The Sanctuary Organ

 

The pipe organ is the traditional musical instrument of the Church. Its primary purpose is to provide leadership in congregational singing. The instruments ability to sustain chords and maintain steady wind pressure was the impetus for its invention many centuries ago. In its own way, the current pipe organ at Central traces the history and development of the present sanctuary and congregation. The organ, restored in 1988 by the Schantz Organ Company of Orville, Ohio, contains pipe work from the original organ installed in 1913. Many tonal renovations have occurredover the years: 1960, 1976, 1988, 1993, and 2002.Large by any standards, the organ at Central contains 64 ranks of pipes totalingnearly 4,000 pipes. The organ is used to lead public worship services, to accompany choral concerts and many varied recital formats including solo organ recitals. Current replacement cost is $750,000 dollars.