THE PILLAR CHURCH ORGAN

Wed Noon Organ concert Schedule for 2008 !!!

Organ Specifications

 

When the congregation which is now Pillar Church first began worship in the wilderness in western Michigan, the only music was the singing of psalms led by a voorzinger who did little more than set the pitch.  In April 1900 John Bernard Nykerk, for whom Hope College’s Nykerk Cup competition was named, was paid fifty dollars to find a proper instrument for the church.  In July a pipe organ was ordered from the Barkhoff Organ Company at a cost of $1809.00.  Three members agreed to serve as organists.  They would not be paid, but the consistory did agree to heat the sanctuary on Thursdays so they could practice.  Since the organ was installed before the church was wired for electricity, it was pumped by hand. The addition of a motor was considered in the 1920, but rather than rebuild the organ, a contract was signed with the Hinner’s Organ Company in 1928 for a new electro-pneumatic organ.  The Barkhoff organ was removed, so the oldest pipes in the present organ date back to the 1928 instrument.

The current organ has been rebuilt and expanded four times.  In 1966, the Stolz Piano and Organ Company of Holland moved the console to the east side of the platform and 305 pipes were added.  

 In 1996, as part of a major refurbishing of the sanctuary, the Lauck Pipe Organ Company was contracted to upgrade and rebuild the organ.  Some of the pipes were moved to the front to improve sound and more closely resemble the facade of the Barkhoff organ of 1900.  Of the 25 ranks, 11 were new and 14 were revoiced and rescaled. At this time the console was moved to its present position, west of the pulpit platform.

 In 1999, the Lauck Pipe Organ Company was again contracted to expand the organ with a new three manual console to accommodate additional stops and a new Choir division bringing the organ to a total of 32 ranks.   

 The final upgrade of the organ took place in the spring of 2003 by the Lauck Pipe Organ Company.   Major construction took place in the organ chamber rearranging the entire configuration.  New wind chests for the Great division and the Pedal division were built along with a new enclosure with expression shades for the Choir division.  A total of 9 new ranks of pipes were added including two 32' electronic Bourdon tone generators. The organ is now at 41 ranks with a three manual console and can now be identified as a Lauck Pipe Organ.