250 will be recognized in a commemorative booklet that will be printed to accompany a special organ recital in the Fall.

Donations may be paid in one lump sum or over the span of a year.  For more information, or to make a donation, please contact Russ DeStefano, the business manager at St. Paul Parish, at 215-923-0355.

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