The_Organ

The Edenton Baptist Church Pipe Organ

In 1918, when the church moved into the current Sanctuary, we purchased an electrified Estey pipe organ. It was not a great organ, and it gave the church much trouble throughout the years it was used by the church.

The church nominated a committee in May 1951 to check into the purchase of a new pipe organ. Earl G. Harrell was the chair, and West W. Byrum, Sr., J.L. Chestnutt, J.A. Curran, R.C. Holland and W.M. Wilkins were the committee. Their research showed that a new pipe organ would cost $17,500. They took a vote and five voted to buy a new pipe organ and one voted to buy an electric organ. After enough frustration with the old Estey organ, the church placed an order to the Austin Organ Co. of Hartford Connecticut. The church was promised delivery in the summer of 1952, but there was a delay. During this time the chimes were ordered. The organ was finally completely installed in the spring of 1953. The church was forced to cancel revival because of the installation. The total cost of the organ was around $19,000. (It would cost over $300,000.00 to replace this instrument.

This picture shows how the organ looked when it was renovated/restored in 1994.

In 1994, the church organ was renovated/enlarged by Austin Organs, Inc. at a price of $24,216. The renovations and additions to the organ were begun on March 1st and completed on March 10th. David Campbell from Austin Organs was responsible for the on site work. Floyd Higgins was the contact person at the factory. Five ranks of pipes were added plus a new rectifier. Funding for this project was made possible by the generosity of several families. The families included were the families of Mr. & Mrs. Wayland Byrum, Mr. & Mrs. J. Clarence Leary, Sr., and Mrs. Geddes Potter, and the parents and sisters of Mr. Lanny Hollowell.

The 1953 Austin Opus #2188 is still played each Sunday morning at Edenton Baptist. The organ has two manuals (a Great manual and a Swell manual), 20 ranks, and one non-programmable Tutti. It has two Expression Pedals (one for the Swell and one for the Great), and one Crescendo pedal.

The Stops:

Great:
Open Diapason 8'
Spitz Flute 8'
Dulciana 8'
Octave 4'
Twelfth 2 2/3'
Fifteenth 2'
Mixture III (Added in 1994)
Chimes
Tremolo

Pedal:
Open Diapason 16'
Lieblich Gedekt 16'
Octave 8'
Lieblich Flute 8'

Swell:
Geigen Diapason 8'
Melodia 8'
Salicional 8'
Voix Celeste 8'
Rohr Flute 4'
Flageolet 2'
Cornet TC II (Added in 1994)
Trumpet 8'
Oboe 8'
Tremolo

Couplers:
Great to Great 4'
Great to Great 16'
Swell to Great 4'
Swell to Great 8'
Swell to Great 16'
Swell to Swell 4'
Swell to Swell 16'
Great to Pedal 4'
Great to Pedal 8'
Swell to Pedal 4'
Swell to Pedal 8'
Great Unison Off
Great Unison Off

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