Relocation of the
Church on the Cape’s
Rodgers Trillium Organ
by Rich
Parsons
(Feb. 15, 2004) Over the past six months, an
increase in the number of dedicated and talented choir members has,
increasingly brought attention to crowded conditions in the choir loft, and
the difficulty choir members have had in seeing organist/choir director
Beryl Samia. Additionally, choir members were having to sit closer and
closer to Pastor Ruth. The first step in attempting to improve conditions
was the addition of risers for a portion of the back row. While this did
somewhat improve eye contact for some, it was soon clear that something else
needed to be done.
Sometime
in November, Beryl and Rich Parsons started to investigate alternatives to
improve things. Turning the organ so that the console would face the
congregation thus allowing the director to face the choir seemed to offer
promise, but the height of the organ console still would prevent the choir
from seeing more than the top of Beryl’s hand as she directed its efforts.
So, lowering the organ looked to be a solution. It was then that Rich
started to seek input from members of the organ committee, trustees, and
others and to develop detail sketches of how the changes might be
accomplished. One very important concern was for preserving, or possibly
increasing clearance between the organ enclosure and the front pews without
reducing effective seating. These ideas were reviewed with the Trustees in
early January and preliminary acceptance was obtained. Final approval was
obtained in the early February meeting.
 |
|
From start to finish - a
project
well conceived and well received |
At 9:00
on Monday morning the 9th of February Rich Parsons and Tom Bender
moved the organ console back into the choir loft and started demolishing the
railing and organ floor support. Over the next three days a six inch raised
platform was constructed of lumber and plywood, a parquet floor installed,
and the enclosing rail structure was rebuilt. David Doubleday joined the
work crew and provided invaluable help. While many had offered, it was clear
that it would have been difficult for more than that to work in this fairly
confined space. After allowing the floor to cure during the day on
Thursday, a group of 10 volunteers joined in moving and lowering the console
into place that evening. On Friday, Bill Lord relocated the organ’s
recording/playback device to the opposite side of the console to allow
easier access from the end, and Tom and Rich completed rail and trim and
final painting. Many thanks to David Doubleday for taking the “broom clean”
condition left by the construction crew and returning the sanctuary to its
normal pristine condition for Sunday morning services.
The
Choir, Beryl, and the construction crew are grateful for the support and
prayers of the congregation to enable this helpful change. |
