THE PIPE ORGAN MAGNIFICENT AND ITS ROLE IN OUR SERVICE

 Back in the 1800s it can be safely assumed that the first small church on this site housed a small manually pumped reed organ, the type of which many of us are  familiar.
That particular church building burned and the only thing saved, I was told, were the remnants of stained glass pieces, put together intricately in the two chapel windows on either side of the altar. No doubt the old organ was lost in the fire. There may also be, I believe, old communion vessels and altar pieces saved.
When the second church building was constructed of wood, an English pipe organ of two manuals and one organ chamber only was installed on the lectern side with the organist facing the congregation and back to the altar. That chamber is now the great which is behind the choir in the current church chancel layout from 1934 - 1956. The organ console in 1934 was placed opposite to where it is now with the organist facing the altar and his back to the pulpit and a mirror on top of the console so he could see the congregation and choir processing. The current whereabouts of the previous organ (prior to 1956) is still a mystery. From our vestry minutes in 1956 procured from the NB archives, it was to be given to St. Phillips in Moncton, put into storage until their church was ready in 1957, but no one seems to know the location of the "hideaway". I checked with moving companies that were in business in 1956 and remain in business now, with no success. I would be most interested in locating this organ. From the NB archives, the vestry minutes noted that in 1956, that organ prior to the current one was a mixture of many manufacturer's parts and Casavant gave us a price to refurbish it for $4,000.00 (1956 $) as we were told it was not in good shape.
When the current organ was installed in 1956 by Casavant a second organ Chamber, the swell with movable shutters, was installed in the room, previously occupied by the rector's study. The wall in the sanctuary was cut open to accommodate the new chamber.
In addition, the new console was moved to the lectern side, with the organist facing the organ chambers, thus having a view of the choir and congregation.
All the gothic framing that surrounds the swell chamber in the sanctuary was previously fixed on the wall behind the current organist's position so as to match the opposite side behind the choir. It was simply a facsimile for architectural effect, with no pipes of course.
Just prior to 1956 when we were considering replacing the old organ for a better and slightly greater capability, considerable discussion took place amongst those persons who just wanted an electronic organ and those who wanted a real church pipe organ. When the two were played one Sunday morning, for different parts of the service, it was obvious to all that the pipe organ by Casavant was the one of choice. It should be noted that it was paid off in a very short period.