About Our Organ
Since Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church was built almost forty years ago, the organ has been a key part of worship at our church. Installed in the sanctuary by Wick’s Organ Company, one of the world’s preeminent handcrafted organ builders, it is designated as “Opus 6032” in the national registry. The sanctuary was designed for organ and choir, and it is valued at over a million and a half dollars. Many world-class organists have blessed us, including our current organist, Bohee Paek. Organs like ours are becoming rare at churches. We desire to keep the organ a part of worship here, hopefully for another forty years.
The organ works much like a colossal, multi-piped, special bagpipe. Electrical signals come from the organ keys and pedals to the organ room behind the sanctuary pipes. This room contains hundreds of more pipes of all sizes, as well as flutes, woodwind boxes, chimes, pumps, airpipes, and electrical boards, all in a multi-floor climate-controlled room behind the organ. The electrical signals from the console trigger airflow to run through the appropriate pipe —which is carefully regulated by flexible leather parts called schwimmers and bellows—creating a perfect tone. Each key, pedal, and piston have their own set of pipes.
Since Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church was built almost forty years ago, the organ has been a key part of worship at our church. Installed in the sanctuary by Wick’s Organ Company, one of the world’s preeminent handcrafted organ builders, it is designated as “Opus 6032” in the national registry. The sanctuary was designed for organ and choir, and it is valued at over a million and a half dollars. Many world-class organists have blessed us, including our current organist, Bohee Paek. Organs like ours are becoming rare at churches. We desire to keep the organ a part of worship here, hopefully for another forty years.
The organ works much like a colossal, multi-piped, special bagpipe. Electrical signals come from the organ keys and pedals to the organ room behind the sanctuary pipes. This room contains hundreds of more pipes of all sizes, as well as flutes, woodwind boxes, chimes, pumps, airpipes, and electrical boards, all in a multi-floor climate-controlled room behind the organ. The electrical signals from the console trigger airflow to run through the appropriate pipe —which is carefully regulated by flexible leather parts called schwimmers and bellows—creating a perfect tone. Each key, pedal, and piston have their own set of pipes.
Repairs Are Needed
As happens with use, the organ has been repaired on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, the electrical and mechanical workings of the organ have degraded over time, making it more and more difficult to repair, play, and tune. It is full of patches, wire, cardboard, and tape, and some notes no longer work.
The Session Elders have decided that it is time to refurbish and restore our beautiful organ to ensure it continues to be a valuable resource into the future. The proposal is the complete replacement of the undependable, ad hoc organ switching system and driving electronics with a state-of-the-art Integrated Control System. The organ console (keyboard, pedals, pistons) will be rebuilt. We will re-leather the Great Schwimmer, and remove, clean, and regulate the pipes. We may find other parts to replace as we take it apart. We want the instrument to be in perfect condition again.
As happens with use, the organ has been repaired on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, the electrical and mechanical workings of the organ have degraded over time, making it more and more difficult to repair, play, and tune. It is full of patches, wire, cardboard, and tape, and some notes no longer work.
The Session Elders have decided that it is time to refurbish and restore our beautiful organ to ensure it continues to be a valuable resource into the future. The proposal is the complete replacement of the undependable, ad hoc organ switching system and driving electronics with a state-of-the-art Integrated Control System. The organ console (keyboard, pedals, pistons) will be rebuilt. We will re-leather the Great Schwimmer, and remove, clean, and regulate the pipes. We may find other parts to replace as we take it apart. We want the instrument to be in perfect condition again.
How to Invest in Our Worship
As you can guess, this is a major expense. The three bids from respected organ experts place this rebuilding at between $200 to $450 thousand dollars. The Session Elders at CCPC has authorized a capital campaign to raise funds for this project. After final work is completed, any excess funds raised will be used toward repair and maintenance of the campus infrastructure. Our target is to disassemble and renovate the organ over this summer with a completion date of September 2025.
As you can guess, this is a major expense. The three bids from respected organ experts place this rebuilding at between $200 to $450 thousand dollars. The Session Elders at CCPC has authorized a capital campaign to raise funds for this project. After final work is completed, any excess funds raised will be used toward repair and maintenance of the campus infrastructure. Our target is to disassemble and renovate the organ over this summer with a completion date of September 2025.
