It seems even pipe organs need a little tender loving care sometimes, which is why the First United Methodist Church of Baldwin City is holding a benefit concert at 7:30 p.m. today.
Organist Sharee Thompson and Music Director Matthew Thompson will perform an hour-long organ recital of classical music at the church, with the handbell choir chiming in on two selections. Sharee Thompson said the money will be used for the restoration of the 1,640-pipe organ.
“The total cost is $49,000, and we’ve already received pledges for $24,000,” she said. “That means we need to raise an additional $16,000 for the project because $9,000 came out of the church fund.”
Sharee Thompson said the restorations include re-leathering the pipes, which is a process of replacing the small patch of leather inside each one. The wind system is also being refinished, and the keyboard console is being redone in the digital style, rather than analog.
“The current organ has analog electronic wiring,” she said. “It’s an old method of wiring that was used when they built the organ, and they’re going to replace that with a digital relay so it’s an up-to-date way of sending information from the console to the pipe.”
Sharee Thompson said repairs are already underway.
“It’s something we’ve recently started just this year, and we’re trying to have it completed by the springtime,” she said. “The work has already started in sections. It’s being done during the week so it’s in commission on Sundays. The only time it will be out of commission is when they replace the console.”
Matthew Thompson said the organ plays an integral part in the worship services at the church.
“It serves side by side with our other instruments,” he said. “It’s the foundation of our worship services. It allows the congregation to connect with the transcendence with God.”
Some church members think of the organ as a Baldwin City landmark.
“It’s not only a very important part of our church and worship, but also to the entire community,” Youth and College Ministries Coordinator Eva Durand said.
“In Baldwin, it’s a focal point,” Matthew Thompson said.
Baker University sophomore Justine Greve attends the church and said the organ serves a musical purpose of blending well with the piano and an aesthetic purpose of improving the appearance of the church.
“It’s a really big, pretty church and kind of cathedral-like because it has a really high ceiling,” she said. “The organ seems to fit like that.”
Sharee Thompson said although no entry fee will be charged, donations to the organ renovation fund are encouraged.